You must see “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Wild Rice at its new theatre in Funan Centre.
Just to be sure, you’ll have your temperature taken before you go in. Never know what you might catch with the stage so close to the audience!
Of course, it’s a brilliant play. Oscar Wilde at his best. Then there’s the cast – and what a cast. Singapore’s best actors – like Ivan Heng, Hossan Leong and Lim Kay Sui – all in the same show. Plus some real stars we haven’t seen before – like Daniel York Loh as John (Jack or Earnest?) Worthing.
A treat. And a treatment! With the nasty coronavirus going around, laughter is the best medicine after all.
And there’s also “music to my ears”. The Concordia Quartet gives us some delightful music to fill in the waiting time and interspersed into the play-time.
All in all, a thoroughly entertaining piece of theatre.
A classic performed to perfection by an all-male cast.
It’s on until 8 March.
And a last thought: Maybe you should have your temperature taken when you leave the theatre too.
Hot under the collar? Even though the air conditioning was colder than it needed to be, the play’s sure to raise more than a laugh.
Call me a
Paper Boy, if you like. Because I haven’t stopped believing in the power of the
printing press and the true value of the printed word, whether it be in the
form of a letter, postcard, newspaper, magazine, book, newsletter, poster or parcel.
In my
youth, I did deliver the local newspaper by cycling nine miles, six days a week
around a country town in New Zealand. On leaving school, I started out on a
career as a journalist for the afternoon metropolitan newspaper in Wellington,
New Zealand.
As I hold a
print copy of the Straits Times in my hands every day for my breakfast time
reading, I do wonder how many others are doing the same. Yes, there’s been a decline in newspaper sales
over recent years and the printing presses compete with television, radio and
online sources of news and information.
But we are still
seeing that printed books – and magazines, for that matter – are holding their
own against the digitalisation of information.
We do hear that
US publishers of books in all
formats made almost US$26 billion in revenue last year, with print making up
$22.6 billion and e-books taking $2.04 billion. That’s according to the
Association of American Publishers’ annual report 2019, which includes trade
and educational books, as well as fiction.
Besides being an
economic advantage, there must be other things going for print books to beat
the challenge from eBooks.
Let’s see what science comes up with to
show that reading real books is good for the brain and health generally.
1. You absorb more information: Readers
of print books absorb and remember more of the plot than readers of e-books do,
according to a study that was presented in Italy in 2014.
2. Children become better readers: A
study of young children reveals they had lower comprehension of the story when
their parents read to them from an e-book as opposed to a print book.
Researchers theorize this arises because children get distracted by the
electronic device.
3. Books are easier on the eyes:One survey of 429 university students revealed that nearly half had
complained of strained eyes after reading digitally. Electronic books can cause
screen fatigue, which may lead to blurred vision, redness, dryness, and
irritation.
4. You’re less likely to get
distracted: When reading e-books, you tend to get side-tracked more easily.
According to one survey, 67% of university students were able to multitask
while reading digitally, compared to 41% of print readers.
5. Books help you sleep better: Studies
show that the blue light from your screen can toy with your melatonin levels
and circadian cycles, making it harder for you to fall asleep. So if you’re
hoping to get a good night’s rest, go to bed with a good book. Print, of
course.
6. Having a library at home is linked
to higher academic achievement: Students
who have books at home are more likely to score higher on tests, according to a
study of readers from 42 countries. Researchers believe this encourages
children to read for fun and talk to their parents about what they’ve learned,
which only stands to benefit them in the classroom.
7. Books amplify the joy of reading:
One recent study of college students in the US, Slovakia, Japan, and Germany
showed that 92% of participants preferred actual books that they can hold, touch
and leaf through whenever they please. Students cited fewer distractions and
less eye strain as a couple of the reasons why they prefer printed materials,
but other explanations were related to how books make them feel.
If that’s not enough to reinforce the
value of books in print, we can also call on the Two Sides organisation, which
operates in Europe and North America.
Its approach is to provide facts and data to
show how the print and paper industry is investing in sustainability right
across its various activities.
By uniting the graphic communications
supply chain, led by sustainable and responsible forestry, paper production and
printing, it aspires to ensure that, in a world of scarce resources, print and paper’s
unique recyclable and renewable qualities can be enjoyed for generations to
come.
Two Sides is further committed to ensuring
that print and paper also remains a versatile, effective and powerful means of
marketing and communication, stretching the imagination and imparting
knowledge.
Starting in the United Kingdom, it mounted
a “Love Paper” global campaign to promote the sustainable and attractive
attributes of print, paper and paper packaging. It seeks to tell consumers
around the world all the positive stories about paper, print and paper
packaging from its environmental credentials to its role in the creative process.
Which brings us to the role played throughout
the world by PEFC – the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification –
and what’s underway in Singapore to get its Chain of Custody certification programme
fully operational.
As
a big consumer of imported materials – including pulp and paper – Singapore is
being encouraged to become a centre of influence, committed to responsible
procurement from the Asian region’s forests and plantations.
This
was the message from Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International CEO, when he visited
Singapore in September and spoke to 50 representatives from government
agencies, think tanks, industry bodies, certification bodies, private sector
companies and media.
It also marked the launch of
PEFC’s Chain of Custody certification scheme, now recognised by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), which is managed by Enterprise Singapore and
the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Mr Gunneberg gave an overview of
PEFC’s work and stressed that sustainable forest management can contribute to
meeting social, economic and environmental challenges, as well as helping
countries and companies to address all 17 United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.
With 17 million hectares of
forests certified in Asia, it’s the fastest growing region for PEFC. He also pointed
out that there’s a lot of room to grow responsible sourcing in countries like
Singapore, which has only 22 Chain of Custody certificate holders out of a
total 1421 throughout Asia.
Chain of Custody certification in
Singapore can be incorporated into private and public sector procurement
policies, demonstrating support for sustainably managed forests and meeting
Sustainability Development Goals.
It also enables companies to meet
legality issues and customer expectations, as well as introduce traceability
solutions into the supply chain.
Besides certification of wood for
buildings and furniture, there’s the opportunity to greatly increase the use of
certification – and the PEFC logo – for publishing, printing,
paper and packaging, where Singapore has made an encouraging start.
There is recognition at home and abroad
that Singapore has a flourishing printing and publishing industry.
The opportunity now exists for PEFC to
work with the Print and Media Association to promote the use of responsibly-sourced
paper and create greater awareness in the eyes of the wider community of the value
of paper as a sustainably-produced material.
There’s no reason why Singapore couldn’t
mount something similar to the UK’s Love Paper campaign which stresses
that paper and paper packaging are increasingly recognised for their unique
sustainable features: made from renewable raw materials, recyclable and
biodegradable.
A former print journalist (newspapers and magazines) who continues to be a strong advocate for paper and print, Ken Hickson is the author of six books (all in print), including one entitled “Race for Sustainability” published by World Scientific in Singapore in 2013 – the first book in Asia to be PEFC certified. He is currently producing a book for the 40th Anniversary of the Lions Home for the Elders, which he insists will be a PEFC certified production in Singapore and will be launched at the Lions International Convention at Marina Bay Sands in June 2020, attracting 20,000 overseas visitors. Ken also serves as the Sustainability and Communications Consultant to PEFC in Singapore.
Ken Hickson reviews
four musicals for The Art of Travel
In a year which saw four
big-time musicals hitting the Marina Bay Sands Singapore stage, including an
all-time favourite Phantom of the Opera and the marvelously updated Aladdin,
how did we rate the last two productions: Sweeney Todd and Cats?
Sweeney Todd:
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
It has come and gone. What did it feel
like?
We don’t regret touting it as a show worth
attending.
If for nothing more than two very good
reasons:
Support the Singapore Repertory Theatre, which consistently goes out on
a limb to bring us quality theatre performances, and
Because it featured none other than the lady we regard as “Asia’s Queen
of Musicals” Lea Salonga.
But it didn’t live up to our billing.
Unfortunately.
We’ve been promoting this show for months
and we certainly encouraged theatre-goers to get along and see it for themselves.
“If you love Lea Salonga and Steven
Sondheim‘s musical style, you’ll enjoy Sweeney Todd”.
That’s what we posted on Facebook once
we’d seen the show to encourage others to go for it.
We’re not one of those critics who tell
regular theatre-goers to “give it a
miss”.
We noticed that the full house audience on
28 November was obviously in love with Lea Salonga and didn’t see or feel there
was anything wrong with her performance or the rest of the cast, many of them
very talented professionals from the Philippines.
But we have to say that it’s not a musical
everyone would enjoy. In spite of the best efforts of a very capable cast, led
by the one and only Lea, who we saw on the West End years ago in “Miss Saigon”.
It’s not just the rather morbid theme –
all about a disgruntled barber who sets about to kill as many of his customers
as possible – as there have been some pretty horrific themes in other classical
musicals like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and even West Side
Story. Even Shakespeare plays are not exactly “gentle”, with more than
their share of death and deception.
So we’ve come to the conclusion that “it’s
the music, stupid”. Was there one song
that you could hum along to? Was there a memorable number that stayed with you
long after you left the theatre?
None other than legendary film critic
and Time magazine editor, Richard Corliss, once wrote of Stephen
Sondheim – the Sweeney Todd composer of music and lyrics – that he “didn’t write songs; he wrote scores,”
and that his melodies were “meant to challenge the ear, not to soothe it.”
So it wasn’t the performance of principals
or the particular production we witnessed that was at fault. It was the
composer!
Even Lea Salonga has been quoted as saying
“the music is challenging”.
What did other critics think? Let’s turn to Andrew Leci writing in the Robb
Report:
“With complex lyrics and technically
challenging music, the ‘Musical
Thriller’ makes almost as many demands on audience members as it does on the
performers. It’s an uncomfortable show, not only for its bleak examination on
the themes of injustice and vengeance, but also for rarely giving theatre goers
anything to hum about.”
Critics rarely agree but Andrew’s
summation would be very similar to ours:
“The phrase ‘stealing the show’ is a
common one in theatre, and Lea Salonga is guilty of grand larceny. While the
production has more flaws than a multi-storey carpark, and is uncomfortable for
all the wrong reasons, Salonga’s performance is worth the admission money
alone.”
So thanks to the Singapore Repertory
Theatre (SRT), Atlantis and Sands Theatre for letting us experience the
wonderful and versatile talent of Lea Salonga.
She made the show and for that reason alone, we thank SRT for
presenting it.
It’s good to know that our very loveable “Queen
of Musicals” is coming back to Singapore next March to perform at the
Esplanade. It will be a sell-out were
sure.
CATS
What about Cats
then? The musical on stage at Marina Bay
Sands, not the movie that is hardly getting rave reviews!
Presented by Base Entertainment, which
continues to give us the best of international shows, Cats comes from David
Ian Productions, a leading entertainment company based in London’s Covent
Garden.
It’s colourful. It’s entertaining. The
exuberance of the principals and cast could not be denied. The dancing was
athletic, even acrobatic.
As Teng Yong Ping, Lifestyle Editor of
Yahoo News points out:
“If you haven’t watched Cats
before, you need to know that it’s not the typical musical. There is hardly any
plot, story and spoken dialogue. As many writers have said before, Cats is
a song and dance spectacular. It’s a very dance-based musical, spanning dance
genres such as ballet and tap dance, and if you can appreciate that, you’ll enjoy
the show very much”.
Agreed. It’s a show that can be every
enjoyed by young and old.
Does it have “star quality”? Not as much
as expected of an international cast.
Does the music and the singing captivate
the audience as musical theatre is supposed to? Not to the degree that we’ve
come to expect in Singapore.
Even the big number – the very well-known “Memory” – was something
of a let-down.
So what’s to like about this production of
Cats?
Great colourful costuming. Every
conceivable cat you could imagine.
Wonderful dancing and a magical set.
Getting up close and personal with the
cats was a warm and friendly touch,
as the
characters come down from the stage to go among the audience while performing.
What better time – during the
season of goodwill, peace, hope and love – to enjoy a night out with a bunch of
noisy, active cats!
It’s fun, it’s lively and if you
can cope with the high decibel sound coming at you from all sides, it’s
entertaining night out for young and old.
So treat family and friends in this “season of giving” to some quality time with a bunch of talented festive felines!
This Genie is a Genius
was one heading in the August issue of The Art of Travel.
Watch and listen to
the brilliant Genie in the production of Aladdin showing in Singapore.
The star of the
show, Frankston-born Australian Gareth Jacobs, trained in musical theatre
at the University of Ballarat in country Victoria and honed his skills on the
high seas as lead vocalist and vocal captain for Royal Caribbean International
and Celebrity Cruises.
He was a Top 24
contestant on The X Factor and played the role of Jimmy Early in StageArt’s
Dreamgirls. He has been understudying Genie, Sultan and Babkak in Disney’s
Aladdin since the Australian premiere in August 2016.
We’ve hailed this
production as definitely one of the best musical productions of all time!
Here’s how we raved on
Facebook at the time:
“Brilliant in every way! Attended the Opening night of Aladdin at MBS
Theatre Singapore last night. This is professional musical theatre at its best.
As good as anything you’ll see on Broadway and West End. See the best “Genie”
in the world.
After a
very successful season in Australia and New Zealand, this production has
uncovered a number of international musical theatre stars. See for yourself –
“Jasmine” from Malaysia via Australia and “Aladdin” from New Zealand via
Australia. Set, costumes, lighting and “illusions” all amazing. This will go
down as one of the best musical productions of all time.
Another heading at the
time read: “Love is in the Air”
You can hear it in
their voices. See it in their eyes. Feel it on stage. It must be love.
Aladdin (Graeme
Isaako) and Jasmine (Shubshri Kandiah) exude love and incredible talent right
through this production of Aladdin now showing in Singapore. Surely
these two “discoveries” will go much further, going by the magic and
musicality they demonstrate in their first big international showtime outing.
Graeme spent his early
years in Auckland, New Zealand before making his Australia stage debut in Oliver.
Originally from
Malaysia, Shubshri trained in musical theatre in Brisbane and Perth, appearing
in musicals, like West Side Story, before taking the lead in Aladdin.
We also linked to a
full run down with all the facts on the musical production and its cast. More on the production here.
So rave
reviews for Aladdin, which enjoyed a spectacular Singapore season.
Phantom of the Opera
The first of the
big-time musicals to hit Singapore between the eyes and ears in 2019 was Phantom
of the Opera, arguably the most spectacular and popular of Sir Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s inventions.
In the June issue of
The Art of Travel we raved and we implored:
“Experience Phantom
of the Opera at Marina Bay Sands – it’s still showing until 8 June – where
you can appreciate the exceptional talent of cast and musicians.
The spectacular
“Masquerade” song sequence, plus all the music and the action is of
course great credit to the original creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Think for a moment of
all the people behind the scenes, responsible for the production. There’s
Director Rainer Field, Musical Director David Andrews and Choreographer Jee
Hyun Noh.
We talked with Randy
Buck, who’s ultimately responsible for this and many other touring shows.
“Has Singapore become
the arts/entertainment capital of Asia? You would think so based on the number
and quality international musicals coming to town. “Phantom of the Opera” is pulling in the crowds and finishes 8
June. “Aladdin”,
the musical arrives for a season at Marina Bay Sands from
21 July. But you’ll have to wait until December for
“Cats“.
But there’s a host of other arts events – foreign and local – to entertain all
tastes, every day of the week.”
Yes,
definitely. Singapore is the place to see and experience international musical
theatre of a very high caliber. There are local productions of an international
standard too.
The sign of
maturity in the arts market is such that not every production will have
universal appeal. But keep them coming!
Very mature
theatre markets like Broadway and the West End have many different shows
running at the same time to appeal to a variety of tastes.
Singapore
is not there yet. But we’re seeing sizeable audiences to justify longer seasons
for imported shows, as well as for more quality local productions.
So, we’ll
continue to promote and attend the best the musical and arts world has to
offer. And we’re sure Singapore will continue to support and enjoy what’s showing,
as well as what’s in the wind.
Words matter. Whether it’s a climate change
meeting, an international energy exhibition or the Singapore Writers’ Festival
(SWF). The Lions City always has lots of people visiting and living here who
are doing just that. Spreading the word.
Let me introduce you to few “People of the
Book”. Or books more correctly. And thanks to famous Australian author of
historical novels, Geraldine Brooks,
for the loan of the title of one of her wonderful books:
Aysha Baqir – author and development
consultant – who’s come up with her first book “Beyond the Fields” set in
the early 1980s in Pakistan against the backdrop of martial law and social
turmoil.
It’s described by literary consultant Fran
Lebowitz, as “absolutely gripping and edifying… a very important read about a
very under-represented population in Western literature”.
Check her out – and her book – as she
featured at the SWF where she was involved in one session on Women Economy and
Power on 9 November.
She has a lovely quote on her website: “Raise
your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. (Rumi).
Like many writers, she is involved in lots
of other important things, like being an Ashok Fellow and a board member of the
Kaarcan Foundation.
Then we also met Eva Wong Nava at the Writers Festival. A
writer of children’s books, her first being “The Boy who talks in Bits and
Bobs”. It’s all about Owen, who’s a boy like any other ordinary little boy. But
speaking does not come easily to Owen. He speaks in bits and bobs.
Described by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favourite thus: “Many children will be able to connect with Owen and what he is going through. This book is a perfect tool for everyone to understand that nothing is impossible where there is patience, kindness, and understanding.”
She has a delightful quote on her website
and her business card: “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in
retrospect”. (Anais Nin).
As I’m currently working with a father and
son on a book about work life balance and the importance of positive parental
involvement in children’s lives, I was particularly interested Eva’s writing.
Plus how her book is illustrated. That’s
where the talented Debasmita Dasgupta comes in. Artist extraordinary – “call me
Smita” – has not only visualised Owen and “bits and bobs”, but she and Eva have
come up with “Picture
Book Matters”. Check it out.
Increasingly how a book is illustrated –
beyond the cover – is vital for young and old readers/book buyers.
So, illustrators are essential “people of
the book”.
I’m also convinced that people who “spread the word” – by whatever media and means – must be factored into the book equation.
Take Michael Switow – who
I came across at the SWF a few days ago – as he “shapes top business stories”
and helps authors and publishers reach out through Podcasts and other broadcasting
means.
He reminds me that nothing captures a
person’s interest more than a good story. And about the inability to leave
one’s car after arriving at the destination due to the riveting nature of a
story on the radio. While I’m not often in a car as driver or
passenger, I still know what he means.
Podcasts can do that as well as BBC World
Service interviews with authors. In a car or sitting by your home radio. Try it
sometime.
One author with international and local appeal is academic and climate change commentator Winston Chow – who I’ve seen a lot of recently – as he’s used podcasts to great effect. Check out this one about sustainable urban development.
As an author of many papers for the IPCC –
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – he’s also been News Editor of Urban
Climate News for many years. When not writing, reporting and editing, he
lectures at Singapore Management University.
When I noticed that Winston also wrote an
important paper entitled “Cities and Settlements by the Sea”, I was reminded of
another Singapore literary event and yet another candidate for “people of the
book”.
Kennie Teng was speaking at the “Connected
Histories, Cosmopolitan Cities” event at the National Museum the other day.
To wrap up this once-over-lightly look at
“people of the book”, I must mention Nabilah Said, one of the panellists in a
Festival event around “Arts and Culture Writing”.
A very versatile communicator, Nabilah is a
former Straits Times reporter, editor of Arts Equator, adjunct lecture at
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and playwright in her own write! Her best
known performed play is “Inside
Voices”, which has also been published by Nick Hern books.
She told the SWF audience about her role as a
theatre reviewer and I couldn’t help picking up on this review she wrote for Exeunt
Magazine earlier this year, in the form of a letter to her Penpal:
“I have just watched Blood Knot, an
anti-apartheid play by South African playwright Athol Fugard, presented at the
Orange Tree Theatre 58 years after it was first staged in Johannesburg. Within
and without those years there has been so much history…history that informs the
play and shapes the real world that it reflects, but it is also more history
than I can contain in this letter, with roots from as early as the 1400s.”
Which reminds me of another book by
Geraldine Brooks called “Foreign
Correspondence”. In it she tells not only of her experience in war zones as
a new reporter, but of tracking down some of her pen-pals in out of the way
places, providing “a dazzling range of insights that extend beyond
introspection to raise questions about national identity in an increasingly
global culture,” according to her reviewer, none other than fellow author Naomi
Wolf.
Our “people of the book” are very local and
very foreign. They see the world through well-travelled eyes. They reflect as
journalists, academics, reviewers, playwrights, poets and communicators.
They value words and put an equal weight on
“spreading the word”.
You don’t just come across these people at
literary events like writers’ festivals. In this global city of ours, you’ll
find people the book in many nooks and crannies. Big conference centres,
intimate cafes and bookshops large and small.
Tai Lee Siang, as featured on the cover of Build Green
By Ken Hickson
“Design
is part and parcel of a much larger eco-system. To make our cities smart and
sustainable, we must manage the rapid growth, the need for infrastructure, as
well as meet the demands of growing urban populations.”
So
says Tai Lee Siang, the Singapore architect who chaired the World Green
Building Council until 2018.
Quoting from his book
“Cities of Love”, which he produced with his wife Valerie Ang in 2016 *, Tai
says our future on Earth is to be found
in cities.
“Three and a half billion people currently inhabit
cities. This number is estimated to double by 2050. The fact that climate
change is worsening in tandem with this significant growth cannot be a
coincidence. How can we assume that the city is the ultimate solution?
“We
have to get the balance right”.
Tai
puts “design thinking” at the heart of everything he says and does. He’s committed
to this strategic approach to resolve issues, which some might see as outside the
scope of the professional designer, such as in business and social contexts.
Where
is he coming from?
Tai
graduated with honours from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1987, he went
on to practise as an architect and urban planner.
He
admits that throughout his architecture training, the S word – “Sustainability”
– wasn’t in the vocabulary or the curriculum. He was so impressed by Al Gore’s
“Inconvenient Truth” in 2006, when the evidence for global warming was so
compelling, that this young architect couldn’t ignore it. He decided there and
then that he should personally and professionally play his part in dealing with
this issue.
When
elected President of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) in 2007 – in
his maiden speech – he alerted his fellow architects to “design for sustainability”. He admits that since then he has been
on “this epic journey to champion green buildings”.
As champion
for design, he has involved himself in the industry and the wider community. In
2009, he was elected as the first chairman of Design Alliance of Singapore,
DesignS – an alliance representing 9 design associations in Singapore.
From 2011 to 2016, Mr Tai held the position of Group Managing Director
of Ong and Ong Pte Ltd, overseeing a team of 900 in the multi-discipline consultancy
firm that provides solutions encompassing urban planning, architecture,
engineering, landscape architecture and interior design.
He also
started to get used to wearing a number of hats at the same time. He was elected
President of Singapore Green Building Council (2011 to 2013). Under his
leadership, the first green building product certification scheme in Singapore
was established.
In
2013, he was officially appointed as a Board Director of World Green Building
Council and was subsequently elected as Chairman in 2016.
Concurrently,
he was President of the Design Business Chamber Singapore (from 2013 to 2017), involved
overseeing the transformation of the design industry through the installation
of several initiatives such as the launch of the Singapore Good Design Mark in
2014.
In
addition to his World Green Building Council role, Tai found time to devote his
attention to Singapore, focussing on leading and
influencing major sustainability master plans in Singapore, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of the Singapore University of Technology and
Design (SUTD).
Through
all the roles he has played and on the many platforms he has appeared, he has
continued to espouse sustainability as the answer to the challenges our cities
around the world face.
Tai
says there’s tremendous responsibility falling on the lap – and lap-top – of
the design professional. He draws on a climate change analogy.
“Buildings
and environmental sustainability are just the tip of the iceberg. The crux of
the issue over climate change is the need to have the right business model and
philosophy. Ensuring that future generations have enough resources to live. Not
by over-consumption, but environmental stewardship.”
He
says we have to deal with businesses. To get the business model right. That
involves design thinking. That involves putting sustainability to work.
“Unfortunately,
we have to begin with the property side. Urbanisation has resulted in one huge
problem: the rise and fall of the real estate cycle. This poses a lot of strain
on the whole environment and on business costs.
“But we have to go beyond buildings. Green
buildings alone won’t solve the problem.”
Tai
believes that design is the key to the transformation of societies, but he
admits that there remains a big gap between the strategic ideology and public
appreciation. So he cannot stop advocating and educating – even pleading – for a sense of urgency in battling climate
change and growing ground up participation in the sustainability process.
Developing
and promoting his prescription for “Cities of Love”, Tai and his wife came up
with 12 ingredients for the ideal urban environment. They are:
Family Oriented City
Less Car City
Garden City
Interactive City
Innovation City
Shopping City
Sporty and Healthy City
Edible City
Smart Device City
Happy City
City of Hope and Honour
City of Romance
He
and Valerie also joined forces to set up the firm, Inception, bringing together
creativity and sustainability. If that wasn’t enough, they also launched in
Singapore last year the first Cities of Love Awards, to recognise individuals
and groups who are contributing to social, economic
or environmental sustainability in the community.
There might not be a physical monument that this
architect can point to and claim as his own. But for Tai Lee Siang, it is far
more important for him to design and build a movement to bring about change.
Bringing out the best in design thinking and
recognising the reality of climate change. Building sustainability and
resilience into our cities.
Places for people. Liveable and loveable!
In the
introduction to the history of cities, in his book ‘Cities of Love’, Tai Lee Siang
refers to the “tendency to label such organic structures with the term ‘culture’,
elevating them to an essential part of humanity and everyday life. While
historical heritage should be treasured, there is a limit to how far these can
be adapted for future use. An organic city like this faces serious problems in
meeting long term societal needs. In order to develop a sustainable model of human
settlement, we must answer social, economic, and environmental challenges faced
by modern society”.
The island city is a
wonderful cornucopia for gourmands as these delightful dining establishments
testify. Top ten Singapore experiences – food and bed!
01
Candlenut, Dempsey Hill: Chef Malcom Lee’s smart-casual fine-diner in the lush Dempsey Hill
postcode is the first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant in the world, and
proof some superheroes wear chef’s whites, not capes. Peranakan is a
distinctive cuisine of Malay and Chinese influences, and a style most commonly
associated with comfort food in Singapore because of its hearty richness. Chef
Lee puts a contemporary twist on classics such as chargrilled satay (he makes
his with lamb shoulder and a sticky kecap manis glaze) and black chicken curry
using a fermented seed that gives some Peranakan dishes a rich bitter flavour
and deep oil-black hue. Try buah keluak black ice cream, made from the same
black seed paste and served with salted caramel and chocolate crumble. comodempsey.sg/restaurant/candlenut
02
Ah Tai Chicken Rice, Maxwell Food Centre: Eating out in Singapore
covers the entire price spectrum, so your day could start with a $5 hawker
breakfast and end with a formal degustation menu and cocktail at one of the inclusions
on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Singapore’s hawker culture is an experience
so intrinsic to the nation’s identity that it has been nominated as a UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Fortunately, hawker culture is not exactly
intangible so dive in at Chinatown Food Complex, where the soy-glazed chicken
rice from Hawker Chan is the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world, or
Maxwell Food Centre, where Ah Tai Chicken Rice dishes up its moreish rendition
of this Hainanese classic on sky-blue plastic plates. Think: tender poached
chicken served with rice cooked in the same broth, fresh coriander, garlic
puree and chilli sauce. No wonder it’s Singapore’s unofficial “national dish”. facebook.com/AhTaiChickenRice/
03
Burnt Ends, Chinatown: As the name suggests, fire is the crucial element at Burnt Ends, a
stalwart on Singapore’s hip dining scene for globe-trotting chefs and hungry
travellers in search of a memorable feed without the pretence. Don’t be fooled
by the Michelin star, this is an intimate mod-Oz barbecue joint that knows how
to dish up really great food and (Aussie) wine as well as a good time. From
your front-row seat at the dine-in bar, watch clever Australian chef Dave Pynt
tame the flames of his custom-made woodfired oven and grill to produce
deceptively simple and overtly delicious dishes such as charred leeks with
hazelnuts and brown butter, beef marmalade with house-made pickles, chargrilled
pork jowl and West Australian marron with kombu beurre blanc. burntends.com.sg
04
Merci Marcel, Tiong Bahru: When it’s time for an aperitif of the so Frenchie-so chic variety,
head to Merci Marcel. This stylish Paris-inspired café-cum-bistro on the ground
floor of a restored shophouse in Tiong Bahru is the perfect spot for a platter
of farmhouse cheeses imported from Europe served with warm slices of doughy
baguette and a pale pink Provence rosé. The all-day menu spans every hunger
pang from brunch (scrambled eggs with Parmesan) to dinner (snapper ceviche and
truffle fries), so escape the humidity at any time of day with a table inside
amid leafy palms, or exercise your inner flaneur on the terrace where woven
cane chairs are street-facing, a la Paris, for a side of people-watching with
your crab tartine. mercimarcel.com
05
2am:dessertbar, Holland Village: Get straight to the point at acclaimed pastry chef Janice Wong’s
sexy late-night joint in the Holland Village dining precinct. Moody lighting
and cosy banquettes set the scene at 2am:dessertbar for a hedonistic meal of
molecular creations that could include Chocolate H2O, a crisp 65 per cent dark
chocolate “lava rock” served with salted caramel “lava” and a tangy yuzu
sorbet. The menu is an innovative line-up of signature and seasonal creations.
Expect plenty of surprises in the form of foams, crumbs and liquid nitrogen,
and each dessert comes with a drinks pairing, from artisanal sparkling sake (a
revelation for this Champagne drinker) to Austrian riesling. There are savoury
snacks, too, but the real draw here is to be wowed by some of the most
beautiful desserts in Singapore. 2amdessertbar.com
06
Po, The Warehouse Hotel: This lobby-level diner at the hip new Warehouse Hotel beside
Havelock Quay has been devised by “Mod-Sin” food expert Willin Low. The menu
features comfort food served to share and described as “elevated hawker
staples”, some with a DIY component, such as popiah, or handmade wheat skins
filled with stewed meat and vegetables, that diners then garnish with the likes
of chopped eggs, crushed peanuts, crispy shallots, coriander, bean sprouts and
splashes of chilli sauce. Other standout dishes are wagyu beef rendang and
soft-shell crab with fermented shrimp paste. It’s a convivial room with 52
seats and excellent serving staff. thewarehousehotel.com
07
Baker & Cook: Singapore has a heap of cafes but not all flat whites are created equal.
Holland Village (Holland V to locals) is a shopping and dining precinct with
plenty of chic options (see 05). Baker & Cook, founded by “baker boy” Dean
Brettschneider, makes artisan bread and pastries and serves the best coffee
I’ve had in Singapore. So for a break from laksa noodles and chicken rice, pull
up a stool for a breakfast or brunch serve of signature Savoury French Toast —
thick slices of Vollkorn bread layered with chilli and herb mascarpone, pureed
avocado, crispy bacon, roasted cherry tomatoes, shallots, toasted seed and
grains with rocket salad. Just like home, only spicier. bakerandcook.biz
08
Cassia, Capella Singapore: This five-star resort on Sentosa Island has all the expected
dining offerings but then there’s Cassia, a tiny gem serving reinterpreted
home-style Cantonese dishes pepped up with the likes of shaved black truffles
in the charcoal barbecued pork buns, and tucked into the property’s
19th-century colonial wing. With mellow bronzed interiors by top designer Andre
Fu and an intimate setting, it’s perfect for a meal a deux. And while afternoon
teas are de rigueur at Singapore’s big properties, Cassia’s take is quite
different. Book an Oriental Afternoon Tea (3pm-5pm; weekends only) for a dim
sum version of the usual spread. capellahotels.com
09
Fat Fuku: Private supper clubs are a trend in Singapore and one of the best
is run by popular food consultant and prolific author Annette Tan, who invites
diners into her home to learn, and taste, the secrets of Peranakan food. The
generous spread, created from treasured family recipes, covers at least seven
dishes and could include the likes of pork belly buah keluak biryani, oxtail
semur and cashew and macadamia nut tart with malted milk ice-cream. And that
odd name Fat Fuku? She says it “embraces the Chinese saying that it is good
fortune [fuku in Japanese] to be fat”. Bookings are taken for a minimum of six
people, maximum nine; Tuesdays to Fridays; BYO wine or pay a supplement for a
paired selection. fatfuku.com
10
Six Senses Maxwell.Dine and dream at Six Senses Maxwell, sister property to Six Senses
Duxton (T+I, June 8-9) and a hop from Maxwell Food Centre. Its Cook & Tras
Social Library (named for the dual corner addresses) is a terrific space with a
classy bookshop feel and Straits Chinese-influenced dishes, bar snacks, utterly
delicious sorbets (lychee and red dragonfruit; peppery Sichuan strawberry) and
teas such as white ginger and pear. There are shelves full of titles for guests
to borrow, conversation nooks with lounge seating, cocktail bar and private or
communal tables. The fit-out is by French designer Jacques Garcia, whose quirky
style is at play throughout this newish 120-room hotel in a restored
colonial-style 19th-century building, winner of Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment
Authority Architectural Heritage Award. There are four accommodation
categories, all with customised furniture, vintage rugs, original artwork and
beautifully soft organic cotton sheets. Splurge on a Terrace guestroom with
private balcony (pictured) or the blue-accented Maxwell Suite. sixsenses.com
Susan Kurosawa
ASSOCIATE EDITOR (TRAVEL)
Susan
Kurosawa is an award-winning travel columnist and Associate Editor of The
Australian. The daughter of a foreign
correspondent, she has been gallivanting since the age of three and nominates
India as her favourite destination.
Review by Ken Hickson for The Avenue for Creative Arts, The Art of Travel and Expat Choice:
This is the truth. The whole truth: This production of The Truth is honestly, truthfully one of the best plays I’ve seen in a long time – East of the West End!
Brilliant set. The work of Petrina Dawn Tan. If Singapore could create a smart city like this innovative, mobile structure it would be world beating. Acting was up there with the best too.
Four experienced hands in this deceptively funny play on words, deeds and dates.
There’s Vivek Gomber, Cynthia Lee MacQuarie, Lim Yu-Beng and Neo Swee Lin.
Caught in the act! A staged state of affairs!
Go while you can.
But if you’re having an affair of any sort that your partner doesn’t know about, you better see this play on your own. Or with a new date.
Then you might get away with it!
This Singapore Repertory Theatre production of The Truth runs until 20 April.
If you think of an artist’s studio you might picture a room, bright with light and splattered with paint. You must forget that image when you visit the Argentinian artist Tomás Saraceno. His studio is two big and old industrial units, covered in graffiti, in what was East Berlin. This was where the company AGFA developed and made the chemicals that made colour photography possible. The ground is so polluted Saraceno’s lease forbids him from growing any vegetables – and this matters to this environmentally concerned artist. But the industrial past of Studio Saracen is fitting as Tomás’ work is highly technical. Here he has an architecture department, an arachnid research laboratory and an engineering works. He has about 40 people working on different projects.
Art and cutting-edge technology come alive
at the Art x Tech for Good exhibition
The MeshMinds Foundation has partnered with LASALLE College of the Arts to champion the sustainable development of people and the planet through art and technology.
Art and technology come to life at the Art x Tech for Good exhibition on 18 January 2019. The exhibition is organised by The MeshMinds Foundation and arts management students from LASALLE’s BA(Hons) programme, and is a part of Singapore Art Week 2019.
Running from 19 – 27 January 2019 at Roger & Sons, the exhibition will feature artworks by
LASALLE students that address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (UN SDGs), such as combating climate change and reducing inequality.
Thirteen students from LASALLE’s Broadcast Media, Fine Arts and Music programmes were
mentored by lecturers and technology partners on ways to conceptualise art using hardware
such as HTC’s Vive Virtual Reality System, Apple’s iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, Lenovo’s
Mirage Solo and All-in-One desktop as well as software such as Google’s Tilt Brush and Blocks
and Autodesk’s Recap Pro and Fusion 360. Over the course of four months, the students
pushed the boundaries of their artistic practice with new media such as Augmented Reality,
Virtual Reality, 3D Printing and Internet of Things.
“Harnessing digital technology allows our artists to enhance their creative workflow, push the
boundaries of their mediums and reach new audiences. Through a series of engaging
workshops, talks and performances, our exhibition aims to promote public awareness for
sustainable consumption and lifestyles, as well as show how we can use creative technology to
achieve the UN SDGs”, said Kay Poh Gek Vasey, Founder of The MeshMinds Foundation.
Professor Steve Dixon, President of LASALLE College of the Arts, further added: “Art and
technology share a common root – the human imagination. This collaboration presents a unique
opportunity for our talented students, across multiple disciplines, to experiment with art forms
and the latest technology to imagine solutions to global issues and inspire hope in the process.”
Some of the artwork highlights of this exhibition include:
PART OF SUPPORTED BY
Replay by Cheng Yu Hung (Music) Replay is an interactive musical instrument made from upcycled materials to encourage visitors
to think more about what they could do to reduce waste by reusing or recycling everyday
objects. The instrument reuses e-waste and other discarded materials and operates just like a
gaming console. Playing this instrument is just like playing a game using the controller
Sabaism by R. Yashini (Fine Arts) Sabaism is a 3D printed sculpture that aims to bring a physical dimension to the phenomena of
light pollution. In 2016, Singapore was named the country with the worst level of light pollution in
the world – with a pollution level of 100%. Using data visualisation techniques combined with
mapping of the luminosity levels of various areas in Singapore, visitors are invited to observe
the organic landscapes created using a 3D printer
Amusement Park 2100 by Alex Pan & Leon Oh (Broadcast Media) Amusement Park 2100 is an immersive VR piece in an which portrays an imagined future due to
negative effects of climate change. The experience aims to have a positive impact towards
raising awareness on the individual’s capacity in helping to prevent climate change through
collective action before it’s too late!
On Thursday, 24 January 2019, 6.30 – 8.30pm, expect an evening of good conversations and
networking, hosted by Guest of Honour, Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Regional Director at UN
Environment Asia and the Pacific. Connect with industry leaders from Singapore’s creative, tech
and media communities. The session kicks off with an interactive panel discussion followed by a
fun, informal evening where guests can mix and mingle, pick up a few tips, and learn how a job
in the creative technology industry could lead to changing the world.
Event Details:
● Event Name: The MeshMinds Foundation and LASALLE College of the Arts present:
Art x Tech for Good
● Opening Date: 18 Jan 2019, 7pm. Exhibition duration 19 – 27 Jan 2019.
● Location: Roger&Sons, 115 King George’s Avenue, Singapore 208561
● Opening Times: Monday to Thursday: 11am – 8pm; Friday to Sunday: 11am till late
● Admission: Free
● Website: http://meshminds.com
● Social handles: @meshminds on Facebook; @meshminds.foundation on Instagram
About The MeshMinds Foundation
The MeshMinds Foundation is a not-for-profit arts organisation focused on enabling sustainable
development through creative technology. Partnering with the world’s most socially responsible
companies, The MeshMinds Foundation offers artists the latest technology, training and
mentoring to create immersive artworks and experiences focused on the sustainable
development of people and the planet. For more information, visit http://meshminds.com/
About LASALLE College of the Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore is a leading tertiary institution in cutting-edge
contemporary arts and design education and practice. The College offers more than 30 diploma,
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fine arts, design communication, interior
design, product design, film, animation, fashion, dance, music, theatre, arts management, arts
pedagogy and practice, art therapy, Asian art histories and creative writing.
Its faculty is led by a community of award-winning artists, designers, educators and researchers,
and their practice-led research sets LASALLE apart as an international centre of excellence.
Critically acclaimed alumni form the core of the cultural and creative sectors in Singapore and
increasingly internationally.
Founded in 1984 by de la Salle Brother Joseph McNally – a visionary artist and educator –
LASALLE is a not-for-profit, private educational institution. LASALLE receives tuition grant
support from the Singapore Ministry of Education. Its degree programmes are validated by
Goldsmiths, University of London. For more information, visit: https://www.lasalle.edu.sg
About Singapore Art Week
“Art x Tech for Good” is part of Singapore Art Week (19 – 27 January 2019). A joint initiative by
the National Arts Council, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Economic
Development Board, Singapore Art Week reinforces Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading arts
destination. The nine-day celebration of the visual arts offers a myriad of quality art experiences,
from art fairs, gallery openings, exhibitions, lifestyle events and public art walks, to enriching
discussions on art and culture. www.artweek.sg
