Arts Picks: Cyril Kongo at Gillman Barracks, home-grown opera Beacon and concert by Chinese orchestra (2024)

Cyril Kongo Graffiti Alchemist: Journey of Knowledge And Chromatic Craft

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.

Where: The Columns Gallery, 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

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 Stewards 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

The Opera People’s first full-length opera commission, composed by Jonathan Shin with a libretto by Joel Tan, is an otherworldly one.

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 have 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

Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra Concert

Marking its 50th anniversary, one of Singapore’s pioneer community Chinese orchestras established in 1974 is presenting a concert titled Firande, together with its affiliate orchestra Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra.

Curated by the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra’s music director Sim Boon Yew, as well as conductors Chin Yen Choong and Dedric Wong, the special programme includes commemorative pieces like East-flowing Yangtze River and suonaconcertoFarewell My Concubine, as well as classic literary work The White-Haired Girl Suite.

The latter is originally a five-act opera that depicts the changing fates of Chinese peasants.

For the occasion, over 100 current and former orchestra members have been brought together, with more than 80 having been part of the orchestra for over a decade.

Some, such as Huang Xixi and Li Qishuang, have been with the orchestra since its inception.

Members of the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra come from diverse professions and age groups.

In the last 50 years, it has put on over200 concerts and was honoured with the National Youth Service Award in 1993.

Where: Singapore Conference Hall, 7 Shenton Way
When: Aug 25, 3pm
Admission: $15
Info: str.sg/HEgt