If you’re looking to explore digital art, one of the best names to know in the local scene is media artist Brandon Tay, who’s known for his wildly inventive, amorphous works. He’s finally putting on his first solo show, Form & Agency, this weekend, which looks at how the realms between the tangible and the incorporeal are not always so clearly delineated. More details below.
Digital media artist Brandon Tay is known for his wildly phantasmagorical images and now, he’s set to debut his first solo show, titled Form & Agency. The artist previously shared with us on how his dreams are a key source of inspiration, so it naturally follows that the exhibition will expand on how his works will blur the distinctions between the “tangible and the incorporeal”.
Take for example how the exhibition, curated by digital curator Rafi Abdullah, is a heavily layered experience: there are surrealist 3D-printed physical sculptures that might be described as techno-organic lifeforms in the gallery itself, virtual components of the artworks, and an interactive game simulation, with each layer operating both independently and in connection with one another.
August 26 to Oct 1 at Yeo Workshop, 47 Malan Road, #01-25 Gillman Barracks
If you haven’t heard of the film Past Lives yet, get cracking. A debut work by Korean-Canadian-American playwright Celine Song, Past Lives follows the intertwined lives of two childhood friends across decades and continents. The fast-rising Greta Lee stars in the lead role of Nora, who is uprooted from South Korea when her family makes the decision to emigrate to Canada, and the two subsequently reconnect 24 years later, having settled into different ways of living, but there’s a constant undercurrent of “what if”? hanging between them. What if Nora had never left South Korea? Would they have been together? This slow-burning number has been garnering rave reviews across the media and racked up an impressive 97 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Opens August 24 at The Projector and Shaw Theatres
Art and music collective Strange Weather is on a roll. After introducing banger after banger with guest acts from the region for its previous editions, its upcoming event turns the spotlight on Elena Colombi who founded the record label Osare Editions in 2019. The UK-based musical artist is known for turning to techno, dubstep, post-punk and even spoken word for her performances. Colombi will be joined by Antarmuka, the Singapore electronic duo helmed by electronic musician and percussionist Syafiq Halid and gamelan musician and composer Rosemainy Buang. Also performing that night will be Strange Weather’s own Aalely, Kindergarchy, Yadin Moha and Yetpet. It’s also reportedly the collective’s final party for the year – so you’ll definitely want to be there.
Get your tickets here.
August 26, 6:30pm till late, location will be at disclosed the day before for ticket holders
If you’re a fan of neo-soul and R&B, you’ve probably heard of Umi, the 24-year-old Seattle native and American-Japanese songstress who has been capturing hearts and ears with her music since her 2018 hit Remember Me went viral (it’s racked up 38 million views on YouTube alone). With a sound that is both serene and soulful, Umi’s music is like a warm hug crystallised. Her songs are inspired by her Japanese roots (Umi translates to the sea in Japanese) and her own queer journey, and they offer a refreshingly honest and relatable take on love, loss, and self-discovery. She’ll be in Singapore for one night only as part of her Asia tour, so don’t miss out.
Get your tickets here.
August 26, 8pm at Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road
Emerging artist Nicholas Ong is usually better known for his neon-drenched paintings but his second solo exhibition, Radio Silence, sees the artist evolving his practice. The exhibition features works that oscillate between painting and sculpture – for example, canvases are layered against wooden bars that are pigmented with LED. The artist says the show is meant to explore the sensations evoked by the absence of communication, offering an opportunity for profound introspection.
On now till Sep 10 at Yavuz Gallery, #02-23 Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road