R.I.T.E.S & The Artists Village Artists-In-Residency Program presents:
[Sound Gig #05]
Featuring Mike Cooper, Yuzuru Maeda, Timothy O’Dwyer, Fung Sheong Ying
Friday 18 May 2012, 7pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $10 (+1 drink) available from the box office
Contact Mish’aal boxoffice@substation.org / 6337 7800

Mike Cooper will present “White Shadow in the South Seas”, a silent film screening with a live score written and performed by the artist. The silent film is based on 1919 novel of the same title by Frederick O’Brien, directed by W.S. Van Dyke and Robert Flaherty in 1928. The film is known for being the first MGM picture to be released with a pre-recorded soundtrack and a supporting cast of Tahitian Islanders and actors from Hollywood. Yuzuru Maeda will present her recent musical processes with an electro acoustic performance, unfolding her enduring search for the divine sound and devotional songs, Maeda will be performing with traditional instruments (Sarod, Harmonium) and prepared sound objects. Special guest performers; Timothy O’Dwyer and Fung Sheong Ying will join both the resident artists for a collaborative free improvisation as the closing session of the sound gig.

TAV AIR Artists’ Talk: by Mike Cooper and Yuzuru Maeda
Sunday 20 May 2012, 2pm-5pm
The Substation Random Room

Both artists will talk about their current practices and their proposed projects in the residency program. For more info on TAV AIR program – http://www.tav.org.sg/artistsinresidency/

About the Artists

For the past 40 years Mike Cooper has traced a path completely his own as an international musical explorer, performing and recording, solo and in a number of inspired groupings and a variety of genres. With his roots lying in acoustic country blues he has, arguably, stretched the possibilities of the guitar even more than his better known contemporaries Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourne, etc. by pursuing it into the more avant-garde musical areas also occupied by contemporary guitar innovators such as Elliott Sharp, Keith Rowe, Fred Frith and Marc Ribot, with an eclectic mix of the many styles he has practiced over the years. Ranging freely through traditional country blues, folk, original songs, free improvisation, pop songs, exotica, electronic music, electro-acoustic music, and ‘sonic gestural’ playing utilising open tunings and extended techniques. Cooper’s acclaimed multi-genre musical practice had acceded the artist himself, with critics ostensibly describing him as an “Italian-based post-everything musician.”

Yuzuru Maeda is born in Japan in 1978. Maeda had received a Music BA from the LaSalle Collage of Arts, Singapore in 2009 and currently works and lives in Singapore. As her musical practice, the artist produces soundtracks, jingles and music compositions for independent films, commercials. She performs mainly with the Sanshin (Japanese), Sarod (Indian) and Violin (Classical) fusing her acoustic sensibilities with electronic compositions. Her musical lineage is established through her personal research and study of modern musical masters, La Monte Young and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. She explores music making and sound production in the cross-cultural contexts of contemporary music and her musical works are described as ‘Beyond time and space’, which express about the divine energy and spirituality. As an extension to her musical practice, Maeda has been making video-based works under the title of “Zentai Art Project” (2011). These video works are prolific explorations of moving-images that had fused her musical insights with her intuition in the visual aesthetics. Maeda’s inherent inter-disciplinary approach brings out the “Zentai” sub-culture to investigate into the human conditions of identity, spiritual connections with cosmic energy in the universe and as a means to come to terms with the artist’s living environment.

Timothy O’Dwyer is a saxophonist, composer and educator, currently Head of the School of Contemporary Music at LASALLE. Timothy’s career has constantly stretched across borders of genre, performance practice, and art forms. Trained as a jazz musician at the Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne, Australia) graduating with a BA Music in 1993 he furthered his studies with a tuition grant from the Australian Council for the Arts in 1995 studying with new complexity composer Richard Barrett in Amsterdam and visionary saxophonist/ improviser Evan Parker in London. O’Dwyer was a founding member of the seminal punk-jazz group bucketrider from Melbourne (1992) who went on to release four acclaimed CDs including tributes to Sun Ra, late period John Coltrane and supports for Zena Geva (Jap) and Sonic Youth (US). He has been a member of Elision Contemporary Ensemble since 1994 premiering many new works for the saxophone and composing works for the ensemble that have premiered at arts festivals throughout many countries. The artist formed the Tim O’Dwyer Trio in 2005, has released two CDs and with them has performed at jazz festivals all over the world, including the 2010 Montreux Jazz Festival. Timothy had won the Bell and Aria awards for best jazz album as a member of Australian pianist Andrea Keller’s group. Timothy’s collaborative work has spanned dance, installation, poetry, and sculpture to film. He is currently a PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology, Australia, researching Deleuze.

Fung Sheong Ying (A..K.A Awk Wah, Wu Wei, Cuba), a percussionist improviser who lives and works in Singapore. Fung had completed his studies in SAE International Technological College (Singapore) in 1998 and have since been actively producing and performing cutting-age music and experimental sonic projects. The artist’s exceptional playing style has created a cornerstone in the realm of experimental music sensibility in Singapore, as a versatile solo performer (the artist was formerly known as Shark Fung) as well as performing collectively in Amino Acid Orchestra and other collaborative sound initiatives. Fung has released ‘Opera Box’ last year (2011), a CD album filled with the artist’s rhythm-based inclination, recorded thoroughly with contact microphones mostly of the artist’s primary instrument, the drum, his unorthodox ways for playing with the drum is a refreshing assertion of the developing styles and diverse advancement in the experimental music genre of Singapore.

The 3rd Experimental Film Forum
Presented by The Substation Moving Images
Thursday 7 – Sunday 10 June 2012
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $7 / $5 (concession)
This is an InHouse event  

The Experimental Film Forum brings you another round of riveting short films, pushing the boundaries of storytelling, concept building and technical imagery. Showcasing local and international films, the Experimental Film Forum will show you another side of artistic creativity, for the curious and open-minded. There will also be an informal discussion for like-minded enthusiasts and first-timers to share their thoughts with practicing filmmakers. Curated by Aishah Abu Bakar and Wesley Leon Aroozoo.

The programme will be available soon.

(un)it: HD85828
Phase #3
Work-In-Progress Presentation by Ming Poon
Friday 25 May 2012, 8pm and Saturday 26 May 2012, 3pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: Free
This is an InHouse event 

Probing deeper into the phenomenon of invisibility, Associate Artist Ming Poon hopes to gain some perspective into its dynamics and dimension. As his research takes him into unknown territory, there will be many questions for which there is no answer. And even if he sees what he is looking for, would he recognise it?

(un)it: HD85828 is a research project which looks into people living with HIV, and their collective invisibility in society. Continuing from the last two phases of his AARP project, Ming returns from March till May to resume the 3rd phase of his research. At the end of this phase, he will present his thought process and experience in a performance presentation.

Mocca: Life Keeps on Turning
A documentary by Ari Rusyadi and Nicholas Yudifar
Sunday 22 July 2012, 3pm and 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $8 available from the box office
Contact Mish’aal 6337 7800 / boxoffice@substation.org
This is an InHouse event

Mocca is an eclectic indie pop band comprised of members Arina (vocals), Riko (guitar), Toma (bass) and Indra (drum). Formed in 1999 in Bandung, Indonesia, their musical influences include folk, jazz, swing and bossa nova. In mid-2011, the band decided to take a break, so Arina could get married in the USA. This rockumentary tells the story of how the band dealt with this defining moment, after 12 years together. Mocca: Life Keeps On Turning debuted at Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2011, to sold-out audience screenings.

About the filmmakers

Ari Rusyadi was born in Garut, West Java in 1986. His passion for film lead him to study at the Jakarta Art Institute. His final project entitled Pabrik Dodol, screened in several international film festivals, such as Hamburg International Short Film Festival, Hannover International Film Festival, and St. Petersburg Student Film Festival. His second film JakaTRACK, had its world premiere at the Bicycle Film Festival New York. It was also screened at Asian Hot Shots Festival in Berlin, and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2011.

Nicholas Yudifar was born in Jayapura, West Papua, in 1984. He graduated from the Jakarta Institute of Art at 2009, majoring in Film Directing. He has worked professionally as a director, production manager, and talent coordinator on several feature films, television productions and commercials.

His short film, Kabar Gembira (The Good News) won an award at the KODAK National Short Film Competition in 2009, was selected to compete at the Hannover International Film Festival 2009, and travelled to other festival screenings internationally. His latest short film Titik Nol (Point Zero) was in the official selection at the 5th Sardinia International Film Festival, Indo Art Festival Singapore and 12th Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) 2010. He is now preparing for his omnibus film, HI5TERIA.

Lecture 8 - The Mad Conferences of Professor Ma:
Photography and Performance V.1.1
By Gilles Massot
Thursday 17 May 2012, 8pm-9.30pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: Free
This is an InHouse event

The Lecher of Art is a series of performance-presentations that revisits ways of exploring the art of speech while ‘lecherously’ engaging the audience. These seemingly fictional, un-assumed and alternative methodologies of speech and presentation contradict the authoritative, anticipated and doctrinal manners in which lectures are conventionally delivered.

The Mad Conferences of Professor Ma
The disciplines of photography and performance have developed an intricate inter-relationship over the course of their respective histories. In fact, it could well be said that each assisted the other in finally attaining acceptance by high art institutions in the later part of the 20th century. In this new edition of his mad conferences, Professor Ma explores the rich interaction of these two disciplines in a two-part presentation of their histories, and their expansion in relation to each other.

First Take
Monday 14 May 2012, 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: Free
This is an InHouse event 

First Take, usually happening every first Monday of the month at The Substation, is a popular screening of new local short films and is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. A platform for new filmmakers and anyone who is interested in filmmaking to meet, exchange ideas and show their work. See this month’s schedule below:

1. EXISTENCE / JEANETTE LIM / 8 MIN / 2011 / PG

Some workers dream of starting their own business. Others want to build a future for their children and their generations to come. As different as they may be, these workers are all driven by the same raison d’être – family.  Existence is a reflective documentary on the lives of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore. Through a series of phone calls and interviews, we peek into the lives of these unassuming workers.

Jeanette is currently a student in her final year at NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information. As an aspiring filmmaker, she finds meaning in capturing moments and uncovering the life stories of each unique individual. Existence is her first attempt at documentary filmmaking.

2. BLUE TIDE / LUO MIN / 18 MIN / 2011 / PG

Two days before their wedding, Victor receives news that his fiancé Leanne is arrested for a crime she committed before they met. Victor struggles with the feelings of betrayal. He searches for the truth behind Leanne’s past, only to realise she had been the example of unconditional love.

Luo Min enjoys observing people from a vantage point. Her debut film entered the Japanese pocket film festival (2008) and was screened in Tokyo’s, National University of Fine Arts and Music. The film was also one of the 14 short films to be screened at the Pompidou center, Paris in 2008. Her thesis film, Blue Tide, won the best cinematography award in the short film category at the 24th Singapore International Film Festival.

3. TALES OF THE CHUGAWAGAS / KHOO YI HUI / 6 MIN / 2011 / G

Tales of the Chugawagas is an animated short film about a group of little ‘spirit’ creatures (Chugawagas) that work diligently into the night, scurrying and venturing around human beings, while we are drifting off into our dream worlds. What are they up to? What is their ultimate purpose?

Yi Hui graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Digital Animation at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University School of Art, Design and Media. Her first independent short film, CMYK, won the Public Award (audience’s choice) at the 2010 Very Short International Film Festival in Singapore. Tales of the Chugawagas is her graduating film, produced with Goh Huiying and Anne Tan.

4. THE COLORED CHAIR / SOON ZHAN HUI / 6 MIN / 2011 / PG

The Colored Chair is centered on the memories of two men. One has to deal with the aftermath of his father’s death. The other deals with the inevitability of departure. By the end of the film, the latter simply disappears from the setting of the film (the house), whilst the young man (the former) is left to face the reality of departure.

Singapore born Soon Zhan hui, found his passion in filmmaking whilst pursuing a certificate in Digital Media Design at the Institute of Technical Education. He specializes in interactive media at the School Interactive and Digital Media (Nanyang Polytechnic). After graduation he continues to remain passionate about filmmaking, including winning an award from Caylon Creativity in 2011.

5. THE FINAL SENDOFF / TOH SHU HAO / 12 MIN / 2011 / PG

They are the few people each and everyone will ever meet upon their deaths. Not to snivel over what’s lost, but to ensure the cold bodies are restored to their original forms before they embark on their final sendoff.

Toh Shu Hoo is a film student at the Temasek Design School, and a photographer. The Final Sendoff is his first documentary film, as an appreciation for the people in the death industry.

There’s Something About Me: Dixie Chan presented by Felicia Low
Wednesday 6 June 2012, 8:30pm-9.30pm
The Substation Classroom 1
Admission: Free
This is an InHouse event 

felicia low says…
“Dixie’s work highlighted dilemmas and struggles faced by the sex workers – and what struck me the most was how the film portrayed these dilemmas and struggles as silent and untold. I believe that there is great potential in Dixie’s approach to her filmmaking, and I would like to support her effort in finding a personal visual language through the use of film, to highlight a social cause.”

During her days as a Political Science student, Dixie Chan developed an interest in documentaries centred on social issues and human rights. About 2 years ago, she became a volunteer of Project X which advocates the rights of sex workers in Singapore. She hopes to deepen her knowledge of filmmaking and produce films that can inspire people to be more active in social issues.

There’s Something About Me
For the 2nd year of The Substation’s Associate Artist Research Programme (AARP), our current batch of Associate Artists will be inviting emergent artists to present their work in a monthly series of lecture-presentations. An expansion to the AARP, There’s Something About Me is a new platform for our Associate Artists to introduce artists whom they personally believe in, and initiate dialogue and sharing within the artists and public community about their works.

Light, Darkness and the Between-s
Improvisation with body, lights, music and silence
Friday 1 June 2012, 7:30-8:30pm
Admission: Entry by Donation
The Substation Theatre
This is an OpenHouse event  

Come and share this Special  Butoh Experimental Demonstration with Syv Bruzeau. The event will begin with an improvisation performance, after which Syv will introduce Butoh and her workshops. There will also be a Q&A session.

Born in France, Syv went to Japan after university to explore Asia and its culture and never left this part of the world. She discovered Butoh and studied it in the Himalayas. She was trained by Japanese Butoh master Lee Rhizome and was inspired by Eiko, Koma, KatsuraKan and Tetsuro Fukuhara. Syv Bruzeau has been conducting Butoh/Continuum workshops at The Substation and on 1 June, she will give a free one-hour demonstration which introduces Butoh and her personal dance-experimentations and physical explorations in the field. Syv she will be conducting more classes this year at The Substation.

For more information about upcoming butoh and continuum workshop, please click here

TRU
By V. Subramaniam
Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 June 2012, 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $35 / $30 (concession) from the box office, contact mish’aal 6337 7800 / boxoffice@substation.org
This is an InHouse event 

I watched the flowers - a meditation on womanhood, maturity and love
By Nirmala Seshadri and Chan Sze-Wei
Thursday 28 and Friday 29 June 2012, 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $25/$18 (concession) available from the box office
Contact Mish’aal 6337 7800 / boxoffice@substation.org
This is an OpenHouse event

An experimental Bharatanatyam duet. A meditation on womanhood, maturity and love. An exploration of that thin line between timeframes, between memory, reality and dream. Between languages and cultures that meet in our lives, between the classical dance form and performance improvisation.

This collaboration between two dancers of different backgrounds and life journeys examines the concept of Pushpanjali, an offering of flowers that traditionally opens a Bharatanatyam performance.  Inspired by the poetry of award-winning Singaporean writer Dan Ying.

Chan Sze-Wei

Sze-Wei stepped into a dance class as a university physical education requirement when she was 20. She hasn’t stopped dancing since, in New York, Paris and Singapore. In 2011, she completed a diploma at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as Best Dance Graduate. Sze-Wei has performed works by local and international choreographers, and has toured to Delhi and New York with Nirmala Seshadri’s This and That. Sze-Wei’s recent choreographies include The Always Sea (2011), Clean (2011), and Have You Eaten? (2011).

Nirmala Seshadri

A recipient of the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award, Nirmala’s choreographic work is experimental in nature. She seeks new dimensions in her dance form Bharatanatyam through extension of boundaries, inclusion of new elements and moving into ideological and concept based expressions. Her recent works include Outcaste Eternal, Crossroads, Then & Now, This & That, From Ishta Devata to Ishta Devata, and Radha Now.

Nirmala is the Artistic Director of N Dance & Yoga and Editor of Aesthetics, a publication of Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society. She regularly exposes students to her classical dance technique and experimentation as well as to her N Dance Yoga technique through modules at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Supported by
National Arts Council
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts