WOHA @ Royal Academy of Arts

Sunset cabana, Alilia Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia, 2004-09 by WOHA Photo: Tim Griffith

On Tuesday 23rd  October, the Royal Academy of Arts will present an evening lecture from WOHA, Singapore based architecture practice.

WOHA: Evening Lecture

Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell, founders of Singapore practice WOHA, present their concept of ‘Breathing Architecture’ through a wide range of projects – from a single storey resort in Bali to a 60-storey housing project for 20,000 people in Mumbai, and a speculative city of 5 million on just 45 square kilometres – which respond to issues of urbanisation, density, sustainability and climate in Asia and the tropics.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Geological Society, Piccadilly, W1; 6.30–7.45pm

£12/£6 reductions (includes a drink)

Click here to Book.

PROJECT: slingSHORT 2012 Event Report

PROJECT: slingSHORT was postponed from 28th July 2012 to 8th August 2012 due to the roads around Regents Park and Park Mall being closed off for the Olympics Road Cycling.

The sixth edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT is curated by Melbourne based Singaporean filmmaker David Shiyang Liu. The screening featured six short films ranging from award winning to new and underground talents, lasting 72 minutes in total. The line-up included:

Labour Day by He Shuming
Filem by Kent Chan
Hentak Kaki by James Khoo
Kitchen Quartet by Nicole Midori Woodford
Mrs Santha Bhaskar by Tara Tan
A Rainy Season by Alicia Lim

Guests were also given a programme with write-ups about each film, the curator’s note and Singapore Heritage Society. There was a drinks reception after the screening.

 “Great Event. Laughed at some of them, moved by some of them, made hungry by one of them. Thanks for organising. Should be a regular event. Singapore has a lot of homegrown talent and we should cherish them. well done!” – Gee Loong, member of audience

PROJECT: slingSHORT and the Pop-Up Shop are both in support of the Singapore Heritage Society. Singapore Heritage Society is a non-profit, non-government, registered charity based in Singapore, dedicated to the preservation, transmission and promotion of Singapore’s history, heritage and identity.

project showcase: {ART}

project showcase: {ART}

Throw all inhibitions out the door, get ready to question perception and experience the reality of your emotions and memory as PUSH! presents...

{ART}, showcasing some of the most talented Singaporean fine art artists based in London, having completed their Masters at Chelsea and Camberwell amongst others. The works range from film to drawings to mixed mediums, each deeply studied and strongly narrated.

Private View:

6 AUG, 7PM - 9:30PM 

PUSH!

17 Dorset Square, London NW1 6QB

Click here to RSVP 

Gallery Opening Hours: 11AM - 4PM

Featuring:

RUYI WONG/ RUSSELL MORTON/ JARROD SIM/ JOEL YUEN/ ASHLEY YEO/ JOANNA NG

Private View at SOFT LINES, HARD EDGES

The private view of  Soft Lines, Hard Edges was held at PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House) on 24th July 2012. The private view was held in conjunction with the Opening Nigh of PUSH!

New York based Singaporean ceramics artist Wee Hong-Ling and photographer Yap Lay-Bee’s exhibit Soft Lines, Hard Edges presents their range of new works. The idea of a sanctum and the sense of place tie the ceramic sculptures by Hong Ling and photography by Lay Bee in a permanent 3 month long exhibition of their works from 24th July till 23 September 2012.

Lay Bee's photographic journey is to explore and capture the life and flow of the city: its cityscape, buildings and spaces with play of lights, shadows, and intriguing sense of place. In each photograph, she wishes to capture an impression that could not be seen without the use of her camera. Hence, through the work, she strives to accentuate the lines, abstractness, fluidity and geometry of spaces. These photographs are her storybook of the City.

In Lulang Houses, the notion of a ‘house’ is a critical metaphor. This work is inspired by Wee’s travels to Tibet. The artist explores the elusive qualities that define a sanctum. Despite the serene exterior of the houses, the surfaces unfold a dynamic power occupying the interior, pushing against the inner surface in bulges and dents suggesting signs of life, energy and passion within. One is granted only limited access inside through the narrow slits of rectilinear portals. Wee eliminates the unnecessary and focuses on the home as the experience of a quiet space of comfort and relationships. The work purposes to conjure a sense of departure from the familiar and bring the viewer to a place of fantasy and imagination with the intent of finding a greater meaning and understanding of what is hidden away, just beyond the obvious.

BATTLE OF THE BAK KUT THE

Supperclubs +65, headed by Goz, pitches against Wild Serai, in a battle of Singaporean Bak Kut Teh versus Malaysian Bak Kuh Teh. All in the name of charity – Action against Hunger UK.

Action Against Hunger is a non-government, non-profit, non-religious international humnaitarian organization committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition and providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger.

On 29th July 2012 at PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House) guests were seated in both Upper and Lower galleries and each guest were served a bowl each of Singaporean and Malaysian, a bowl of rice and a dough stick. Guests were then told to vote for their favourite Bak Kut Teh through donations and public votes. The final results annouced was Singapore winning both people’s choice (public votes) and donation amount (money raised for Action Against Hunger).

The event ended with the gallery still smelling of Bak Kut Teh days after. The hugely popular and overbooked event (selling out days before the actual launch of PUSH!) prompted many guests to ask for a repeated session.

PROJECT: slingSHORT @ PUSH!

Creative [SIN]ergy is delighted to present the 6th edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT at Pop-Up Singapore House (PUSH). David Shiyang Liu will curate this edition of the screening which will be screened twice. Once during the opening night of PUSH and the second screening will also be held at PUSH on Wednesday 8th August. This screening will be in aid of Singapore Heritage Society.

PROJECT: slingSHORT
Wednesday 8th August,
7.00 - 9.00pm
17 Dorset Square, London, NW1 6QB

Featured short films:
Mrs Santha Bhaskar by Tara Tan
Labour Day by He Shuming
Filem by Kent Chan
Hentak Kaki by James Khoo
A Rainy Season by Alicia Lim
Kitchen Quartet by Nicole Midori Woodford

* Screening will start promptly at 7.20pm
This screening is in support of Singapore Heritage Society.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Creative [SIN]ergy presents, PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House). A non-profit project in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM and Platform 65 and supported by The Singapore High Commission in London, Overseas Singaporean and The Singapore International Foundation. PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.

For more information on Singapore Heritage Society click here.

Pop-Up Singapore House Featured on the Time Out Blog

Creative [SIN]ergy is delighted to announce that PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House) is Featured on the Time Out Blog.

Creative [SIN]ergy presents, PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House). A non-profit project in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM and Platform 65 and supported by The Singapore High Commission in London, Overseas Singaporean and The Singapore International Foundation. PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.

project showcase: {ART} Features Joanna Ng

Joanna Ng was born in 1989, on the sunny little island of Singapura. She has recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and History of Art at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has also exhibited as part of several group exhibitions such as Goldsmiths Debuts (Red Bull Studios), Produce (Blossoming Together Café) and Southeast Art Feast (Utrophia).

Joanna’s art practice is concerned with ‘things’ that inhabit our everyday. No, it is not that she has a weird fetish for inanimate things, but rather, she is entirely enchanted by how much we place so much of ourselves in objects that we forget what exactly they are. Through the use of illusion and double-take, she hopes to punctuate the everyday-ness of the everyday and evoke appreciation and curiosity within the viewer. As Georges Perec as quipped, ‘Question your teaspoons.’ 

Joanna Ng will be featured in project showcase: {ART} at PUSH! (Pop-Up Sinagpore House)

Join us for the private view of project showcase: {ART}

6 August 2012, 7PM - 9:30PM 

PUSH!

17 Dorset Square, London NW1 6QB

project showcase: {ART}
Exhibition runs from 6th August to 11th August
Opening Hours: 11am - 4pm

project showcase: {ART} Features Ashley Yeo

Born in 1990, Ashley recently completed her Bachelors Degree with First Class Honours in Fine Arts at LASALLE College of the Arts.

Ashley Yeo has participated in numerous exhibitions and and is the receipient of the Lasalle Award of Academic Excellence(2011), Winston Oh Travel Award(2010) and NAC scholarship (Local) in 2010 and will be completing her Masters in Fine Art in Chelsea College, London.

Her drawings touch on reflections of the nature of being and existing. There had been an exploration on lightness and fragility, which eventually led to some existential angst and reflections on the language and limitations of drawing. Recent works explore the idea of slowness and working within a construct of creating depth and curiosity. 

Ashley Yeo will be featured in project showcase: {ART} at PUSH! (Pop-Up Sinagpore House)

Join us for the private view of project showcase: {ART}

6 August 2012, 7PM - 9:30PM 

PUSH!

17 Dorset Square, London NW1 6QB

project showcase: {ART}
Exhibition runs from 6th August to 11th August
Opening Hours: 11am - 4pm

project showcase: {ART} Features Joel Yuen

Joel Yuen graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in photography and digital imaging from Nanyang Technological University, and will complete a Master of Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art & Design in 2012. Since 2008, Joel has actively participated in numerous art exhibitions and competitions. His insightful concepts, along with innovative approach to various media have won him the prestigious 27th UOB Painting of the Year Award (2008) and a merit prize in the first Ngee Ann Distinguished Sculpture Awards (2010). The artist’s works have also been collected by the Singapore Art Museum. 

Joel Yuen will be featured in project showcase: {ART} at PUSH! (Pop-Up Sinagpore House)

Join us for the private view of project showcase: {ART}

6 August 2012, 7PM - 9:30PM 

PUSH!

17 Dorset Square, London NW1 6QB

project showcase: {ART}
Exhibition runs from 6th August to 11th August
Opening Hours: 11am - 4pm

PROJECT: slingSHORT 2012

Creative [SIN]ergy is delighted to present the 6th edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT at Pop-Up Singapore House (PUSH). David Shiyang Liu will curate this edition of the screening which will be screened twice. Once during the opening night of PUSH and the second screening will also be held at PUSH on Sat 28th July. This second screening will be in aid of Singapore Heritage Society.

PROJECT: slingSHORT

Saturday 28th July, 3.00pm

17 Dorset Square, London, NW1 6QB

Featured short films:

Mrs Santha Bhaskar by Tara Tan (3 mins)

Labour Day by He Shuming

Filem by Kent Chan

Hentak Kaki by James Khoo

A Rainy Season by Alicia Lim (5 mins)

Kitchen Quartet by Nicole Midori Woodford

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Creative [SIN]ergy presents, PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House). A non-profit project in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM andPlatform 65 and supported by Singapore International Foundation. PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.

For more information on Singapore Heritage Society click here.

PUSH! Opening Night

24th July 2012 saw the opening night of PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House) a non-profit project . After nearly a year of planning and preparations, the doors finally opened at a listed Georgian Townhouse on Dorset Square.

PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.

PUSH! is presented by Creative [SIN]ergy in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM and Platform 65 and supported by The Singapore High Commission in London, Overseas Singaporean and The Singapore International Foundation. 
The opening night started with a private view of ceramics artist Wee Hong-Ling and photographer Yap Lay-Bee’s exhibit Soft Lines, Hard Edges, and light and laser artist Iyvone Khoo’s Celerity in the lower gallery floor.

In the upper gallery, Iyvone Khoo screened her award winning The Moth Catcher that was recently awarded Finalist in Singapore Shorts, short film category. The Pop-Up Shop was also open, with items on display in a lovely white bookshelf. The Pop-Up Shop is in support of Singapore Heritage Society and is made up of contributions by Singaporean design students and established Singapore design studios.

Following the arrival of the Singapore High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, PUSH! was officially opened with a speech from his Excellency and venue sponsors RSP Planet Design Studios and Clara Yee from Creative [SIN]ergy.

Electro pop sensation Sharliza Jelita performed selected songs off her debut album Strange Things. A Reception was held after the performance, with a bar and food cartering from Edible Experiences’ supperclub members Two Hungry Girls and East London Singaporean fusion food café Momowich.

The food was particularly popular with the guests, with the most raved about item being the Aranchinese balls created by Singaporean supperclub geniuses Leigh and Shuwen of Two Hungry Girls.

Guests were also particularly fascinated with Iyvone Khoo’s laser installation, Celerity, and one of the guest, lawyer Phillip Hindley comparing it to “Rene Magritte’s surreal little world”.

PROJECT: slingSHORT Curator's Notes

As storytellers in film, we inevitably become ambassadors of our own culture. Intentionally or otherwise, our stories are laced with  elements of our own upbringing. Our characters echo autobiographical shadows and intentions. Our themes, locations and observations are themselves symptomatic of the places we live in.

As Singaporeans, we often clamour after a colourful, yet conflicted identity. Our sense of belonging has been a natural, yet awkward consequence of post-colonial independence, strict authoritarian nation-building, and a passionate pursuit for good ethnic cuisine. When we travel we still have to explain to the sometimes-less-enlightened that we aren't 'a part of China' or 'Malaysia' or 'Thailand' - though we are near enough, but not quite. Not really.

We are a young country of many different origins meshed together in a small space. In some ways, we're still quite lost, still grasping at straws for our own stories, among our fellow countrymen, among our communities, and among our families. Technology and globalisation are widening the gulf between generations. The daily grind we call work is pulling us away from our children.

Our stories, when people can afford to tell them, have never been as disparate.

It's my pleasure to present these six films by six very talented young filmmakers, whose voices present a small but diverse palette of the Singaporean identity. You'll travel from the eyes of migrants both new and old, to children and military men finding their places in the world, and even to a cleverly self-aware local film set. 

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy this selection, many of which I think represent the new voices of filmmaking in Singapore today. Much kudos also goes to Brian, Clara and the rest of the Creative SINergy team for giving me this opportunity. Goodness knows how hard they've worked to bring this to you today.

David Shiyang Liu

July, 2012

David Shiyang Liu curates the 6th edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT

PROJECT: slingSHORT

Saturday 28th July, 3.00pm

17 Dorset Square, London, NW1 6QB

A Rainy Season Selected for PROJECT: slingSHORT

A Rainy Season by Alicia Lim has been selected for the 6th edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT. This year's screening is held in conjunction with PUSH! on Saturday 28th July at 3.00pm.

Synopsis:

In a not-so-tolerant society, Yu Jie's parents account their struggles with raising an autistic child. One may never guess that 10-year-old Yu Jie was once classified as a severely autistic child just a couple of years ago. Despite his inability to fit into the mainstream education system, he is smart, intelligent and creative. A Rainy Season is a little sunshine, light-hearted glimpse of his life.

Click here for more information on Alicia Lim.

PROJECT: slingSHORT

Wednesday 8th August,

7.00 - 9.00pm

17 Dorset Square, London, NW1 6QB

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Creative [SIN]ergy presents, PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House). A non-profit project in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM and Platform 65 and supported by Singapore International Foundation. PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.

Mrs Santha Bhaskar Selected for PROJECT: slingSHORT

Mrs Santha Bhaskar by Tara Tan has been selected for the 6th edition of PROJECT: slingSHORT. This year's screening is held in conjunction with PUSH! on Saturday 28th July at 3.00pm.

Synopsis:
A three-minute documentary on classical Indian dancer, Santha Bhaskar, 70, from Singapore. Originally from Kerala, she migrated to the Lion City in 1955 when she was 15 years old.

Well-known for her work in Indian classical dance in Singapore and Malaysia, Mrs Bhaskar also studied traditional Chinese, Malay, and Thai dance, which

she melds with her mastery of Indian dance forms like Mohini Attam, Bharatanatyam and Kathakali in her choreography.

A pioneer of the local Indian dance scene, Mrs Bhaskar is a recipient of the Cultural Medallion award, the Republic’s highest accolade for artists. Her daughter, Meena Bhaskar, and two grand–daughters are also classical Indian dancers and teachers.

Premiered at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Mrs Santha Bhaskar has had the fortune to be screened at Singapore Short Film Festival, Sinema, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Film Festival in Perth.

Click here for more information on Tara Tan.

PROJECT: slingSHORT

Wednesday 8th August,

7.00 - 9.00pm

17 Dorset Square, London, NW1 6QB

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Creative [SIN]ergy presents, PUSH! (Pop-Up Singapore House). A non-profit project in association with RSP Planet Design Studios, working in partnership with FARM and Platform 65 and supported by Singapore International Foundation. PUSH! presents an exciting summer of events, exhibitions, and workshops. Showcasing some of the best Singaporean talents from a diverse range of backgrounds including Visual, Literary, Theatrical, Design and Culinary Arts from around the globe in London.