1 July 2015: Metropolitan Museum of Art

1 Jul 2015:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the foremost art museums in America. Affectionately known as the "Met", its collections spans across cultures of America, Europe, Africa, the Far East, and the classical and Egyptian worlds.

I had spent almost an entire day there. There is a cafeteria at the basement of the museum that offered meals that could be below USD$20. I would rather spend money on more visits to the museums so I decided that getting a decent enough meal would do.

One of my favourite galleries was the special exhibition titled Van Gogh: Irises and Roses. This exhibition showcased four of the works by Vincent Van Gogh. The exhibition brought together the series of four paintings of spring flowers. I felt touched to see all the four paintings displayed side by side each other, in the order that they were painted by Van Gogh. It was insightful to see the relationships between these four artworks.

There is an online lecture that was held in conjunction with Van Gogh: Irises and Roses. Here is the link: http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/video/lectures/sam-van-gogh-irises-and-roses

Also in this museum are other works by Manet, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and many more. As for the guided tours, I think visitors who are clear with what are the specific paintings that they would like to see could consider giving the guided tours a miss out of pure interest of time. I however have found the audio guide to be very handy even though I did not have the time to run through every single item in its database.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave at E 82nd St 
Subway: #4, #5, #6 to 86th St
http://www.metmuseum.org

Xue Gang - The Fire of Youth

Xue Gang - The Fire of Youth 
6 August 2013 (Tue)
7.30 p.m. 
Kallang Theatre
1 Stadium Walk
Nearest MRT station: Stadium

Performers:
Sin Sai Hong Hokkien Opera Troupe
Xiao Kee Lin Hokkien Opera Troupe
Sio Gek Leng Hokkien Opera Troupe
Aixin Lovely Opera House
Bukit Panjang Government High School Dance Ensemble
Xinghai Arts Centre Martial Arts Troupe
Yilin Music Studio Choir Gordon Choy Aerobatics
Bedok CC Lion Dance
Official Conductor: Wang Ya Hui
Composer: Chua Jon Lin

Ticket Prices: $98, $72, $58, $38, $22
Ticketing Hotline: 91339683

This year, I have found myself getting reacquainted with Chinese Opera. About a month ago, I attended the Opening Ceremony of the Teochew Cultural Festival at Teochew Building and was treated to a series of Teochew Opera performances.

Next month, it will be Hokkien Opera Gala performance, Xue Gang - The Fire of Youth. Presented by the Bedok Community Centre and The Chinese Opera Institute, this grand production features 120 performers and musicians, 3D animated backdrops, English subtitles and newly made-to-measure costumes in the Tang style. My humble role in this production would be to provide the background music with the other musicians in the team. It has been an enriching and humbling experience witnessing how the production is being put together.

For more information, you may visit the event's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/506441469403730/?fref=ts

Directions to get to Stephen Riady Centre Auditorium 2, part II

Yours truly will be performing in the following concert.

Journey to Vienna 
By NUS Symphony Orchestra 
Date: 30 Jun 2013 (Sun) 
Time: 8.00 p.m. 
Venue: Stephen Riady Centre, Auditorium 2, University Town, NUS. 
Tickets at $10 each. To order the tickets, please approach any member of the NUS Symphony Orchestra or contact nusso.contact@gmail.com

For the convenience of friends, supporters and members of the audience who will be attending this concert, here is a second part to how we can find our way to the Auditorium 2 at Stephen Riady Centre, University Town, NUS. 

The weather-proof way

This method is possibly suitable for people who prefer sheltered pedestrian walkways which will prove to be helpful during wet weather condition. It is also suitable for people who are familiar with getting to the University Cultural Centre and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, yet have no clue how to get to University Town. Soon you will learn how to get to University Town!

Getting to Auditorium 2, Stephen Riady Centre, University Town, NUS

1) Take bus service 96 from Clementi bus interchange and alight at bus stop #16169 opposite the NUS University Cultural Centre and on the same side as NUS Raffles Hall. Then cross to the other side of the road to the bus-stop #16161.

1b) Alternatively, take bus service 151 and alight at bus-stop #16161, just after the NUS University Cultural Centre.

Bus stop #16161. After University Cultural Centre, and opposite Raffles Hall.

2) From bus stop #16161, you can choose to walk along the sheltered pedestrian walkway until you get to University Town. The walk is approximately 15 minutes from bus stop #16161 to University Town, Stephen Riady Centre.

2a) Alternatively, depending on the schedule of the NUS Internal Shuttle Bus Service, you can take bus service D2 from bus-stop #16161 and alight at the next stop. Please take note that the frequency of bus service D2 is about 30 minutes on Sundays.

Walk under the shelter of the sheltered pedestrian walkway.
This is the weather-proof way to get to University Town.

On the way to NUS University Town, enjoy the sceneries and the experience of walking across an expressway.
In the background is a glimpse of NUS University Town.

Congratulations! You are in University Town, NUS.

3) Look for directional signs or simply walk forward towards the direction of the Stephen Riady Centre, formerly known as the Edusports. Along the way, you will pass by Subway, Fish and Co Express and Koufu Food Court.

Koufu Food Court on the left.

4) After Koufu Food Court, look ahead and you will see the Stephen Riady Centre. Walk towards the Stephen Riady Centre and you will find yourself on the second level of the Stephen Riady Centre.

Stephen Riady Centre.

5) Take one of the nearby lifts or the stairways to get to the first level of Stephen Riady Centre. You will find the main entrance to Auditorium 2 on the ground level.

Second level of Stephen Riady Centre.
There is a Food Court on this level.
The toilets in this centre are gender-neutral.
Please expect to find doors to the Gents painted pink and doors to the Ladies painted blue and vice versa.

Level One. Entrance to Auditorium 2, Stephen Riady Centre. University Town, NUS.

Last but not the least, may you enjoy the concert. 

Also see:

Journey to Vienna. Directions to get to Stephen Riady Centre Auditorium 2
Journey to Vienna, Pre-Tour Concert, NUS Symphony Orchestra

Journey to Vienna. Directions to get to Stephen Riady Centre Auditorium 2

Yours truly will be performing in the following concert.

Journey to Vienna 
By NUS Symphony Orchestra 
Date: 30 Jun 2013 (Sun) 
Time: 8.00 p.m. 
Venue: Stephen Riady Centre, Auditorium 2, University Town, NUS. 
Tickets at $10 each. To order the tickets, please approach any member of the NUS Symphony Orchestra or contact nusso.contact@gmail.com

The NUS University Town, or UTown for short, is designed for the entire NUS community. The Stephen Riady Centre where Auditorium 2 is located offers a range of sports, educational and performing arts facilities.

Many of my friends have asked for directions to get to the Stephen Riady Centre, University Town, NUS. Here's a map with directions to the NUS UTown Stephen Riady Centre, Auditorium 2. The directions for friends and supporters who are driving are fairly clear, so please refer to this map.

Directions to Stephen Riady Centre, Auditorium 2 via public transport:
As the concert is held on a Sunday night, I will suggest that friends, supporters and members of the audience who are coming by public transport could consider enter University Town via the Dover Road entrance. Although there is a discreet entrance with the shortest walking distance to the Stephen Riady Centre via Clementi Road as we can see from the map, some members of the audience may find the street lights relatively dim to find their way around, so I shall suggest the use of the Dover Road entrance.

I am personally not in favour of using the College Link wall to go to Stephen Riady Centre because shuttle services in NUS on a Sunday night is relatively infrequent. The frequency is one bus every 30 minutes for Bus D2 (refer to NUS shuttle bus services guide).

Here are my suggestions:

1) Take MRT and alight at Buona Vista MRT station.

2) From opposite Buona Vista MRT station, next to the MOE Building, take bus service number 196 towards Clementi bus Interchange. The journey will take about 10 minutes, and there will be 6 stops along the way before reaching the designated bus-stop.

3) Alight at bus-stop #19059. It is opposite the New Town Secondary School.

4) You will see a glimpse of the University Town, NUS.

5) Walk on the pedestrian foot-way that is somewhat parallel to the construction site to get to Stephen Riady Centre. The walk will take about 10 - 15 minutes depending on your pace. Along the way, if you see anyone, you may choose to say 'hello' to the strangers that you would see. The NUS community is generally friendly and you can also asks for verification that you are walking in the right direction.

6) Before reaching the Stephen Riady Centre, you will pass by the Education Resource Centre. There is a 24-hours Starbucks Coffee outlet at the Education Resource Centre. If you do not need a drink from Starbucks Coffee, continue walking ahead. You will see the Yale-NUS College under construction. After that, you will see the Stephen Riady Centre about less than 1 minute walk away.

On the left of this photo: Education Resource Centre. University Town, NUS.
On the right of this photo: Yale-NUS College under construction.
In the middle of the horizon: Stephen Riady Centre.

7) When you are at Stephen Riady Centre, find your way to the first level (i.e. ground level) either via the stairways or the lifts. Auditorium 2 is located nearby NTUC Express, Fortune Village and the Dance Studio.

Stephen Riady Centre.

Facilities nearby Auditorium 2, Stephen Riady Centre. University Town, NUS.

Entrance to Auditorium 2, Stephen Riady Centre. University Town, NUS.

Stephen Riady Centre.

Dining and retail options:

There are various dining options in University Town. 

For example, there is a food-court, Flavors@U-Town at Stephen Riady Centre, on the second level. Flavors@U-Town opens daily from 7.30 a.m. - 10 p.m. At Flavors@U-Town, one can find a variety of food from Western food, Chinese style soups, Chinese food, Malay food, Indian food. 

Nearby Stephen Riady Centre is Town Plaza. There is a Koufu Foodcourt there that opens till 10 p.m. Koufu presents Korean food, Chinese food, Malay food and more.

For more dining and retail options in University Town, please visit: http://www.nus.edu.sg/oed/services/retail-and-dining/outlets.htm#edusports

Also see:

The weather-proof way to get to Stephen Riady Centre: Directions to get to Stephen Riady Centre Auditorium 2, part II 

Journey to Vienna, Pre-Tour Concert, NUS Symphony Orchestra

Places: Displacements. At 13 Wilkie Terrace. The launch party

I have a special liking for houses with high ceilings and usually such houses tend to be built before WWII. When I heard about Displacements, a community arts exhibition and event program held at 13 Wilkie Terrace, I felt a compelling urge to visit the house. I suppose one of the reasons was that I used to rehearse in a Chinese orchestra that had its rehearsal venue somewhere nearby the area. Furthermore, the street names associated with "Wilkie" somehow remind me of a good friend.

Join me as I write about my visit to 13 Wilke Terrace on 1 Jun 2013: Places: Displacements. At 13 Wilkie Terrace. The launch party

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Displacements
2 - 23 Jun 2013
13 Wilke Terrace, Singapore.
Exhibition hours:
Tue - Fri, 3 p.m. -8 p.m.
Sat and Sun, 2 - 8 p.m.
Admission is free
http://www.13wilkieterrace.com
https://www.facebook.com/13wilkieterrace

Places: My visit to Enlightened Ways

If you like Buddhist art, especially those in Thailand, you may find this exhibition, Enlightened Ways: The Many Streams of Buddhist Art in Thailand, to be interesting. Here is an account of my recent visit to this exhibition: Places: My visit to Enlightened Ways: The many streams of Buddhist art in Thailand.

Enlightened Ways: The Many Streams of Buddhist Art in Thailand 
30 Nov 2012 - 17 Apr 2013 
Special Exhibitions Gallery
Asian Civilisations Museum Empress Place
1 Empress Place
Singapore 179555
Tel: (+65) 6332 7798, (+65) 6332 3275

Places: Ng Eng Teng's Asian Symphony at NUHS

The next time you visit the National University Health System Building, do pay attention and look for the largest known public mural that was made by the late Ng Eng Teng. Ng Eng Teng was a well-known sculptor and winner of the Cultural Medallion in visual arts in 1981.

Here's a simple account of how a visit to the NUS Museum inspired me to learn more about Ng Eng Teng's Asian Symphony: Places: Ng Eng Teng's Asian Symphony at NUHS

Places: From the private collections: Weight of History

Some time ago, I visited the Singapore Art Museum to catch the exhibition: The Collectors Show: Weight of History. This art exhibition showcases contemporary artworks from private collections in Asia. It was interesting for me to get a glimpse of the kind of artworks that would interest private collectors.

Here's an account of my visit to this exhibition: From the private collections: Weight of History.

Places: The President's Young Talents 2013

A snapshot of a scene from Boo Junfeng's Mirror.

An incidental visit to an exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum has given me a number of pleasant surprises. Find out what some of Singapore's most promising young artists hope to communicate through their art by attending the exhibition, President's Young Talents.

Here's an account of my recent visit to the exhibition: President's Young Talents 2013.

Credit Suisse: Innovation in Art Series

President's Young Talents

25 Jan - 15 Sep 2013

Singapore Art Museum
71 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189555

The Art of Lee Kian Choong

Source: Haozhen Gallery's Facebook Page.
Oath of Joy, by Lee Kian Choong.
One of my favourite artworks from the exhibition.

The Art of Lee Kian Choong
Haozhen Gallery
231 Bain Street, #03-39 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231.
Tel: 63344661.
1 Mar 2013 - 15 Mar 2013
Opening hours: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.


Thanks to the strong recommendations of one of the conductors whom I know of, I had the pleasure to check out an art exhibition yesterday at the Bras Basah Complex. I have found the artworks by this artist, Lee Kian Choong, to be refreshing, optimistic and beautiful. It seems like Nature and life were two of the key sources of inspirations for the artist.

Lee Kian Choong is possibly one of the up-and-coming budding contemporary artists who specializes in Chinese ink and watercolours paintings to look out for.

The exhibition ends today (i.e. 15 Mar 2013). Do check it out. Admission is free.

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Haozhen Gallery's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HaozhenGallery
Haozhen's Gallery's website: http://www.haozhengallery.com.sg

The Fort Canning Park Sketching Tour

The facilitator of the sketching tour, Choo Meng Foo.

On 28 July 2012, I visited the Fort Canning Park to take part in a sketching tour. participants met at the courtyard of Fort Canning Centre, in front of the NParks Visitor Service Centre. I brought along my sketchbook, pens and pencils.

As the marketing material suggests, the sketching tour allowed the participants to revisit history, embrace Nature and be awed by the trees of the fort. The sketching tour was facilitated by artist Choo Meng Foo. He gave us an introduction to some approaches to sketching.

Fort Gate. Fort Canning Park.

Our first stop for the sketching tour was the Fort Gate. Choo Meng Foo gave us some instructions so that we can learn to be more aware of our surrounding environment, including the sounds from Nature and the smells from the surrounding spaces. I did a sketch that focused on the Fort Gate and a nearby tree that had caught my eyes.

It was quite a delight to see people of all ages and from all walks of life enjoying the process of sketching. A few of the young participants asked Choo Meng Foo for feedback, and he gave encouraging sugestions and feedback to them.

One of my sketches.

Our second stop for the sketching tour was near Fort Canning Green. I was captivated by the structure of the cupola so I did a sketch of it. Being a little ambitious, I tried to sketch the Fort Canning Centre in the background. After the sketch was done, I received a suggestion from Choo Meng Foo, and I took the suggestion to enhance the sketch.

At Fort Canning Green.

It was a fruitful day. I had completed three sketches, spent time catching up with a few friends, and made a few new friends too. More importantly, it was therapeutic and fun to be close to Nature and to sketch.


Many thanks to one of my friends for the getting me the sketch-book that I was using, and another of my friends for getting me a few of the sketching pens that I was using. In addition, special thanks to Choo Meng Foo for facilitating the sketching tour.

This sketching tour is organised by the National Parks Board. Many thanks to National Parks Board for making this tour a fun and interesting one. This was a free tour. More information on future similar events can be found from http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/ and www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz

Simple ideas to enjoy the exhibition "Dreams and Reality" better

With an overwhelming number of more than 140 paintings, photographs and drawings from the collection of the world renowned Musée d’Orsay, an art museum in France, what could a visitor do to better appreciate this exhibition?

In this post, Simple ideas to enjoy the exhibition "Dreams and Reality" better, I shall attempt to share some suggestions that may guide a visitor, especially one who is totally new to visual art, to enjoy this exhibition like a seasoned visual art-lover.

Places: Musée d'Orsay travels to Singapore

Places: Musée d'Orsay travels to Singapore:

This is the time to be inspired by some of the collections from the world renowned Musée d'Orsay , right in Singapore. Till 5 Feb 2012.

Dreams and Reality: Masterpieces of Painting, Drawing and Photography from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Venue: National Museum of Singapore
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ticket Prices: $11 including SISTIC charges
Ticket Bookings: SISTIC counters nationwide
SISTIC hotline: (65)6348 5555
SISTIC online booking: www.sistic.com.sg

Curator Tours, Liu Kang A Centennial Celebration

Offerings, 1975.

Join exhibition curators Ms Ong Zhen Min and Ms Patricia Ong, for a guided tour to learn more about Liu Kang, a passionate artist whose creativity knows no bounds. Walk through the galleries and be intrigued by the stories behind the artworks. Find out how this prolific artist made such an impact on the development of art in Singapore.

Source: http://nationalartgallery.sg/liukangexhibition/tours

One lovely evening on 16 Sep 2011, one of my friends and I joined one of the Curator Tours of Liu Kang A Centennial Celebration. Leading the tour was one of the exhibition curators, Ms Ong Zhen Min. This Curator Tour gave us a deeper understanding to Liu Kang's approach to art. We have also learnt more about many of Liu Kang's works.

Life by the River, 1975.

I learnt that in Life by the River, Liu Kang dealt with the composition in a very interesting manner. The various subject matters in this painting unravel to the viewer like a traditional Chinese landscape hand-scroll. The use of the bridge sensitively created depth in this painting.

Tenth Trip Up to Huangshan, (1989).
In this painting, Liu Kang painted his teacher, Liu Haisu, painting Huangshan.

During the tour, the curator also shared with us why the style found in Tenth Trip Up to Huangshan, (1989), is so different from the style of Liu Kang's style of painting. If you would like to find out more, perhaps you could consider going for the upcoming Curator Tour (in Mandarin) held on 23 Sep 2011.

The curator also shared with the members of the group about the differences in Liu Kang's approaches to oil paintings and works done in pastels. An oil painting of Samsui women, however, was one of the exceptions among his oil paintings whereby the faces of the subject matter were not as flat.

After the Fire II, (1952).

A number of Liu Kang's works also documented moments from Singapore's past. For example, After the Fire II (1952) documented how fires were common occurrences during the 1950s and 1960s. The painting showed the aftermath of a fire.

In addition, visitors to the exhibitions can find a few copies of Liu Kang's Chop Suey, a multi-volumed work consisting sketches of Japanese brutality on Asians. When no press could visit Singapore to take photographs of the brutality of the war and the Japanese Occupation, Liu Kang used his creativity to document snippets from this period of Singapore's history.

At the third level of the Singapore Art Museum, one can find copies of archival material and copies of Liu Kang's Chop Suey.

If the above-mentioned interest you, you may like to know that Liu Kang A Centennial Celebration will be held from 29 Jul - 16 Oct 2011.

There will be a Curator Tour in Mandarin on 23 Sep 2011, Friday, from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. For more information on how to register for this tour, please visit: http://nationalartgallery.sg/liukangexhibition/tours

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You may also like to read:
Liu Kang, by Tan Bonny.
Must-see artworks at Liu Kang: A Centennial Celebration, by Elaine Lim.

Liu Kang: A Centennial Celebrations

Liu Kang: A Centennial Celebration
29 July 2011 to 16 October 2011
Singapore Art Museum
(Organised by the National Art Gallery, Singapore. Supported by National Heritage Board. Held at Singapore Art Museum.)

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to visit the Singapore Art Museum on two consecutive days to view the works by pioneer Singapore artist, Liu Kang. I was first introduced to Liu Kang and his works when I was a young teenager. During those years, I was only introduced to some of his works.

When I visited the "Liu Kang: A Centennial Celebration" at the Singapore Art Museum, I realised that Liu Kang was very proficient in the use of pastels. I was very drawn to most, if not all, of his pastel works. One of the most captivating works done using pastels by Liu Kang was perhaps "My Young Wife" (1944).

My Young Wife (1944) by Liu Kang.

There was a self-portrait of Liu Kang which was done in pastels that was shown at the exhibition. I have found that it was sensitively executed. From the explanatory notes, I learnt that during period of the Japanese Occupation in particular, art materials such as oil paints were scarce. Liu Kang turned to using pastels during that period. Visitors to the exhibition has the privilege to catch glimpses of some of the tools that Liu Kang had used as an artist, thanks to the generosity of Liu Kang's family for the loan.

At the exhibition, visitors had the privilege to view a number of Liu Kang's masterpieces. These include "Life by the River" (1975), "Siesta in Bali" (1957), "Offerings" (1957) and more.

For visitors who would like to learn more about Liu Kang's philosophy and beliefs on art, Liu Kang's Essays on Art and Culture that was recently published is one book to read. I understand that there is also a monograph titled Asian Artists Series - Liu Kang: Colourful Modernist that explores Liu Kang's way of seeing and art making.

I strongly recommend this exhibition to anyone who is interested in Singapore art and/or in the development of Singapore's art scene.

For more information on this exhibition, please visit the National Gallery of Singapore's webpage: http://nationalartgallery.sg/liukangexhibition

Villa Alicia

Villa Alicia is a sound and photography installation that was held from 6 - 11 Aug 2011 in a beautiful old house located along Binjai Park. Sadly, this beautiful house had been scheduled to be demolished shortly after the end of the exhibition.

My visit to this house and the installation Villa Alicia triggered me to ponder over what would happen to my personal memories that are associated with a specific place when that place no longer exist.

To learn more, please visit: A house that will be gone physically yet will remain in people's memories.