4 October  2015    Issue Four

the avenue for creative arts 


Singapore Writers Festival
Something for everyone with a host of visiting and local writers. Too much to take in and too much to talk about? "Danger of forgetting about writers at festival?" That's what Ong Sor Fern
wrote in the Straits Times 29 September 2015. But perhaps it shows that writers here, there and everywhere are so inextricably linked to all art forms. 
So go and see for yourself. And we give you a glimpse of some other writers and events. So read on. 
For the full programme, writers, presenters, book launches etc:
Upstaged: Theatre Headliners 
An exotic beast is stalking Singapore 
Step aside Hungry Ghost - a new specter is in town. He's prowling the stage in Rajiv Joseph's smart, savagely funny, and Pulitzer nominated work - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Presented in Singapore for four nights only! By The Stage Club.
Directed by Nick Kenny and starring Nick Perry, in the role of "Tiger", played by the late and great Robin Williams on Broadway. Event Dates: 
Wed, 14 - Sat, 17 Oct 2015  8pm 
It's Beauty World - back to the future
Since its debut in 1988, Beauty World has enjoyed multiple re-stagings, including a successful Japan tour (1992) and a record-breaking production shown live on TV (1998). Set in mid-60s Singapore, the musical comedy traces the adventures of an innocent young girl who enters a seedy cabaret hoping to find her long-lost father.
Event Dates: Fri, 13 Nov - Sat, 12 Dec 2015 Victoria Theatre

Beyond the Barricade
Starring past principal performers from Les Miserables in the West End and on tour, the blockbusting two-hour show features hit songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Chicago, Mamma Mia and many others, climaxing with a spectacular finale from, of course, Les Miserables. Book for Beyond the Barricade or learn more. 
Meet on the Esplanade 

14 October - Vienna Boys Choir
 
The world's favourite children's choir and one of the most celebrated ambassadors of music will perform for one-night-only at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 14 October 7.30 pm. 
Conductor for the Vienna Boys' Choir Asian tour 2015 is Jimmy Chiang and the programme includes Viennese waltzes, polkas, motets, art songs and folk songs from around the world. 
The Boys - not these ones but their earlier "brothers" - have been singing at the court in Vienna since the 15th century. Formed in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian I, the Wiener Sängerknaben's (Vienna Boys' Choir) distinctive sound is unmatched in purity and beauty. From as early as 1926, the Choir performed outside the Austrian Imperial Chapel, paving the way to today's
highly successful world 
tours.
    

31 October - Tommy Emmanuel

A Tommy Emmanuel concert is like no other - he plays sizzling melodies, fills in the rhythm section and weaves in a thumping bass - all on his own on a single guitar! On top of that, he plays the drums on his guitar, sings and entertains with his affable, approachable style. 
In his illustrious career, Emmanuel has set sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Air Supply, Roberta Flack, Sir George Martin, Hank Marvin, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Les Paul, Keith Urban, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Performances not to miss
   
Concertmaster Jimmy Chiang, who originally hails from Hong Kong, is leading the world's oldest "Boy Band" in song.  


Tommy Emmanuel 



A British production of 
A Clockwork Orange is coming to the stage at the Esplanade on Nov 4-8.

HARMONY THROUGH WATERCOLOR 2015"
Exhibitionists! Visual Art on Show
Art and Home Living at Dilegno Gallery 
It's located at 188-6 Tajong Katong Road - not exactly an area known as an artistic hot bed - but what a delightful place to view art and sculptures. Even things to sit on and work at! The occasion was an exhibition of works by Filipino artists, including the work pictured, "When Water Meets Earth", by Benjie Torrado Cabrerra.
Such a talented team and creative collection. Gallery owner and director Alyssa Ong has a practical approach to the business and encourages interior designers along with art collectors to view what she has in store. Get along to see the show, "BECOMING" Exhibition Dates 26 September - 28 November 2015
. 
Watercolours Go International
The Singapore Watercolour Society held its annual show last month and besides its local members, it also featured water-colourists from Philippines. Among these was one of our favourites Wilfredo Calderon. Here's one of his best:

His works will also go on to two other exhibitions in Bali and New Delhi. 

First up is the "LovE@rth" exhibition in Bali, Indonesia from 24 October to 2 November. It comes after an watercolour exhibition in Jakarta in September. Check out information on the artists and venue through the International Watercolour Society Indonesia. 

Then there's the  International Watercolour Society India Biennale 2015
 "HARMONY THROUGH WATERCOLOUR 2015" in the national capital of India, New Delhi at All India Fine Arts and Crafts society (AIFACS) from 3 to 8 December 2015. The purpose of this International Artistic convention is to spread Harmony in the world through the watercolour medium.
 
Showcase - The Art of Travel - to the Bahamas   
The image is "Storyteller" by artist Thierry Lamare. You'll find this evocative painting of Miss Ophelia on show in the Bahamas.  Thanks to Dionne Benjamin-Smith, Editor & Publisher of Smith & Benjamin's 'BAHAMIAN ART & CULTURE', I'm a regular recipient of this enlightening arts magazine, now in its Issue No. 237. They've been Sharing Art & Cultural News of The Bahamas for 17 Years.
It's wonderful and if you ever get near Bahamas - and you should get Graham Byfield's wonderful "Bahamas Sketchbook" first - there is so much to see and do. An art lover's heaven!




Looking ahead to January 2016 in Singapore. 
Two big things happening at two big iconic places
They have already started to transform Singapore into an art buyers' paradise. Besides the existing Art Stage Singapore - which continues after five years - there's a new kid on the block. Singapore Contemporary (January 21 - 24, 2016) described as "an important addition to Singapore's vibrant and growing art scene", will be held at the same time as Art Stage Singapore and a week of gallery presentations and public projects. 
 WRITE ON.....Literary Places, Events, Books & People

LITERARY TOUR on 31 October
As a Singapore Writers Festival feature, a Literary Tour takes place on 31 October. Verena Tay, editor of the Balik Kampung series, has curated a selection of Singapore poems and prose excerpts written in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil that will be read out to audiences as they take a bumboat ride along the Singapore River and around Marina Bay. 


Turning Wind to Water
Roger Jenkins is a Singaporean storyteller whose warm, spontaneous and comedic style makes him a popular choice in schools, libraries and festivals here and in the region. Apart from curating the SWF F3 programme, he is also the founding director of the 398.2 Storytelling Festival, happening in late November 2015.

Also at the Singapore Writers Festival
  
Where Writers and Artists Shop

Littered with Books is located in a charming two story shop-house in Duxton Hill, Singapore,  after a healthy walk between Tanjong Katong and Chinatown MRT stations. So many books to browse and buy, where the store hosts regular author readings and exhibitions. Go take a look here first. 



Twilight Tales  .......  Saturday 10 October 
Come join us at Twilight Tales, a literary gathering and meet-the- author session organised by the Book Council! This time, the guest writer is Singaporean author and poet Felix Cheong (pictured at right), recipient of the National Arts Council (NAC) Young Artist Award for Literature in 2000. Felix has written ten books, including four volumes of poetry and two young adult novels. His third poetry collection, Broken by the Rain, was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize, and his collection of short stories, Vanishing Point, was long-listed for the Frank O'Connor Award in 2013.  Host and Moderator: Ken Hickson. Its free but you need to register. Go here for Twilight Tales

Love is in the air, so literally, India comes clean...... 

   




 







The Taj Mahal needs a spring clean - and it will take nine years to rid the white marble domes of the nasty stains from Agra's polluted air. But that just reminds us to alert you to a breath of fresh air, times three, from Indian authors and their books:

Murad Ali Baig is getting rave reviews for his latest - "Oceans of Cobras" - described as "a vibrantly evocative historical novel set in Mughal India" by the Times of India reviewer Jug Suraiya. Get more from Murad. 


Ira Trivedi produced the book "India in Love" - "a ground-breaking look at sexual revolution in India" - which was launched at the 2014 Singapore Writers Festival, where we met. Author of three fictional best sellers, Ira has delightfully brought together history, research, current affairs and personal experiences into one place. For more on Love, India and Ira.

In total contrast in style and substance is "What's Up! What's Down", an insightful look into the Indian socio-economy by Singapore based journalists
Gurdip Singh and Sameer Mohindru. Here's more on the book and the writers. 



Extra, Extra, Extra, Read all about it:
             

Magazines we love. Plus Books.
Monocle always has us looking for more.  And here's another opportunity to indulge: another Monocle book, a shop to browse in, meet the roving editor in chief Tyler Brule perhaps, and other magazine lovers. Monocle shops in New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. You can also go online now to keep up with selected magazine articles, the extensive 24 hour a day radio broadcasts and subscribe to the printed version. Even films to watch. But print is still at the top! Magazines and books. Great to hold in your hands, absorb and indulge. Find out more about the Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes on Monocle. 

Storm - Keep it Up! Kannan Chandran once again showed that he cannot only keep a magazine going, against all odds, but he can start and run an on-line news service too - Six-Six.com - and that's not all. He hosted on 30 September, a wonderfully enthralling event with academics and business leaders in the Singapore UNESCO World Heritage-honoured Botanic Gardens at the delightful Halia Restaurant. You can always get more from Storm. 

ANZA Magazine is always worth reading. And writing for, for that matter. The latest October issue has an article by yours truly on the "Singapore Girl"- the good looking, hard working icon that every airline wishes it had. It includes an extract from my book "Mr SIA: Fly Past" about the man who started Singapore Airlines. Lim Chin Beng, as its first MD, who had the task to select the best aircraft, the best designers, the best food/wine and the best girls,  to make it truly an international airline from the start (that was in 1972).  See the ANZA Magazine online.  
 
ANZA Writers Group, which I do my best to support and attend,  has another meet coming up. So wherever you come from and no matter what you're up to in the writing game, you're welcome. Tuesday 13 October at 7pm. Be at the upstairs lounge of the ANZA Office, 47A Kampong Bahru Rd, Singapore 169361. Calling all novelists, playwrights, biographers, poets, journalists, editors and general wordsmiths. Bring along yourselves, your writing and if you want, something to nibble or swill. Go to the  ANZA website for more info. 

"Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara?" 
You may well ask. But many readers will get the clue, I'm sure. Strange title on a busy cover but enough to make you pick it up to see what it's about. Authors Jenny Bond & Chris Sheedy (from Australia) have succeeded in putting together in one volume an intriguing and insightful collection of biographical stories of 50 significant books & the authors. Read more and like me you'll ask for more from Penguin Books. 


Writers of the World Unite......
There's a writers' event on somewhere in the world practically every week, but here are three for the record. Places to meet writers, readers, publishers and all:
 
Indonesia Goes to Frankfurt
If you can make it to Europe this month, you should plan to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, with plenty in store for writers and publishers. It runs from 14 to 18 October and the Guest Country of Honour is Indonesia. For More on the 2015 event. 

Writers & Translators to Manila
For those with a literary bent, don't miss the Asia Pacific Writers and Translators Conference, with the theme 'Against the Grain'. It takes place in Manila, 22-25 October 2015, after making a big impression in Singapore last year. Go here for more on this important writers event. 

Hong Kong Noodles and a Banana Life
If by some chance you happen to be going to Hong Kong end October or early November, you might just want to check out the  Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Among many writers will be PP Wong, best known for her youthful classic "The Life of a Banana". Of course there's serious stuff too, but why not see for yourself. Hong Kong and Singapore are competing - like they do in most areas of life and business - and the beneficiaries are the readers and lovers of books and followers of writers. 
Specials for You 

Art and Sustainability 
They go together in my mind and my work, so why wouldn't I encourage one and all to go the ArtsScience Museum on 10 October, when Singapore's very distinctive, upward -reaching, lotus leaf resembling iconic structure hosts a forum on "the art and science of sustainability", bringing together some minds that matter - led by the museum's young dedicated and very well qualified curator Honor Harger (pictured at right), I'm sure - and encouraging visitors to freely participate.

Repeated because its Very Important:

"Shearing for Sarcoma"
Saturday 10 October. Doesn't sound much like art. But tell that to a shearer. Plus there's art on show and even recognition for that wonderful children's book "Where is the Green Sheep?" written by Mem Fox and gloriously illustrated by Judy Horacek.  There's also popular TV actress Jane Turner on hand - best remembered as half of the very funny "Kath and Kim" TV comedy duo.  In a small town in rural Australia, Kick Sarcoma is set to host a very unique event - a Twilight Fair and Dinner Bush Dance. All to help raise awareness for Sarcoma and raise fund for Sarcoma Research. If you can find your way to Corryong, close to the border between Victoria and New South Wales, you won't regret it. To see how to get there, where to stay and what's on the programme, here's where you go.

From Singapore with Love
"The name's Bond, James Bond".  If you see yourself as the suave, sophisticated secret agent or one of his numerous Bond girls, or even the mysterious M (played by the wonderful Judi Dench), you should seriously think about the James Bond-themed ball at the St Regis Hotel, Singapore on 31 October, organised to benefit the Sarah Grace Sarcoma Foundation.  All the details are here. 
Sculptured to Last
La Salle College of the Arts - besides teaching art in all its forms -  this 31 year old institution established in 1984 by the late and great sculptor and innovative art teacher Brother Joseph McNally (pictured at right), showcases creative talents and enterprise by its teachers and students. There's "Live at La Salle" for starters. All on McNally Street! 

Old as Good as New
The arts and museum world waits with baited breath for the OPENING 24 NOVEMBER of Singapore's massive new National Art Gallery: Southeast Asian Art Museum. This wait will be well worthwhile we're sure, if nothing more than to see inside the tastefully and beautifully transformed iconic, historic colonial structures - the former City Hall and Supreme Court. Don't miss it for the world.

























The Art of Travel or 
Travel for Art?
We're a great fan of The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton, so why wouldn't you jump on a train, plane or bus to enjoy your arts' desire? We encourage that. So here are a few events to get to, all over the place:

Let's start in Adelaide, but you better for quick for this one.
OzAsia Festival started 24 September and finishes 4 October. That's cutting it fine. But chances are there's something else happening in this very creative city in 
South Australia. And if you miss the arts, there's always the art of wine-making to enjoy nearby in the Barossa Valley. But catch what's coming up or see what you've missed anyway at the
Adelaide Festival Centre
 


Go South Young Man - and Ladies too!
Scotland's famous Royal Military Edinburgh Tattoo is known as the "greatest show on earth". 
Set normally against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Tattoo is always a sell-out and has been watched by millions over its 65 year history. But history and geography is taking a turn south, the show is going to Wellington,  New Zealand 18-21 February next year. This is just one of the attractions at the    
New Zealand Festival from 20 February - 26 March 2016. We also heard a loud whisper that the swirling Scots will be performing - fireworks and all - in Melbourne sometime next year too. 

AN EVENING WITH GERALDINE BROOKS 
Yes, please. Don't' miss it. I'd be there with bells on. She is, without a doubt, my favourite author! Auckland Writers Festival is pleased to announce a special 'In Conversation' event with internationally acclaimed writer Geraldine Brooks, in association with Hachette NZ, on 17 November at Maidment Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand. Australian-born Geraldine Brooks was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 2006 for her novel "March". Her other historical novels, "Caleb's Crossing" and "People of the Book", were New York Times best sellers, and her first novel, "Year of Wonders" remains an international bestseller. Geraldine's latest book "The Secret Chord" is a unique and vivid novel retelling the story of King David's extraordinary rise to power and fall from grace. See and hear Geraldine at the Auckland Writers Festival special event. 



 






 


 
the avenue for creative arts
We definitely have a Singapore focus - because that's where we are and the arts are flourishing as never before. But we want to spread our wings and spread the word. Cover art and artists from all over. We want you to travel for art, too. Come here and come hither. Share the good news with us and others about your favourite writers, plays, galleries, theatres and all the other creative arts and events you like. This issue is decidedly our take on what's coming up - with a strong focus on the people involved with literary, visual and performing arts - and what we want you to hear about. But it's an avenue of opportunity for you and all arts lovers. We welcome all ideas, events, illustrations, reviews and contributions. Keep your items brief and provide a reliable link for more information, orders or bookings. This is a creative enterprise - or more correctly a social enterprise -  so we welcome support, sponsorship and/or advertising.

                                                                              Ken Hickson 
                                                                      editor, the avenue for creative arts