Gracie Goes Places

Opening Night: KOOZA - Cirque Du Soleil in Singapore

2017-10-03T23:21:00.002+08:00

Unfiltered. Shot by my mum who was my delightful plus one.

I love circuses.

They are a playground for imagination that's larger than life. And when the circus comes to town, everybody knows.

Kooza was no exception. While it may be showing for the first time in Singapore, this fifth Cirque du Soleil production in Singapore made its arrival known with its gigantic, huge yellow tents at Bayfront Avenue which took up to 9 days to put up. That in itself was a spectacle to behold.

The show debuted in 2007, Montreal and has since staged over a 1000 shows worldwide. Consisting of 19 nationalities, the Kooza troupe brings to life the story of the Innocent whose journey is joined by characters such as the Trickster, the King, The Heimloss, the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

As explained by the show's director and writer David Shiner, "Kooza is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad".

"The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's very much about ideas, too."

I can certainly understand the appeal of Kooza. The show is electrifying! It implores its viewed to open up their senses and explore the themes of identity, power and recognition through a series of memorable performances.

Kooza looks at the origins of circus performances by paying homage to its two main traditions of - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. You'd be then presented with an eloquent balance of almost impossible human physical acts and slapstick humour.

A look at some of the scenes:

Credit: BASE Entertainment

And of course, in case you were wondering, the name Kooza is inspired by the Sanskrit word “koza,” which means “box,” “chest” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box. Fascinating!

Credit: BASE Entertainment

With the mummy! <3

Cast photo sessions only available during opening night!

At one of the many lounges under the Big Top

10/10 would check out Kooza again!

How to Win at the Races

2017-07-02T20:40:00.001+08:00

Horsey McHorseyface.

Laughing Gravy.

Lim's Shot.

Found yourself at the racecourse? There's a high chance a voice on the microphone is shouting out the winners and you're going why didn't I get on that horse? No worries. I'm about to let ya'll in on what I did to win* at the races.

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Queen Elizabeth II Cup 2017 by the Singapore Turf Club. Where's that? It's in the beautifully remote Kranji district, close to the border of Johor.

The races were held in special homage to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the racecourse decked out in a classic British grandeur. All guests were served a scrumptious buffet spread with a free flow of wine, beer and juices, and there were also prizes to be won for the Best Hats on Track and also a lucky draw prize for guests to predict the winner of the Best Hats on Track.

Now how does one win?

1. Dress to Impress. Haha. This is more for the state of your photographs. But there's logic in dressing like a winner to usher in the luck. Make sure to be wearing your lucky red underwear for that extra kick of good fortune. You'd never know when lady luck with shower you with kisses.

Exhibit A. The photo below shows the winner of the Hats Contest (Red Facinator) - which reinforces that you should dress to win. In the middle is yours truly, the lucky draw winner for voting for her awesome red hat. I won a bottle of champagne! On the right is Miss Universe Singapore 2016. Ain't this a lovely line-up?

2. On horses. Follow your instincts.
I bet on a few of the races and while the programme came with the past performances of each of the horses, you won't really be winning with yourself if you only follow the crowd. Crowd favourites don't exactly have the highest payout so stick to your intuition.

I had a weird rule. I looked at both the odds but choose the names that are funny. The funnier, the more 'ong' - this was my personal rule. I ended up winning all 3 of the races that I bet on. Not bad eh.

3. Win with a smile.

Win or not-win. It's a fun day out! This is about making sure that you win at life.

I'm not being wishy washy about this but we bore witness to a guest who was incredibly loud about losing his bets. NOT COOL.

*all tips are of my own personal inference and meant to be taken with a pinch of salt. Use at your own risk :)

Good luck to all you winners out there!

iLight Marina Bay 2017 - First Look

2017-03-04T19:11:00.001+08:00

Horizontal Interference - Elastic rubber bands! Can you believe that? Shot by @StanleyChee

Recently, I've developed a proclivity towards night photography. Those neon lights, contrasting shadows and urban silhouettes have so much to tell. Especially if you know where to look.

This month is definitely the month for us night owl photographers. I got a sneak peek media preview of iLight Marina Bay just 2 days before it officially started on 3 Mar 2017. This year's theme is Light & Nature so don't be surprised if you see neon blooms "growing" from the ground beneath your feet.

Admission is free to the public to all the 20 sustainable light art installations lining the Marina Bay waterfront. To add on to your visiting pleasure, this year's festival will also feature 3 complementary hubs - The Fantastical World of eco.me, an inflatable Art-Zoo (paid admission) and thirdly, the hungry can head towards Gastrobeats while enjoying some live music. While you may have a few weekends to slowly discover the festival, it may be best to head over during the quieter weekdays.

Here's a quick teaser to get you started. I'll be constantly updating my Instagram feed @graciegoesplaces with new photos so stay tuned.

Our city will be getting even brighter this weekend. 🙌 Stay tuned for #ilightsg2017 #sneakpeek ✨✨✨ Acai bowl with coconut water, banana slices and strawberries. 💕💕😊 - - - - - - #artlovers #lensculture #streetmobs #createexplore #createcommune #artofvisuals #agameoftones #fatalframes #shotzdelight #infinitytones #moodygrams #gramslayers #urbanexploration #urbanrising #urbanromantix #illgrammers #urbanrising #urbanphotography #foodie #foodgasm #healthyfood #fitpro #neonlights

A post shared by Grace Kok (@graciegoesplaces) on Mar 1, 2017 at 9:42am PST

A post shared by Grace Kok (@graciegoesplaces) on Mar 1, 2017 at 8:25pm PST

Big baby in the city 👶 #ilightmarinabay - The light festival starts this 3 Mar so come on down Marina Bay! - - - - - #shotonhuaweip9 #leica #lensculture #streetmobs #createexplore #createcommune #artofvisuals #agameoftones #moodygrams #ourplanetdaily #illgrammers #urbanrising #urbanromantix #storyofthestreets #traveller #pastel #passionpassport #neverstopexploring #everydayeverylife #lifeisanadventure #photography #killeverygram

A post shared by Grace Kok (@graciegoesplaces) on Mar 2, 2017 at 2:12am PST

The lights will guide you home 🐈 #ilightmarinabay One of the artists getting her installation set up for one of Singapore's brightest festivals at the media preview. 💡 💡 💡 - - - - #singapore #shotonhuaweip9 #leica #lensculture #streetmobs #createexplore #createcommune #artofvisuals #agameoftones #moodygrams #ourplanetdaily #illgrammers #urbanrising #urbanromantix #storyofthestreets #traveller #pastel #passionpassport #neverstopexploring #everydayeverylife #lifeisanadventure #cloudporn #photography #killeverygram #urbangathering

A post shared by Grace Kok (@graciegoesplaces) on Mar 3, 2017 at 8:10am PST

A post shared by Grace Kok (@graciegoesplaces) on Mar 3, 2017 at 9:41pm PST

All the installations will be accessible from 7.30pm tp 11pm daily with an extension to 12 midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Festival ends on the 26 Mar 2017 so don't worry if you can't make it this weekend. For the full list and map, head over to www.ilightmarinabay.sg now

Don't forget your battery pack!

Chicago The Musical in Singapore

2017-03-04T17:49:00.002+08:00

It certainly wasn't an ordinary Thursday. That evening, I was one of the lucky few who caught Chicago during it's gala opening night. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as I was hankering for something a little dirty, a tad raunchier and fabulous (not necessarily in that order) after a tough week at the office.

While it may have been the third time that Chicago premiered here in Singapore but it was my first time watching it live as a musical. Being surrounded only by the memories of the film version that starred Catherine Zeta-Jones as the tenacious Velma Kelly and Renee Zellweger as 'innocent' sweet Roxie Hart, I wasn't about to be influenced by that version. Oh, was I about to be treated to one of the best musicals out there!

What worked:

1. All round powerful performances by Lindsey Tierney and Genevieve Nicole as Roxie and Velma. Dayum!

2. Class - The duet with Matron “Mama” Morton and dear Velma as they sang about fallen moral codes from their high horses while in jail no less.

3. All the scenes involving charming Billy Flint, the best criminal lawyer of all Chicago whose name card would very well have read "if Jesus met me, he wouldn't end up where he did".

4. Witty cues, social satire and light touches of comedy that involved even the 11-piece orchestra rather than have them solely as background props (as it so often happens in most other musicals).

5. Sexy murderesses. Enough said.

Spotted: Benjamin Kheng - one quarter of pop act Sam Willows.

With my plus+1 - My Mummy!

Source: http://www.buro247.sg/culture/film-tv-and-stage/review-chicago-musical-singapore-marina-bay-sands.html

Chicago - until 26 February at Sands Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. Book through Marina Bay Sands or Sistic.

Wicked The Musical Review in Singapore

2016-10-15T17:23:00.001+08:00

It's finally here! Having read and anticipated quite a bit from friends of mine who have seen the show, I had the fine opportunity to catch Wicked the multi-award winning Broadway musical on its opening gala night - here in Singapore at the MasterCard Theaters in Marina Bay Sands.

When I first told my friends that I was about to watch Wicked, I had some polarizing feedback on it. Some had seen it a few years back when it first arrived in Singapore and others in the original Broadway setting in NY but the answers were as such: they either loved it or they absolutely disliked it. I shrugged at the feedback. It wouldn't be very wicked if people didn't have opinions about it...

Guess who we ran into! Here with the wonderful Xiaxue

Opening night was abuzz with celebrities and social influencers alike. It was a tremendously packed event and I found myself dodging camera flashes and people posing at the entrance.

Here's what worked in the story of good and evil:

LOVE
1. The chemistry between the two leads - Ga-Glinda the Good and Elphaba the Wicked were stunners when it came to vocal prowess and their ability to interact with each other seamlessly. There's witty banter, coy humour, and some very dramatic moments that help anchor and tell the story of two young women who grew up together in a wordl of prejudice and discrimination.

2. The story. Do not expect some fairy tale beginning or ending as this is not your average fantasy show. Wicked is likened to an origins story of the classic tale The Wizard of Oz as you might have known from your childhood. This version is much darker and shows off the uglier side of its characters with little censoring. Often at times, you start questioning why Elphaba does the things she feels she must do. For the greater good? Or for something else?

NOT TOO GREAT
1. The songs. I'm sad to say that I can barely remember or recall any of the songs that were sung so well by the cast. Perhaps it could be a lack of familiarity on my part for not knowing them beforehand but none of the tunes or rhymes actually stood out on their own.

2. Might be too complex or dark for the uninitiated musical audience. Wicked is not a performance for the new joiner to musicals. If you have not seen a musical before, it should probably be best to start off with something less dark. Although this may probably defer from person to person. For me, I wouldn't mind a twisted tale of a conventional story but it may come across as rather unapproachable to some.

THE VERDICT
Watch it. Catch it if you can because it really is something you want to tick off your musical check list.

For more details, head over to Marina Bay Sands' website to book yourself a ticket now.

Season: From 29 September – 16 October 2016

Venue: The MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands

Cast: International Cast

Performance Times: 8pm (Tues – Fri), 2pm & 8pm (Sat) and 1pm & 6pm (Sun)

Ticket Price: From $55 (Excludes the booking fee of SGD$4 per ticket)

Booking:

Web: www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing or www.sistic.com.sg

A very big thank you to BASE Entertainment for the opportunity

Photos of the cast by AspirantSG.

Social Experiment: Crushed Success at the National Gallery of Singapore

2016-06-27T22:29:00.001+08:00

Edgar Degas once said, "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."

It all started with a tiny piece of paper. I wasn't as bored as I let it out to be. You see, I adore spending my weekends at museums and, art galleries in particular, were my absolute favourite. There was always something surprising to discover and what I soon learned was that anyone. ANYONE. Could be an artist. It is all about visualization. Contextualization. Being bold.

So what's a girl to do when the opportunity arises to show at the National Gallery of Singapore?

Take it.

Step one:

Choose your own favourite piece of work. Mine was a clear choice. This beautiful hand-crafted, palm molded artifact depicts man's dominion over the environment.

Step two:

Watch the crowds roll in.

It's not what it is. It is what it means to you.

Are you watching this?

I simply could not believe my own eyes. People were actually taking the trouble to look at my simple little piece of art in this amazing space of a museum.

So what does it mean?

Do we take whatever is shown to us at face value without question? How far are we willing to allow ourselves to be led?

A very big thank you to National Gallery of Singapore and of course, the space in which I exhibited and borrowed for a few good moments.

My heartfelt thank yous.

Disclaimer: Don't litter in public spaces. Behave yourself. This was a social experiment and was not meant to be a disrespectful act towards the Gallery or any of the persons taking part in the experiment.

Singapore Coffee Festival 2016

2016-06-26T22:55:00.002+08:00

Can't live without coffee? Neither can I.

As life in the ad world has taught me, ideas are best coxed with caffeine. Mornings seem brighter, worlds made possible and of course, the daily grind becomes less of a grind. So when it was announced that a Coffee Festival would take place right here in Singapore, I for one was not shy about expressing my enthusiasm for the event. Put both coffee and festival together and we're talking the largest gathering of bean snobs, beards, plaid shirts, suspenders and tote bags.

What's not to look forward to?

Friday.
Bare in mind that I carefully chose to visit the "Festival" on a weekday. A good decision as it turns out, for people were being turned away as the event organisers were forced to implement crowd control upon ticket holders. Not to mention, a fairly misleading article from the Straits Times added to the confusion as to what to expect at the Coffee Fest as opposed to the social media reviews of people who paid good money to attend. See article from mothership.

Nevertheless, my experience from the Festival was pleasant and the crowd could even be described as largely missing in action. Surprised?

With the awesome folks from Spiffy and Dapper Coffee. Probably the best people you'll ever meet. Promise.

The Good
1. There were next to no queues at the ticket counters, the staff were friendly and very accommodating.
2. No crowds in the building too. Coffee and tea samples were readily dished out and exhibitors were more than enthusiastic about talking to us about their products, the beans, the roasting process and where we could find more information.
3. A fairly well-rounded mix of bean distributors, cafes, machine sellers, tea purveyors, and not to mention a mini flea market too.
4. Educational - somewhat. I'd never realise you could create alcohol inspired tea flavours or that it's never too late to find out the difference between a dark and a light roast.

The Bad
1. There didn't seem to be a large difference between the VIP ticket holders and the general admission tickets. Both allowed access to all of the festival although it probably depends on how much value and importance you would place upon the VIP Lounge.
2. The Labs were small and it was difficult to gain entry into each of the sessions already limited capacity
3. A really bad idea having the cafe proprietors cook within the Pit Building as there was no proper exhaust. The floor where they were serving food got smokey and oily and not a pleasant indoor environment to be in.

Verdict?
A great first try for the organisers. While teething problems were a shame, my experience was a pleasant one and I look forward to being a part of the next one.

Shrek the Musical @MBS

2016-06-12T16:09:00.000+08:00

Somewhere between the lines of Shrek and the Dove Real Beauty campaign lies the same message. Beauty is only skin deep. Love the Skin You're In and a host of other similar inner beauty quotes.

However the reiteration, the moral of the story remains the same. You've got to love who you are. Now, assuming that most of you are already familiar with Shrek - the animated movie and its many sequels. The live adaptation is no different.

Here we see a big, green ogre with more than a few nasty farts and his best friend - the ever gregarious Donkey, embarking on the journey of their lives to rescue a feisty fairy tale princess from a fire-breathing dragon. Throw in music, dance moves and an incredible hi-definition backdrop that brings to life that magical feeling that beckons your imagination.

Fret not if you aren't or have not seen any of its animated films. This live adaptation turned out better than expected. Sure, the musical pulled in a sea of families and elementary school going children but the dialogue also included adult jokes and fairly naughty innuendos. Very entertaining.

Watch it at these dates:

Wed, 8 - Sun, 19 Jun 2016

Tue - Fri: 7.30pm

Sat: 2pm & 7.30pm

Sun: 1pm & 6pm

Venue:

Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands

Book online: Marina Bay Sands Ticketing

Opening Night - Mysterious Skin by Simon Ng

2016-05-29T18:18:00.003+08:00

About A Boy (2016)
Oil on Canvas

What can be more intimate than the exposure of one's skin? To be peeled back and laid bare to the public in all its raw nature. So, it was on a regular Thursday night that I walked into Chan Hampe Galleries at The Raffles Hotel Arcade. The night might have been young but you wouldn't have been wiser with a full house - the noisy clink of wine glasses, a well-heeled crowd chatter with varying levels of animation as a photographer weaved his way between them candidly snapping photos.

I'm certainly glad I decided to make my way here little earlier to attend MYSTERIOUS SKIN. Almost immediately, I was drawn to Simon Ng's use of vibrant colors and thick, forceful application technique; the bold strokes beckoning to me to feel the coarse surface of the layers of bright and cheerful textures.

Mysterious Skin by Simon Ng #openingday #art #contemporary #gallery #exhibit #sg #asia #paint #museum

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 5, 2016 at 8:19am PDT

It seems deliberate that the shape of the canvases used are square and depicted portraits that bared resemblances to the digital landscape of how we as users of social networks grew accustomed to the ever self-preserving selfie or the Instagram culture.

That aside, Mysterious Skin draws inspiration from both the Fauvism and the Expressionist movement. Note the use of striking colors on the subject and the background of an almost solid shade. The singularity of the shade allows us to focus upon the artist's fascination of what lies beneath the skin, be it the identities of these male silhouettes or the lineaments of the face.

Lay it on thick Mysterious Skin by Simon Ng #openingday #art #contemporary #gallery #exhibit #sg #asia #paint #colours #singapore #artwork #artist

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 5, 2016 at 8:19am PDT

A solid collection overall and I can't wait to check out his next venture as he takes part in a collaborative show this July.

Catch the exhibition at the Chan Hampe Galleries until 5 June 2016.

The Critic Becomes The Artist

2016-05-09T15:24:00.003+08:00

I've got a Blank Space baby

Those who art together, stay together

What happens when you put 3 novices, 3 blank canvases and a megaton of bottles of acrylic paint to shower a Color Run?

I was not expecting this. I hadn't touched a paint brush since my elementary school days and while the thought of opening yourself to critique may scare some, oh the permanence of it all; but now I know why painting is so addicting. A work by your own hands is always going to be more dear and intimate. I can also see the allure of why some artists prefer to paint in the nude. It can get messy!

Like all great artists, the key is to find yourself a reference to help get those artistic juices flowing! What shall it be for me? A landscape? A cute puppy? Or a bowl of fruit?

T O O L S of the T R A D E #artjam #art

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 8, 2016 at 7:13am PDT

The critic becomes an artist. O M G #artjam #sunday

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 8, 2016 at 7:22am PDT

HER (2016) #artjam #sunday #art #acrylic

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 8, 2016 at 7:24am PDT

🙌🙌🙌

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 8, 2016 at 7:27am PDT

PROUD 😁😁😁 #artjam #sunday #art #canvas

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on May 8, 2016 at 7:34am PDT

Intrigued? If you are looking for alternative date ideas or just a fun hangout with some friends, check out My Art Space Cafe and Studio @ Orchard

We booked 2 days in advance and if you happen to be the first 3 of the day, you'll be getting the Jam Session at a discounted price of $39 per pax (all materials included plus a drink!). There are also classes for the would-be pros and masters where you'll be spending quality time honing your skills with an instructor.

I think I'm pretty pleased with myself. (insert cheesy smile)

Spring Fling Music

2016-04-05T12:09:00.002+08:00

Herald the start of Spring with those ground breaking floral crowns.

Air out that sundress.

Kick off those sandals.

Overindulge on ice cream.

Go crazy pollenheads.

Sounds like: A lazy afternoon getting down, down, down with Yuna, Zara Larsson, Oh Wonder and Red Velvet.

Q&A with Leo Poloniecki on Remain Calm

2015-10-04T13:30:00.000+08:00

Now showing.

Recently, I caught up with Singapore-based British artist, Leo Poloniecki following his latest solo exhibition now showing from 26 September until 18 October 2015 at the Barnadas Huang gallery. Punctuated by abstract shapes and arresting pops of colour, Remain Calm is a series of landscapes; its sole purpose to invite balance and calmness at first impression.

Having graduated from London's Camberwell Art College, Poloniecki never really gave much time to his art back then. "I'm not sure why", he muses. While he exhibited in London at group shows and other joint shows with artist and photographer friends, it was only in Singapore that he began to give more attention to his art and here we are, at Remain Calm.

Leo Poloniecki at Barnadas Huang, Singapore

Q & A

GGP: Could you explain the motivation and meaning behind Remain Calm? Is there a particular reason behind your use of geometric shapes?

LP: The most common question I've been asked over the past few days (since the show opened) is 'What's your inspiration?' - a perfectly reasonable question. Yet I always find myself struggling with it since, for me, the journey towards abstract painting has been such a gradual one. I began painting landscapes of the Yorkshire countryside (I went to school in Yorkshire) and over time I dumped the things about the painting that I wasn't interested in and spent more time on the things I was. Pretty soon I wasn't painting landscapes at all, but big abstract paintings instead. But that's the thing - they are still landscapes to me! Just without something you can obviously say is a tree or a field or whatever. So in a sense 'remain calm' is an exhibition of landscapes and still lives designed to have a calming influence on the viewer.

GGP: What was your turning point in becoming an artist? Did you always know you wanted to be involved in art?

Poloniecki: It was the one thing I seemed to be quite good at from a young age. I wasn't outstandingly brilliant or anything, but it was definitely 'my subject' at school and I tended to win the annual art prize and things like that. So, yes, I was always pointing in that direction. But Camberwell Art School was the most exciting time because it wasn't just about painting pictures (i.e. the craft) but it was also amazing to be allowed and encouraged to 'be an artist'- you seemed to have permission to not have to obey the rules everyone else had to follow in life.

GGP: Walk us through your creative process.

LP: I don't like the idea of starting a painting knowing exactly what it's going to look like in the end. I much prefer to just start... and let the painting go where it wants to go. I also don't like the idea of 'starting softly'... i.e. doing some careful drawing in a light 2b pencil to start with. I usually start with a big stick of charcoal and draw freely to start off with. Then I have something quite 'strong' on the paper or canvas that I have to respond to and turn into something interesting and rich and more subtle.

GGP: Have you considered any collaborations with any artist? If so who? (it could be anyone living or not)

LP: Great question! I have been so inspired by so many artists, you could say it's a form of collaboration. I am starting where they left off and trying to see where (if anywhere) I can take it. You could argue that the whole history of art is a long collaboration, with each generation handing the baton on to the next. Other than that, since my studio practice is a solitary one, I mostly think of collaboration in terms of exhibiting work alongside other artists - and that's always really fun to do. You then see the difference between how a work feels in your studio, and how it feels in a gallery space alongside work of a totally different style or genre. This can be best when it's an group exhibit with a theme. Then you get to see how different artists respond to the same theme - the variety of approaches and interpretations is always eye-opening.

GGP: Have you ever felt tired or burned out when in the middle of designing a piece? What do you do to recharge yourself?

LP: Painting is probably the only form of work that doesn't feel like work to me. As a result, so far, I have never felt burned out by it at all. If anything, I feel like I'm getting recharged when I'm painting. It's an added bonus of painting that you can listen to things - the radio or Ted talks or whatever - while you're painting. So even when you're in the process of creating output, there's also an opportunity to be taking stuff in, which perhaps also counters the potential for 'burnout'.

GGP: Tell us something that most people may not know or might be surprised to know about you.

LP: I think I'm sufficiently unknown that no one has a 'surprisable' preconception! For what it's worth, though, before I returned to painting seriously, I tried to be a novelist - writing a number of books, none of which were published... I think I'm better off sticking to painting!

GGP: What's next for Leo Poloniecki?

LP: I have worked in advertising for some time, and my next series of paintings (which I have only just begun) will be a kind of comment on advertising - obviously drawing a lot on my knowledge of what it takes to make a campaign that really captures peoples' imaginations and works. I'm really hoping the new series turns out well... but - in art or advertising - you never know whether an idea is going to work until you can see the result for yourself!

To view the artworks, head over to:

Venue: Barnadas Huang, 61 Duxton Road Singapore 089525

Dates: 25 Sep - 18 Oct 2015

Photo credits go to Leo Poloniecki and Barnadas Huang, Singapore.

Richard Serra @ Doha, Qatar

2015-10-02T18:22:00.001+08:00

So glad to have found this building as I would not want to walk through the heat any longer

Been traveling but have not been spending quite enough waking hours blogging about my adventures in the Middle East.

Please excuse my later than latergrams and here we go!

I made a quick stop at Doha in the blazing summer of 2014 and coincidentally, was able to catch Richard Serra's eponymous exhibitions at both locations just days before they closed on the 6th of July 2014. Known for his abstract minimalist sculptures, this was the American artist's first solo exhibition in the Middle East. Our first stop was at ALRIWAQ DOHA exhibition space at the Museum of Islamic Art Park and the second; at the QMA Gallery in Katara.

Lose yourself in #RichardSerra's Passage of Time (2012). Feel the steel lines open & close in on you @alriwaqdoha #serraqatar #doha #qatar #art #instadaily #explore

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on Jun 25, 2014 at 3:54am PDT

@ALRIWAQ DOHA
Passage of Time (2012)

Al Riwaq. It looks bigger on the inside - trust me.

My dear family enduring me on this Serra tripping journey.

It looked like a ship had lost its way and somehow landed perfectly in Al Riwaq. The massive size of the steel plates took me by surprise for it took up all the space in the entire building. Upon closer inspection, the unpolished curving parallel lines of steel seem to beckon me to walk around it and then into the narrow opening between the walls.

I wandered into the curved passage and found myself unable to see the path ahead as I turned and changed directions in a smooth wave-like motion. Serra's intention was to involve his viewers with his work through their own rhythm and time. In a brief moment, it was as if a snippet of time in itself had taken a physical form. By walking through the curved plates, I had become a traveler and each turn lead to a new destination. It worked out particularly well as a participatory experience, one which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I came, I saw, I walked the Passage of Time.

A lone visitor walks the hull of 'time'.

@QMA Gallery Katara

The quietly hidden Building no. 10 at Katara.

Structure through balance and support. #RichardSerra's "1,23,4,5,6,7,8" (1987) #throwback #doha #qatar @qatar_museums @kataraqatar @alriwaqdoha

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on Jul 11, 2014 at 8:47pm PD

Locating the building which housed the QMA Gallery took more effort than expected. We asked several people in the vicinity before finally arriving at the gallery which was situated behind the amphitheater. Finally, we arrived at Building 10 where Serra showed off 10 pieces of work. Several of which could easily make the list of most dangerous installations. The collection is a cohesive culmination of Serra's extensive fifty-year career.

The 4 Rifts (2011 - 2013)

The pieces included Serra's 4 Rifts - a series of works on large sheets of double laminated Hiromi paper from 2011 and 2013 - and Double Torqued Ellipse III (1999), installed just outside in close proximity to the main exhibit. Made out of lead and steel, the torqued ellipse, one of Serra's more recent work encourages you to duck inside the structure and take in the playful steaks of light and shadows.

Not to be outdone by the limits of gravity is Serra's "One Ton Prop" House of Cards (1969) on rare loan from the Museum of Modern art in New York and the Inverted House of Cards (1969).

Looking for a larger test of equilibrium? Behold, "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8" (1987). From above, it resembles the blades of a fan. Rust molted and grainy, the sculpture is a monster to behold. Looking at the thick steel plates, it embodies a certain strength in its oppressive scale and circular precision. Like many of Serra's pieces, visitors were welcomed to slip in between the steel plates and engage with the sculpture by walking alongside and spending time within the space.

Piece entitled '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8' (1987)

There's no telling what's behind this identical wall...

In addition to these simultaneous exhibits, Serra also installed four permanent standing-plates in the desert landscape of the Brouq Nature Reserve, some 60km outside Doha. The towering East-West/West-East structures span over a kilometer in length and can be seen or view from both ends of the trail.

How does an American sculpturer's work fit into the stark Qatar desert? Seen as a departure from the other more 'human' pieces of the QMA's commissioned pieces of Damien Hirst's Miraculous Journey and Adel Abdessemed’s Coup de Tête, Serra's enormous steel plates take on a heavier, almost unnatural stance. However, one might also argue that you cannot deny the impact his participatory pieces have upon one's relationship with space and form. For that, I salute Serra for being a master of abstract spacial manipulation.

Under my Umbrella, Ella, Eh Eh Eh - Singing in the Rain @MBS

2015-07-12T17:00:00.000+08:00

Never have I have been more excited to note that the weather forecast will be rain, (bucket loads of it too!) than with the arrival of Singing in the Rain at Marina Bay Sand's MasterCard Theatres which opened on the 9th of July 2015.

Me (L) with my beautiful Mummy (R) at the gala opening night.

If you are unfamiliar with Singing in the Rain, perhaps this amazing mash-up by GLEE will help to jog your memory or get you in the groove.

Sexy suits - Check. Water - Check. Sultry vocals - Check. What more could you ask for?

Set in the 1920's heyday of silent Hollywood movies, we see Don Lockwood (Duane Alexander) and Lina Lamont (Taryn-Lee Hudson) as the romance darlings of the silver screen. However, once the curtains are drawn, Don and Lina's relationship couldn't be further from their onscreen counterparts. Don simply detests Lina's terrible attitude and voice which makes matters complicated for their studio who wants to launch a talking picture.

In an attempt to save the movie, the studio hires Kathy Seldon (Bethany Dickson), an up-and-coming actress to be Lina's voiceover. Sparks soon fly between Don and Kathy but nothing's ever easy when Lina gets jealous.

Not to be forgotten is Cosmo Brown (Steven van Wyk), Don's trusty albeit not always sharp best friend. Thanks to Cosmo's fantastical ideas and helpful suggestions show's sometimes stretched out dialogue scenes are elevated. Not to be outdone, the juxtaposition between Kathy's strong vocals and Lina's deliberately cracked tones brings out both admiration and laughter from the audience.

However, despite the bright colours and cheery dances, the show gradually loses its luster as the lead protagonist Don, is easily forgettable especially so when Cosmo effortlessly outshines him. The ending is convenient and predictable as missing was the element of surprise or a definitive threat to Kathy and Don's relationship.

Thankfully, Singing in the Rain's biggest merit is its titular song. What do you get when you bring in
12,000 liters of water onto a stage with very skilled tap dancers? FIVE very, very soaked front rows of audience! And yes, there was an encore performance of the same. Perhaps there was a "soak everyone" mandate?

The cast list of who's who

Bonus pictures for those of you in need of a good toweling or furry cuddle!

Wet hair don't care. Bright yellow towels to dry off your locks sold conveniently at the merchandise corner.

Under his umbrella...ella...ella...ella.

Untagged photo credits go to Hagen Hopkins

Special thanks to Marina Bay Sands and BASE Entertainment Asia.

Unforgettable Meowments - CATS @MBS

2015-01-17T23:20:00.001+08:00

Everybody wants to be a cat!

CATS - One of the world's greatest musicals sashays its way back in Singapore. If you haven't heard of CATS, you've really got to be kitten me. *wink*

Intermissions are the best times for a little pose and snap! Don't say I didn't tell ya.
Photo credit: Cheryl Wong.

Adapted from T.S. Eliot's book of poems, "Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” (1939), this is the tale of the Jellicle Cats on the night of the Jellicle Ball - where one of them will be chosen to ascend to the Heavyside layer (Cat Heaven), to be reborn again.

Top 5 reasons why I am purr-suading you to check it out:

1. The musical score was composed by the one and only Andrew Lloyd Webber of The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Starlight Express and Jesus Christ Superstar fame. Nodding your head now aren't you?

2. Meow-nificient dance moves. Tap dancing, ballet jumps, and some gravity-defying stunts that's sure to make you jump and do a jig yourself!

3. Get pounced on by cast members as they bring the action off the stage and right to you at your seat. One little girl did a little squeal of glee when a Jellicle cat landed right next to her! The anthropomorphic cat immediately leaped a few seats away in astonishing agility. How cat-hletic indeed.

4. The voices. Reinvent your purr-ception of cats who can sing! Witness the spectacular headline song, "Memory" sung so purr-fectly that you'll dreaming of it during your catnaps with a wide grin on your face.

5. Humour galore. Laugh and be tickled by the lovable antics of the flamboyant Rum Tum Tugger, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees, fluffy Jennyanydots, wise-old Old Deuteronomy, once-a-glamourpuss Grizabella and Skimbleshanks the railway cat.

I was filled with wonderment and awe at CATS and its carnival-like experience. With not a dull moment to spare, its tenacity and ferocity is sure to keep you watching and eager to find out who among the cats were to be selected for the pending rebirth.

Tune into a barrier breaking performance of CATS from now until the 25th of January 2015!

Photo credit: Cats The Musical

A fun fact: Did you know that Nicole Scherzinger plays Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium, UK? Well, the former Pussycat Doll certainly has some awesome vocal prowess and I would have loved to see her perform Memory in Singapore. Till then, catch this equally magical international production right here with more details at the bottom.

With the bro.

Details here:

CATS International Tour
Season: 9 to 25 January, 2015
Venue: MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands
Cast: The International Tour features a cast from the UK

Performance times:
Tuesday – Friday 8:00pm;
Saturday: 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm and 6.00pm

Ticket price:
From $65* through to $195
* Excludes the booking fee of SGD$3 per ticket

Online bookings:
www.BASEentertainmentasia.com, www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing or www.sistic.com.sg

By phone: +65 6688 8826

CATS is produced in Singapore by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Base Entertainment Asia in association with The Really Useful Group.

Yes, Look at me now. Review: Mamma Mia! @ MBS.

2014-11-16T10:58:00.000+08:00

22 of the biggest ABBA hits. A mother and her daughter. One stage.

Looking for a Christmas treat that doesn't require any wrapping or tagging? Tune into one of the most well known musicals of all time - having played to 54 million people in 39 productions in 14 different languages. From now until 14th December 2014 at MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands.

Years ago, I watched the movie adaptation starring movie titans Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. It didn't quite stun me as much. Call the plot contrived if you will but perhaps I much preferred it if I couldn't guess the father too easily. That's just me, really. After all, the movie did gross over $600 million worldwide, so clearly - this is a personal preference.

Feel the beat from the tambourine. Oh yeaaaa. #mammamia #singapore @marinabaysands

A photo posted by @graciegoesplaces on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:20am PST

Flash forward a good number of years and the musical making it's return to Singapore. For ages, I've heard theatre fans groan about the silly and kooky plot but perhaps the main attraction of Mamma Mia is it's ability to draw you into their feel-good music and larger-than-life dance numbers.

The musical starts with 20 year old bride-to-be who sends out wedding invitations to 3 unlikely men, in the hopes of uncovering her biological dad. Her drive to seek out her dad sends the rest of the Greek island wedding party, especially her mother into an emotional roller coaster. Watch as young, well-oiled men in flippers prance around and punchy comedic scenes are injected throughout the show. With every twist and turn, each ABBA song is cleverly woven into the scene to the point where you might just exclaim "ah-hah!".

So, if you like musicals and fancy a night out filled with sing-a-long worthy songs from the golden age of ABBA then I suggest you grab your karaoke buddies and family members to catch "Mamma Mia!". The humourous turn of events makes it fun to watch and you really mustn't take the entire setting too seriously albeit the cheesy dialogue. Yes, go ahead and tap your feet or sing to ABBA cause really, those songs are pretty infectious!

So Does Your Mother Know you're Taking A Chance on being a Dancing Queen soon?

Get your tickets here:
BASE Entertainment Asia, Marina Bay Sands Ticketing or Sistic

Ticket Price:
From $95*
* Excludes the booking fee of SGD$3 per ticket

Season: 13 November until 14 December 2014

Performance Times: Tuesday – Friday 8:00pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm and Sunday 1pm and 6.00pm

Venue: MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands

Cast: The International Tour features a cast from the UK some of which are from the West End

Alexander Wang x H&M Preview

2014-09-15T19:14:00.000+08:00

Photo credit: Vogue Netherlands

If you're anything like me and enjoy sweatpants to a fault but can't fully express that incomprehensible love of yours outside of home, your prayers have finally been answered! Christmas is certainly early this year with affordable Wang just a mere couple of weeks away. The much anticipated Alexander Wang x H&M collection drops worldwide on the 6th of November 2014.

Mark 6 November 2014 in your calendars now.

I mean right now.

For us in Singapore, I guess there'll be a little line at H&M Orchard Building and H&M ION Orchard on the 6th. Is anyone up for some camping / glamping?

From the previews, there's a definite sporty feel to this collection. The strong structures and block-like forms that look very comfortable. It'll be interesting to see what the complete range will look like.

Of course, Rihanna gets first dibs with this emblazoned crop top and matching leggings.

Already planning your wishlist?

Photo credit: Alexander Wang Facebook

Cavalia Review: Acrobatics and Horsepower on Opening Night

2014-09-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

Horsey love: Brother and I with the awesomely cute merchandise

There is an air of wonderment and whimsical fancy as one steps into the specially set-up 35-meter White Big Top at Marina Bay Sands. This will be Cavalia's first ever Asian debut in Singapore with a starring cast of 50 horses and 46 riders, acrobats and dancers. Don't miss it as it takes place right now until 28 September 2014.

Aptly titled, A Magical Encounter Between Man And Horse, Cavalia is every bit the magical experience from the moment of arrival at the gift shop and refreshments area to the White Big Top. Feel the excitement all throughout the show and onwards, if you had purchased the Horse Lover package, you'll get to visit the horses at their stables. An amazing treat for sure!

Cavalia, the brainchild of Normand Latourelle, one of the co-founders of the Cirque du Soleil, involves an exhilarating mix of acrobatics, aerial stunts, trick rides, dance and special effects. Not surprisingly it is often referred to as an equestrian ballet. Cavalia is very much the celebration of the equestrian arts as well as the bond between man and horse.

I was very impressed at the comedic elements and subtle touches of humour that the horses were able to put across to the audience. Most of all, I was simple awestruck at the level of understanding that the horses shared with their trainers. One of the most memorable performances that really had me at the edge of my seat were the trick riding portions.

Trick riding is when the rider performs acrobatic stunts while riding the horse such as standing upright or bending backwards while riding sideways. It really was a sight to behold watching five riders and their horses try to cheekily outdo one another.

Just when I thought the visual effects couldn't get any better, water was let into the 50-foot wide stage and horses were galloping and strutting across like a painting come to live.

With Cavalia, there's a sense of fantasy, somewhat similar to a dream-like atmosphere made even more surreal with the massive projector screens of gran backdrops and music played live.

It doesn't take a horse love to appreciate the beauty of these magnificent beasts. I was fortunate enough to meet a friend who had a spare ticket to view the horses at their stables. To say that meeting the horses were sensational would be an understatement.

Each horse had its own area to call home. Their name, breed and other horsey details were on the front of their box stalls. Would it surprise you to know that all the horses in Cavalia are all male -stallions and geldings? Well according to the trainers, if there was a mare around, none of the horses would be able to concentrate!

I have to say, the horses at Cavalia are very, very well taken care off. They are treated like the star performers they are and incredibly well-trained. Much like people, they too have their own personalities and you can tell by the way some horses like the attention while others refuse to bother about us visitors.

A truly wonderful closing to a great opening night.

With just two more weeks of shows here in Singapore, you'd best be galloping to buy those tickets soon.

How to get there:

Take an MRT to Bayfront station. You can't miss Cavalia's white tents on Bayfront Avenue, besides Marina Bay Sands.

Location: Under the White Theatre Tent, Bayfront Avenue
Dates: August 12 - September 28, 2014
Tickets: Available at Cavalia or by calling +65 3158 6735, or at SISTIC.
Pricing : Available from S$58 to S$288 + applicable fees.

Potted Potter Review: Magical Goodness

2014-09-13T10:25:00.001+08:00

My brother and I at opening night. Minutes before we went through Platform 9 3/4.

That must have been it! A magical spell of sorts being cast upon the audience each time Benjamin Stratton and James Percy took to the stage for 70 minutes of non-stop comedy - leaving all of us in stitches and wanting for more.

Potted Potter will be in town until Sunday, 14 September, so you better make your way to the nearest ticketing counters to grab yourselves passes to funniest Harry Potter retelling ever.

Exuberant and fun, Potted Potter managed to condense all 7 books, fit in a rousing game of Quidditch and a dragon with googly eyes, flies across the stage and spits fire. Fancy that!

The show starts of with both the actors as themselves and James leaving Ben with the responsibility to hire some award-winning actors (*ahem* Dame Judy Dench) to play the parts of the other characters. Ben however decides that their entire budget would be better spent on a spectacular Hungarian Horntail dragon from the fourth installment - The Goblet of Fire. Hilarity ensues as James insists that Ben play all the characters including my favourite version of Ron Weasley yet.

The chemistry between Ben Stratton and James Percy can be summed up in one word - phenomenal. The Singapore audience were definitely cheering them on as the dynamic duo were consistent as ever in their delivery, even with the improv and crazy wigs.

Do you need to be a Potterhead to attend? The answer is clearly no. While all that wizarding knowledge is good to have as the show weaves in and out into their fast-paced summaries of the books, it's not just a show about Harry Potter. It's Ben and James' own world of wizardry. No books needed for that. Just a ticket will do.

We were way early! The seats were soon filled and so were the ones on the balcony.

Tickets here:

VENUE: Jubilee Hall Raffles Hotel

DATES: Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th September 2014

TICKETS: from $70

BOOKINGS: Tickets available through SISTIC.

Internet: www.sistic.com.sg, www.sistic.com.sg/events/potter0914

Hotline: 6348 5555

All SISTIC authorized agents island-wide

Corporate hospitality bookings contact: katiem@showbizasia.com or corporate@showbizasia.com or call 6688 1029

For more information: www.lunchbox-productions.com or www.pottedpotter.com.au

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Potted Potter Cast

2014-08-30T12:02:00.002+08:00

Wingardium Leviosaaaa!

Let's raise our brooms to the return of Potted Potter! An amazing sold-out production that was here in Singapore in 2012 which will be returning for another round of magical goodness this 10 - 14 September 2014. Get ready for a solid 70 minute show filled with all your favourite characters from all 7 of J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter series.

Boy, am I excited to catch it! Having received worldwide acclaim, Potted Potter has received rave reviews from all leading UK papers such as The Guardian, The Times and Daily Mail, in addition to being a Time Out Critic's Choice. It was also featured in the New York Times and other major papers in Australia and Toronto.

What makes Potted Potter such an amazing show? You'll get to see two talent actors play the roles of 360 characters to perfection plus you can catch this global sensation right here in at the Jubilee Hall Raffles Hotel, Singapore. It doesn't get any better than that.

I was able to interview both actors, James Percy and Benjamin Stratton, who play Harry Potter and "all other characters" respectively. Read on as they answer some VERY important questions that we're all dying to know.

Benjamin Stratton

1. In 5 words, sum up what Potted Potter is about.

Harry Potter in a Nutshell.

2. Was drama and theatre always something you wanted to do? If not, what would you be doing?

Actually, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional soccer player. And soccer is still one of my big passions. I worked really hard and loved playing so much but apparently, professional soccer players have to be "good at soccer" so that was where I came up short....Drama and theatre just happened to to something I discovered I was quite good at. So I figured I'd try my luck and see how far I can get before someone realises I'm doing a job that is far too fun and make me work in an office or something.

3. What's the best part about being in Potted Potter?

I grew up with the books and the movies. It's a big part of my childhood and to be a small part of the Potter Generation is extremely rewarding. Also the Potted Potter team are like a little family and I already feel like part of that family and I pinch myself that I get to do this incredibly fun job with my good friends, telling a story I love.

4. If you had a magical pet, what would it be and what is its name?

A talking dog called John. I know dog's aren't magical technically, but I am not a fan of cats and dogs are your best buddy. Other than that I have no idea why I called him John.

5. Which Hogwarts house do you think you'd be sorted into and why?

I'd like to think Gryffindor but I think I'd quite like Hufflepuff. You have zero expectations to live up to. I mean Slytherin are the evil ones (aka cool!), Gryffindor are the brave heroic ones, Ravenclaw are super intelligent and Hufflepuff...are also there. Haha I think they're best known for being "good finders"...gee...cool. But if I was in Hufflepuff I could just chill and have a laugh and watch all the other houses fight it out amongst themselves :D

James Percy

1. We've heard great things about the show but we haven't seen it yet. Tell us about it.

Well, Potted Potter is all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes, with only two actors. I, have the job of playing Harry while Ben has the privilege of playing every other character. Watching Ben quickly dissolve into a sweaty mess, as he frantically tries to play everyone, never gets old. Plus, his Hermione is definitely worth a watch, she's beautiful.

2. Where did your interest in comedy start?

I've been a big comedy addict for as long as I can remember! I remember my Dad introducing me to things like Monty Python, Morecambe & Wise and Mr Bean from a very young age. I always thought it was just incredible, being able to make people laugh. It's really why I love this show so much, because at the heart of it, it's a classic comedy double act. We take so much inspiration from Laurel & Hardy, and the Pythons. It's such a treat to just go out there and have fun with an audience night after night.

3. Who is your favourite Harry Potter character and why?

I suppose I should really say Harry as he's the character I play. But. I am a bit of a secret fan of Gilderoy Lockhart, I think his clothes are brilliant, and check out that hair!

4. Tell us something about yourself that people will be surprised to know.

Here's one. Before I became an actor, I was going to be a lawyer. I'd always wanted to be an actor since I was very young, but at 18 I tried to be very sensible, went to university and spent three years studying Law. But I soon realised that I just couldn't push the acting away and as soon as I graduated I went straight to drama school and trained as an actor. It does mean though I still have a nice piece of paper with 'Law Degree' written on it!

5. What fun things or activities do you want to try out in Singapore?

This is our first trip to Singapore, so we're complete tourists! We may need some willing tour guides to show us round, do you know anybody? We'll try not to be annoying. I'll leave Ben in the hotel if you want, with the window open to let a bit of air in. He'll be fine.
----------------

Anyone wants to volunteer to show them around Singapore? Let's dare them to take selfies with a selfie stick and line up at Tian Tian chicken rice!

So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now at SISTIC!

VENUE: Jubilee Hall Raffles Hotel

DATES: Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th September 2014

TICKETS: from $70

BOOKINGS: Tickets available through SISTIC.

Internet: www.sistic.com.sg

Hotline: 6348 5555

All SISTIC authorized agents island-wide

Corporate hospitality bookings contact: katiem@showbizasia.com or corporate@showbizasia.com or call 6688 1029

For more information: www.lunchbox-productions.com or www.pottedpotter.com.au

Green Thumb: Singapore Garden Festival 2014

2014-08-24T13:51:00.001+08:00

Now's your last chance to visit this year's Singapore Garden Festival. It commenced on the 16th of August, and it ends today on the 24th. Located at the Gardens by the Bay, the festival is spread out in two areas: The Meadow where the majority of the show is at and the Flower Dome where the Orchid Extravaganza is. Not to worry if you attended the festival late in the day like I did yesterday because it runs all the way to 10 pm. Just be sure to bring an extra battery pack because you'll no doubt be busily snapping away.

Here are some of the highlights from the festival:

A miniature garden of Harry Potter's Greenhouse as taken care of by Professor Sprout! Absolutely delightful with mandrakes and devil's snare.

Let's go to the circus

2014-06-08T19:48:00.000+08:00

What's a circus without a little fun and seduction?

A trip to the circus these days has evolved in more ways than one. For instance, no longer is the big great circus housed under a giant red top but in one of Singapore's most iconic locations, the Marina Bay Sands Theatre. Such is the contemporary circus or nouveau cirque that does away with animals and focuses on characterization and the creation of moods.

Enter Le Noir cirque.

Watch as some 20 or so Victoria Secret and Abercrombie-esque performers strut the 360 stage decked out in the thematic colours of white, red and black. Butterfly shaped confetti, ribbons, kite play and dazzling light strobes add to the fantastical circus partyscape as the audience coo their "ooohs" and "ahhhs" at each and every performance.

Seeing double. The Duo Trapeze act by Ukrainian twins Ruslana and Taisiia Baazaii.

At Le Noir, your classical ringleader is a clown. Played by the amiable Salvador Salangsang, the comical ringmaster, picks lucky souls with the fortune to be seated close to the stage to participate in his comedic sketches between the acts. The entire auditorium bursts in laughter at the awkwardness of the participants in clear response that sometimes, we really shouldn't take things (or life) too seriously.

Defying gravity with the Wheel of Death: Team Wheeloco

At the heart of this year's run of shows, is Le Noir's "Wheel of Death". The act is a complex, large rotating hooped frame that rotates at great speed while two performers carry out heart-stopping acrobatic stunts, and is a new addition to the cirque's lineup. Team Wheeloco, featuring Angelo Rodiguez and Carlos Macias, were certainly the main feature of last night's show. There were more than a few gasps and expletives even as Angelo and Carlos rode the wheel with masterful precision and tenacity. The most dangerous of the performance was of Carlos running the frame of the wheel while blindfolded. A truly, amazing spectacle as hailed by a standing ovation from the audience.

The Hand to Hand performance - solid as a rock

Clearly, you haven't truly kicked off this year's summer until you've been to the circus.

Le Noir runs from 7 July to 29 July 2014.

Ticket prices start at $70. For more ticketing info, check out: SISTIC.sg or Marina Bay Sands Entertainment.

A special thank you to BASE Entertainment Asia.

10 Reasons to Watch Grease is the Word @MBS Singapore

2014-04-27T22:48:00.001+08:00

Don on your leather jackets and dream of summer loving.

Having grown up to the tunes of Grease and captivated by the old-school romance between Danny and Sandy from the movie adaptation, I simply had to catch the musical which started the global sensation. I was invited by Base Entertainment to attend the gala opening night of Grease is the Word at the Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on 25 April 2014.

Sandy brings all the boys to the yard.

Here are 10 reasons why you should watch Grease is the Word:

1. It's the high school you wished you attended. Move over Glee and High School Musical, you youngins have nothing over Grease - where adolescent angst and teen spirit ruled in the 1950s.

2. Class-act wardrobes of leather jackets and fantastical A-line dresses are coming back as the fashion du jour.

The scene from Summer Lovin'.

3. Did I mention the amazing vocals and those snazzy dance moves? Makes you want to shape up knowing that the ladies need a man.

4. It's a multi-million dollar production and remains one of Broadway's longest running shows since it's first performance in 1971; and not to mention, it's currently right at our doorsteps for a limited 2-week run.

5. It was the musical that inspired the film and not the other way round.

6. Everyone's a straight-A student especially if you know the lyrics to Summer Lovin', Hopelessly Devoted to You, Grease Lightning and You Are the One that I Want.

Go Grease Lightning, Go!

7. THE HUMOUR. There's plenty of comic acts, mad antics and even subtle local Singaporean references to keep you in stitches throughout the show.

8. Bad is good afterall, #it'sgoodtobebad. It's not just the bad boys taking over the stage but the bad girls too. Afterall, bad girls do it well - cue Rizzo strutting and getting her game on.

Rizzo leads the rebellion.

9. It dares to be different. Back in the day, Grease was considered too raunchy and aggressive for the masses for tackling issues such as teenage pregnancy, gang violence, truancy and sex.

10. The musical score is sure to blow your bobby-socks off. Famously written entirely on guitar, Grease's notable score was composed by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs.

Principle Lynch leads the audience in song.

This revival from Australia, which opened in 1993, pulls out all the stops as there was no dull moment. From getting the audience to sing along to gibberish on an oversized blackboard and cueing us to clap along to the songs. The other cast members too get their own number, such as Beauty School Dropout and Those Magic Changes, which really show off each of their individual talent and vocal finesse.

All's well at Rydell.

Will Danny ever quit playing hard-to-get and just admit his feelings?

My one gripe would be the ending which seems a bit improbable. Nevertheless, with stellar performances and remarkable dance routines (especially those during the prom dance scene!), this two hour revival is certainly worth watching. So hurry and get your tickets at SISTIC or on the MBS site today!

A special thank you to Base Entertainment Asia. Photo credits to the Grease is the Word official website.

Hirst's First in Doha, Qatar - RELICS

2014-01-13T14:36:00.000+08:00

(right) Unmistakable candy dots covering the exterior facade of Al Riwaq defines Relics and sets it apart from all other surrounding buildings. (left) One of Hirst's many dot paintings; each named after drugs.

It's easy to see why repeat rebel British art offender Damien Hirst commands the public's attention be it through thousands of flawlessly executed colored dots or in the most morbid production of animal carcasses floating within a formaldehyde tank. Hirst, the world's richest living artist, shows off 93 of his pieces in his first ever exhibition in the oil-rich Gulf country of Qatar. The "Relics" show located at the Al Riwaq space was unveiled with much pomp and pageantry in October 2013; attracting a crowd of who’s who of the art world including Jeffery Deitch, the former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Los Angeles; and Alberto Mugrabi - notable dealer and collector whose family owns some 110 Hirsts. At first glance, the new uninitiated art visitor who has yet heard of Hirst might be led astray to assume that "Relics" is a show of vibrant positivity with the exterior of the Al Riwaq space plastered in aesthetically pleasing colored dots. But nothing is quite as simple as it seems.

Leviathan (2006 - 2013) A 22 foot shark in suspended animation.

In the lobby of the "Relics" exhibition, guests are greeted with skeletons strung up from the ceiling ever so casually among plush seating. As expected, Hirst's obsession with death, dying, and explorations into mortality are quickly let known and unabashedly displayed starting with The Kingdom (2008) - a tiger shark set afloat in formaldehyde as if stuck in mid swim. Though surrounded by some of Hirst’s multi-colored, daringly playful dots in varying proportions, the shark held its own and even seemed eerily alive when viewed at certain angles.

Skeletons a many beckon visitors.

The Kingdom (2008)

(right) Dead Head (1991) and (on left) Hirst's $100 million dollar diamond encrusted human skull in all its dazzling sparkle - For the Love of God (2007).

Early in his career, Hirst actively pursued death as his signature subject matter mostly as a means to face his own fear of death. Aptly entitled With Dead Head (1991), the black and white photograph of Hirst who at that time was 25, posing with a severed head of a human cadaver captures Hirst’s youthful smile and contrasts it against that of the dead man’s lifeless face. It was as if at that exact moment Hirst had found his forte in all things macabre and dead. Just how many variations of the image of death can Hirst conjure is the question many of us are keen to find out.

Mother and Child Divided (1995)

Close-up of the mother cow in Mother and Child Divided (1995)

Hirst’s Relics unfolds more like a museum of natural science than that of an art exhibition. His dissected cow and calf in glass tanks of formaldehyde – Mother and Child Divided (1995) is a notable display garnering the curiosity of young children and adults alike as they point and stare in a mixture of fascination and disgust. There’s a chilling difference in emotions when one views a cow splayed in a visceral cross-section for all to see rather than seeing it as a source of food.

Children staring down the oversized ashtray Crematorium (1996). Behind hang the spin paintings.

In “Relics”, there are pills, dots, shiny lab diamonds, flies both living and not, dead butterflies with wings separated from their “ugly” bodies, two very bedazzling diamond encrusted skulls, and a host of dead animal carcasses submerged in formaldehyde including three sharks. Even the signature A Thousand Years (1990), a memorable and unmistakable Hirst is included in the show. The flies flown especially via Qatar Airways from Britain embark on a performance of their tiny fly lifetimes as they hatch as maggots, feast upon the blood of a severed cow’s head and finally die from being zapped by an insect-o-cutor machine. The effect is nothing short of ugly, rancid and somewhat gripping with the dead flies matted in cow’s blood and covering the ground like burnt ash. In the simplest sense, those flies detail what it means to live and die. As with Hirst’s first foray with formaldehyde in The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991), that surreal and hair-raising tiger shark symbolic of 90s Britart, sparks the argument of what it means to capture life in something dead.

(right) The gold-plated Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain, whose modesty has been covered up by a leaf. (left) The stained glass effect made out of butterfly wings in Doorways to the Kingdom of Heaven (2007)

There is an element of beauty found in Hirst’s butterfly paintings. The dead insects’ kaleidoscope wings are attached on to large canvases, forming collages of lavish patterns as seen in the triptych Doorways to the Kingdom of Heaven (2007). A thousand beautiful deaths immortalized in the complex construction of the stain-glass motifs.

There’s something clinical and precise with all of Hirst’s works. His multi-colored dots are technically complex to complete with each dot a different color and painted with machine-like quality. His clinical obsession takes full form in the display of an entire walk-through Pharmacy (1992). Floor to ceiling medicine cabinets line the room as if it were an actual drug dispensary. Perhaps the pharmacy was one step too far into indulging his obvious pharmaceutical predilections and unfortunately felt uninspired.

Want to own a Hirst? The gift shop provides a neat selection from skulls to jewelry.

Hirst, 48, in recent years has been critically reviewed by some as over-produced, vulgar and unoriginal in comparison to his earlier more brilliant works. Current Hirst works are seen as repetitive and non-inventive. For the time being, Hirst's superstar status as a branded artist begs to defer as evidenced by the grandiose prices his works command. Examples being the pharmaceutically titled dot series which are individually priced between $800,000 and $3 million. Critics may cry foul at the stale and overworked impressions of death but no one can deny the influence Hirst carries in today's international contemporary art world.

Cafe banquet set against a backdrop of pharmacy medicine cabinets.

The brochure in Arabic and ticket stubs!

The Pursuit of Oblivion (2004) stops visitors in their tracks.

Catch Damien Hirst’s “RELICS” at Al Riwaq Exhibition Space, next to the Islamic Museum of Art, Doha from now until the 22^nd of January 2014. Entrance is free.

Sealine Symposium

2013-04-28T16:47:00.001+08:00

Welcome board at the entrance of the Wyndham Hotel

The artists at the Sealine camp. Image credited to Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel.

There’s something about being at the beach where the artistic creation takes hold. Maybe it’s the ingrained notion that the sight of the sea conjure up thoughts of holidaying, exploration, building gratifying castles of crude dimensions in the sand or your ever present bikini-clad babe. Maybe being away from the hustle and bustle of city life awakens the sleepy artist within us. Whatever the motivations or reasons for that jolt of inspiration, there’s no denying that the creative juices are pumped up and heightened when we are by the sea.

The recent first edition Al Asmakh Fine Art Symposium; a week-long cultural excursion/workshop/brainstorming session held from the 16-21 of March has those sealine inspirations right by immersing its participants in a wholly creative setting at the south of Qatar where the Sealine Beach meets the dazzling Arabian Sea. The symposium concluded on 21 March with a culmination of pieces by its 22 participants - contemporary artists from 14 countries including Qatar, Iraq, Italy, Sudan, Sweden, the Netherlands, India, Bahrain and Morocco. The 40 works of art are now on permanent display at the Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

A visitor peruses through the official brochure complete with artists' profiles and backgrounds

We arrived just as about the awards were being given out and the ballroom was abuzz with excitement. Seemingly one of the first of its kind, and hopefully the start of many more like it, the international art symposium attracted a fair number of media attention as well as a generous turnout of guests. Not to be confused with the concurrently running art events such as Art Dubai and the Sharjah Biennial, Al Asmakh serves not a commercial art fair but instead a cultural and art appreciation symposium with the main aim of establishing Qatar as a viable global art platform.

Among the newly created showpieces filling up the Wyndham Al Qasr ballroom turned art gallery; were two mixed media paintings by Iraqi author and artist Ashna Ahmed Dawlat who grew up in Kurdistan Iraq and is currently stationed in Sweden. “These depict the diaspora of my people. Wherever they go for however long a period of time, they are always welcomed back,” Ashna said. “I've also mixed sand from the Sealine into the paint for a raw and natural finish that brings out the definition of the desert.” I found her paintings particularly pleasing; with jewel tones and smooth curves that could very well set an appropriate base for fabric print.

On a more playful note, Netherlander Alik Assatrian goes the bubbly direction with his cartoon-like figures and carefully etched Arabic writing in his two-piece copper toned work. His work depicts a unified, global take on the symposium as the Armenian born artist and filmmaker goes the extra mile with some translation assistance from a fellow participant to incorporate a part of all 22 participants with their names written in Arabic despite not knowing the language himself. After a quick chat on inquiring our perspective of the exhibition, Alik was quick to ask for a photograph of us and not the other way around as I would have done so many other times. I thought that was a rather amusing moment seeing as we were the visitors and he, the artist.

Al Asmakh marks the start of new international melting of creative minds in Qatar and hopefully will inspire more artistic forums to follow suit. Baby steps but there's potential here surely. There’s no denying that a burgeoning interest and demand for contemporary works has been steadily arising from the Middle East. While Qatar is making headway as the largest buyer of contemporary art; there’s still much to be done for the gas-rich state to successfully assert itself as a force in the art market. Perhaps we'll see an Art Doha soon? Fingers-crossed.