Travel may still be restricted, but art is not defined by boundaries. Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is back and it’s better than ever, adding a digital twist to its performances. Running from 14 May to 30 May, this year’s festival brings you across the world with over 60 shows and 300 performances by artists from as far as Switzerland to Lebanon to our very own local homegrown ones.
After perusing through their extensive list of programmes, here are 4 programmes to look forward to.
1. From Mee to You (Singapore)
Have the taste of traditional food created and delivered right to your home with From Mee to You, hosted by renowned Chef Justin Quek.
If you purchase a ticket now, you would be hand-delivered a special Mee Siam set from Chef Quek’s secret menu, complete with enough fresh ingredients to feed a family of five. Each set also features an exclusive cooking tutorial, available via a QR code on your package from 30 May, 2pm onwards. The dish contains dried shrimp, ground peanuts and soybean, but no pork or lard.
When: 30 May 2021, 11am – 11.30am
Event type: Online, $50 for a set of 5
Sign up for your own exclusive set here!
2. The Journey (UK)
Ever wondered how magicians continue to mystify audiences right from their homes? Now is your turn to experience this with Scott Silven’s performance The Journey. Being an experienced illusionist and mentalist of prodigious powers, Silven will take you on an adventure from hot and humid Singapore to the lush seaside village of Glasgow, Scotland.
Limited to only 30 participants per show, join others in this virtual event like no other. Probing space, time, memory, and also our collective minds, Silven powers are on full display, and he interweaves the group’s past, present and future into a unique narrative.
When: 18 May – 30 May 2021, 7pm
Event type: Online, $40
Find out more on their website.
3. To Gathering: Laying the Table Bare (Singapore)
Why do humans naturally flock to each other and gather in emotional circumstances during times of glee, melancholy or uproar? To Gathering: Laying the Table Bare invites you to a meal to explore this idea in a series of dialogues and layered stories. Dine on a specially curated meal from Warung Ijo sent right to your doorstep as you engage in conversations from all walks of life.
To Gathering is a series hosted by BRACK, a Singapore-based platform for socially-engaged artists in South East Asia. If you are looking for a unique experience and a meaningful conversation that extends beyond the physical realm, we highly recommend signing up for this event!
When: 21 – 22 May, 28 – 29 May 2021, 12pm – 1.30pm
Event Type: Online, $15
Find out more here.
4. As Far As Isolation Goes (Lebanon and Palestine)
As Far As Isolation Goes invites you to step out of your comfort zone and into the minds of refugees, cast against the inhuman conditions of detention centres. Amidst the cushy backdrop of Singapore, we often forget the rest of the world and the daily crises that pass us by. This interactive performance invites you to question the borders that separate us, both visible and invisible.
Using touch, sound and interactivity, this performance by Tania El Khoury, a Lebanon-British live artist, and Basel Zaraa, a Palestine musician and once refugee invites you into their stories and memories. As this performance does grapple with issues of war, mental health and abuse, it is recommended that only those 18 years and above participate in this event.
When: 20 May – 30 May 2021, various timings
Event Type: Online, $20
Read more on their performance here.
A Glimpse into the Future of Art
SIFA has a long list of programmes running until the end of the month with our list just barely skimming the surface. And if you miss any of the programmes, fret not! SIFA now streams selective performances and films on SIFA-On-Demand. Despite the pandemic looming overhead, SIFA provides the opportunity to step back and connect with the world through art and various digital mediums.
