- StyleYahoo Lifestyle Singapore
Singapore International Festival of Arts unveils line-up under new director
One of the headlining acts at SIFA 2018 is a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984”. Making his debut as new festival director, Gaurav Kripalani unveiled this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) line-up this week. Speaking at the media conference on Monday (5 Feb), the artistic director of the Singapore Repertory Theatre said, “I am thrilled to present a diverse range of art forms and world perspectives in a re-imagined presentation of the Festival to appeal to both newcomers and art enthusiasts.
- StyleReena Devi
The historic and untouched Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter to open to public for art exhibition
Some of the young artists being featured at the RAID exhibition (from left): Ivan David Ng, Nhawfal Juma’at, Jacqueline Sim and Vanessa Lim. As part of an exhibition for Singapore Art Week 2018 organised by young artists, from this weekend members of the public get to step inside the rarely opened Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter. The last remaining pre-war civilian air raid shelter still in existence today, Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter is also the only public housing building by the Singapore Improvement Trust to have been built with an air raid shelter as part of its design.
- StyleReena Devi
Art shouldn't be destroyed: Singapore artist Delia Prvacki on creating works for corporations
Anyone who has ever been to nightclub Zouk's former site in Jiak Kim Street will remember the iconic mosaic washbasin and bench outside the toilets. Perhaps you might have seen the mosaics and murals along the walls of Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station; or the 84 glazed porcelain elements above the café on the first floor of Marine Parade Library; or the sculptures behind the reception desk at the Westin Hotel.
- StyleReena Devi
Singapore's Civic District to be transformed into a glittering night wonderland in January
Singapore’s Civic District will be transformed into a nocturnal wonderland later this month during the second Light to Night festival. Spearheaded by National Gallery Singapore, the festival will see the district bedecked with light projections, colourful spaces and mirror illusions from 19 to 28 January 2018. More than 80 food and craft stalls will operate at The Padang, while there will also be programmes such as readings, music performances, poetry recitations and artist talks. National Gallery Singapore’s City Hall façade will become a dazzling interactive canvas.
- StyleReena Devi
Experience late night visual art and music at Singapore Art Museum in January-March
If you are into contemporary art and live music, the Singapore Art Museum is the place to be on the second Friday night of every month. Visitors can catch the ongoing exhibition, Cinerama: Art and the Moving Image in Southeast Asia, featuring animation, films and audio-visual installations by contemporary artists across Asia, and meet its lead curator. The exhibition, which closes at 9pm on Fridays, explores individual and collective memory, identity and politics through moving images.
- StyleMarcus Goh
6 Asian film stars who will make waves in Hollywood in 2018
Disney has cast Chinese actress Liu Yifei to star in its live-action version of “Mulan”. The past few years have seen an increasing number of Asian stars making it big in Hollywood, with Singapore’s very own Chin Han having been signed on by Creative Artists Agency in the United States, an American talent agency that manages the likes of Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, and Will Smith.
- StyleElizabeth Tong
S.H.E finally performs together again after more than a year at countdown concert
More than a year after their last performance on stage, popular Mandopop trio S.H.E finally performed together again at the Zhejiang Satellite TV concert on 30 December. The three-member group, made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella, performed several of their hit songs, including “Flowers Have Blossomed”, “Genesis” and “SHERO”. Known for being one of the longest-running groups in the Mandopop scene, S.H.E recently celebrated their 16th anniversary together in September 2016.
- StyleElizabeth Tong
Who to expect on 'Idol Producer', China's unofficial Produce 101 clone
Chinese online video platform iQiyi is set to launch a new talent survival reality show, “Idol Producer”, which will feature several top K-pop stars from China and Hong Kong. In addition to Chinese singer-songwriter Li Ronghao and Chinese-American rapper MC Jin, “Idol Producer” has also gotten several Chinese K-pop idols to appear on the show as ‘mentors’. GOT7’s Jackson Wang, EXO’s Lay, Cosmic Girls’ Cheng Xiao, Pristin’s Jieqiong are all slated to appear on the show, which will start airing on 19 January.
- StyleElizabeth Tong
5 TV show reboots and remakes to look forward to in 2018
2017 already saw the return of popular TV shows such as “Twin Peaks”, “Prison Break” and “Star Trek”. Taiwanese producer Angie Chai, who helmed the original 2001 drama, announced that a 48-episode reboot is slated for release in 2018. According to Mingpao, Chai shared that she wanted to bring “Meteor Garden” back on the small screen after the popular manga’s creator completed the whole story.
- StyleStaff Writer, Singapore
Yahoo Singapore's Top TV shows of 2017
This decade will probably long be remembered as the golden age of television, and 2017 was no exception. With streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime heating up the scene, the quality of TV shows across all platforms has grown exponentially. Some quality series were favourites with our team, winning deserving places on Yahoo Singapore’s Top 5 list this year.
- StyleReena Devi
Singapore is the only place for our futuristic ideas, says Japanese art collective teamLab
This time their multi-sensory immersive installation, Digital Light Canvas opens up the entire space at the former skating rink at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, allowing visitors to view the visually-arresting digital show and special effects from several floors.
- StyleReena Devi
Artist Seelan Palay set to open independent arts space
The artist who was charged under the Public Order Act for his performance art piece outside the Parliament House in October has opened an independent arts space at a block of shophouses along French Road. Seelan Palay, 32, is the mind behind Coda Culture, an independent artist-run space that is due to open next month following three years of planning.
- StyleReena Devi
More young buskers staking their claim on Singapore streets
Challenging the notion that busking is a pursuit of the down and out, more young people in Singapore are taking up the profession. Despite the unpredictable weather, space constraints and licensing issues, they are taking to the streets to express themselves creatively while earning some money at the same time. Performing mostly in Orchard Road and Clarke Quay, their acts range from playing music to dancing – and even knife throwing.
- StyleElizabeth Tong
Indonesia's The Sacred Riana beats Filipino dance group DMX to Asia's Got Talent title
The Sacred Riana might be silent, freaky and scary, but she still stole the hearts (and maybe souls) of people all over Asia, walking away with US$100,000 as the winner of the second season of Asia’s Got Talent. Both The Sacred Riana and DMX Comvalenoz also performed during the results show at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Riana’s magic act involved one of the judges, Korean-American artist Jay Park, who said, “I think I peed in my pants a little (a line he has also said about her acts in the past).” During her previous performances, the 25-year-old Riana had been known to deliberately scare another judge, Indonesian singer Anggun.
- StyleElizabeth Tong
Jay Park debuts first Roc Nation single in Singapore at Asia's Got Talent results show
Korean-American star Jay Park premiered his first single with Roc Nation, “Forget About Tomorrow”, at the final episode of Asia’s Got Talent on Thursday (14 December). Park performed the song alongside American dance electronic artist Yultron and six dancers on stage at the results show for the competition, which saw Indonesia’s Sacred Riana taking the grand prize at the Marina Bay Sands.
- StyleReena Devi
Malaysian YouTube star Namewee hopes to shoot new movie in 'very clean' Singapore
Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Namewee had such a good experience shooting his new music video “Funny Action” in Singapore with local director Jack Neo earlier this year that he is hoping he can shoot his new movie in the city-state. “It’s a good place to take picture[s] and shoot [a] music video, because it’s clean. When asked whether the film could be controversial, the singer-director-actor, who first gained notoriety 10 years ago for a remixed version of the Malaysian national anthem on YouTube, replied, “I don’t think so.
- StyleYahoo Lifestyle Singapore
PPAP-creator Pikotaro is earning more now than what you think
Unh! Ever since the comical Pikotaro — who dons an iconic yellow outfit with a leopard-print scarf — came up with the catchy Pen Pineapple Apple Pen (PPAP) song, his popularity has skyrocketed. Apart from moving into the role of a producer, the Japanese comedian also recently had the honour of performing at the official state reception when President Donald Trump visited Japan. Despite his success now, Pikotaro was previously known by his other stage name, Daimaou Kosaka.
- StyleMarcus Goh
Review: 'Birth of the Dragon' is misleading and actually focuses on Bruce Lee's student
The whole problem with “Birth of the Dragon” is that the dragon, Bruce Lee, is already an established martial artist in the film. You’d expect a film with such a title and subject to showcase the origins of Bruce Lee, but what this martial arts film does is something completely different.
- StyleReena Devi
Dog circus show at Resorts World Sentosa cancelled after taking online flak
Following negative feedback from netizens, the Chinese New Year Dog Circus 2018 show scheduled for February 2018 has been cancelled.
- StyleReena Devi
Flashbang organisers say unfamiliarity with artists was behind controversy
Organisers for Flashbang say the recent controversy about their invitation to musicians and buskers to perform at their event for exposure was due to their unfamiliarity with engaging artists. Earlier this month, musician Amanda Tee posted on Facebook an email she received from Invade inviting her to perform at Flashbang, Singapore’s first and largest creative retail playground in Orchard Road. In spite of the online flak from musicians such as Tee and Sam Driscoll, organisers have managed to fill all the slots for their paid performances and have also invited professional emcees to host their open mic performances.
- StyleNurul Azliah
‘He was very down-to-earth’: Singapore clay artist talks working with John Legend
While clay artist Jocelyn Teo has created works for local celebrities such as Sugie Phua and Sylvester Sim, the 30-year-old never imagined that she would one day receive an email query from the manager of international R&B star John Legend. The clay artist of eight years then had to contain her excitement before her six-minute FaceTime call with the “All of Me” singer. The project was a birthday gift for Legend’s model wife Chrissy Teigen, and it required Teo to create 15 miniature food sculptures replicating the dishes from Teigen’s cookbook “Cravings”.
- StyleNurul Azliah
Singer-songwriter Boon Hui Lu wows the crowd on 'Taiwan Hopestar' talent show
Local singer-songwriter Boon Hui Lu, 23, impressed the judges and audience on live talent show “Taiwan Hopestar” on Saturday (2 December), when she performed “Stranger in the North” by Malaysian hip hop artist Namewee and Chinese-American singer Wang Leehom. Boon sang and rapped to the ballad and received loud applause from the audience at the end of her three-minute performance.
- StyleReena Devi
Singapore artist creates the perfect illustration for local foodies
Singapore foodies, if you ever wanted a detailed, vivid illustration of every single culinary dish of your desire and taste, local illustrator Lee Xin Li’s newest work is for you. The 29-year-old illustrator, who works at DP Architects, is known for his nostalgic and highly detailed illustrations drawing inspiration from his childhood memories, culture and heritage in Singapore. He posted the illustration on Instagram and Behance, an online platform for creatives, on Tuesday (5 December).
- StyleNurul Azliah
John Legend gifts Chrissy Teigen mini food sculptures made by Singapore artist
“Nothing is impossible,” said Singapore clay artist Jocelyn Teo on Instagram over the weekend, after it was revealed that American singer John Legend had given his model wife Chrissy Teigen miniature food sculptures created by the artist. Teo had been working on 15 miniature food replicas based on Teigen’s recipe book “Cravings” since August this year, and had even discussed with the 38-year-old “All of Me” singer over Facetime about the project. According to Teo, it was Teigen who had introduced Legend to Aiclay, the name of Teo’s miniature sculpture business.
- StyleStaff Writer, Singapore
PHOTOS: K-pop royalty at the MAMA 2017 red carpet in Hong Kong
From thigh-high slits, a boob peep and a see-through dress, stars arrived at the Mnet Asian Music Awards red carpet in Hong Kong on Friday (1 December) showing off their flawless skin.Chinese actress and singer Karen Mok stood out that night with a see-through dress by Dior, complete with the brand’s signature underwear and bra, while South Korean actress Song Ji-hyo arrived in a sleek dark green dress with a slit on her chest.
