Graffiti Alchemist: Journey Of Knowledge And Chromatic Craft at The Columns Gallery. Cyril Kongo Exhibition The Columns Gallery at Gillman Barracks presents a solo exhibition by French-Vietnamese artist Cyril Kongo, bringing some of his works as well as his collaborations with luxury brands like Hermes to Singapore from Seoul, where he has just completed his first solo exhibition. Kongo’s street art-inspired work is characterised by his trademark explosion of colours, shapes and ciphers, and the show here includes a work directly spray-painted onto aluminium shutters, overlaid with neon lights.
Kongo, who first gained attention as a tagger and graffiti artist in Paris, has in the last two decades become an internationally recognised figure and a sought-after artist for fashion collaborations. Two dresses he worked on for Chanel’s Paris-New York 2018/19 Metiers d’art collection take pride of place, alongside his Hermes scarves from the brand’s 2011 collection. Each piece is a whirl of ancient symbols with contemporary graffiti – a combination of spray paint, stencils, ink and markers on linen that is its unique brand of kitschy beauty.
The exhibition is titled Graffiti Alchemist: Journey Of Knowledge And Chromatic Craft, and comes after Kongo launched his first studio in Singapore on May 30. La Maison Kongo is located in The Mill, a Gothic tower in Bukit Merah, and doubles as Kongo’s home in Singapore. Where: The Columns Gallery Singapore, 22 Lock Road, Gillman Barracks When: Till Sept 25, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am to 7pm; Sundays, noon to 6pm; closed on Mondays Admission: Free Info: str.
sg/7mvQ Ada Kerak Ada Nasi Ada Kerak Ada Nasi stars a new generation of actors and a live cello performance. PHOTO: GUNONG SAYANG ASSOCIATION A Malay proverb meaning burnt crust is the result of cooking rice, Ada Kerak Ada Nasi is also the title of Gunong Sayang Association’s first production in five years – a “comeback” play following the association’s recognition with the Steward of Intangible Cultural Heritage award in 2022. Li Li, one of a trio of daughters to Peranakan matriarch Gan Guek Neo, returns from Britain to Singapore after 35 years, igniting tensions between the sisters and their mother ahead of brother Benjamin’s imminent marriage.
But what secrets lie behind her sudden appearance? Frederick Soh writes this Wayang Peranakan predominantly presented in Baba Malay and interspersed with Hokkien and English, accompanied by surtitles and a glossary in the programme booklet. The play, also featuring a live cello performance by Alexi Thomas, gives a new generation of actors – Soh’s daughter Kristel, Christina Wee and Athanasius Ooi – a chance to show off their chops, as well as Andrew Ding and Justin Wong, who run a Peranakan kueh business and are beginners in Baba Malay. Soh hopes the play – which explores choices and consequences, and the sacrifices of elder siblings in larger families – will resonate.
“Every family has someone like that. I think the older generation will identify with this because it was very prevalent in the past.” Where: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard When: Sept 27, 8pm; and Sept 28, 2 and 8pm Admission: $68 and $78 Info: str.
sg/hSzH Beacon Home-grown opera Beacon is composed by Jonathan Shin with a libretto by Joel Tan. PHOTO: THE OPERA PEOPLE The Opera People’s first full-length opera commission, composed by Jonathan Shin with a libretto by Joel Tan, is an otherworldly one complete with lesbian love. Klara, a scientist, journeys into outer space in search of a beacon, while dealing with the abandonment of her English professor partner Phoebe.
On board, she is tended to by a sentient AI named Wisdom and joined by two other scientists, Malachi and Antony, who have their own motives and entanglements. The performances at the Esplanade Annexe Studio on Aug 16 and 17 are work-in-progress presentations, meaning that audience members will hear only excerpts of the opera. These are performed by Kira Lim, Phoebe Chee, Rebecca Reavley and Zachary Dominguez, who are accompanied by musicians from professional chamber group Wayfarer Sinfonietta and conducted by Dr Lien Boon Hua.
Feedback sessions with Shin and Tan end the shows directed by veteran Edith Podesta. Shin, who has been composing the opera at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, says: “As someone with a personal interest in drama, text and the voice as an instrument, crafting, distorting and decorating music to Joel’s libretto about love and temporality has given me immense personal joy.” Where: Esplanade Annexe Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive When: Aug 16 and 17, 7.
30pm Admission: $15 Info: str.sg/HzAz Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now.
