Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2022 has begun its first leg of performances with its new artistic direction. 

The freshly appointed Festival Director, Natalie Hennedige has made some new changes to the Singaporean arts festival, intersecting the real world with digital spaces. As part of this year's curatorial arc The Anatomy of Performance, SIFA will be placing emphasis on original creations and new iterations of works by local and international artists both in the physical and virtual space. 

Keeping in with the new festival theme, SIFA has launched three layers of programmes and events happening from 20 May to 5 June. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Much like how art itself is fluid and traverses between different spaces, SIFA 2022 is not only showcasing multilayered local and international works but also exhibiting them in a multitude of spaces, hoping to spotlight the diverse cultures and practices of the pieces themselves. 

Here's what to expect from this year's SIFA!

Creation

Creation is SIFA's one-stop shop for programmes, performances, and more across various live spaces. From magnificent orchestra performances to mystifying displays of culture, this is where you'll find an array of outstanding works from all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

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Here are some of our music picks you can check from Creation:

Mepaan

Named after the Kayan word for 'Always', Mepaan is a collaborative piece by Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Tuyang Initiative that highlights Southeast Asian native culture. Described as an alluring sonic and visual journey, attendees can expect to experience indigenous music and traditions from all over the region from this grand musical performance. 

Mepaan will be happening from 20 - 22 May, 8 PM SGT at Pasir Panjang Power Station. Tickets are priced at SGD 58 with limited concessions available for particular groups. 

The Once and Future

Set in the not-so-distant future, The Once and Future is a cinematic journey through planet Earth that's no longer suitable for inhabitance. Themed around extinction and the idea of a singular human experience, the film was put together by one of the country's leading filmmakers Yeo Siew Hua alongside some members of German orchestra Berliner Philharmoniker. 

You can catch a performance of The Once and Future at the Esplanade Theatre on 3 June at 8 PM SGT, 4 June at 2 PM and 8 PM SGT, and 5 June at 2 PM SGT. Tickets are priced at SGD 58, SGD 68, and SGD 88. 

Holly Herndon: PROTO

Exhibiting the close relationship between technology and music, Holly Herndon: PROTO will see the American composer perform her latest album PROTO which features an electronic choir comprised a combination of human and AI voices. 

  the concert is said to be an eye-opening and dynamic performance that reflects the role of music in the future of technology. Holly Herndon: PROTO will be happening on 20 and 21 May at 8 PM SGT at the Victoria Theatre. Tickets are priced at SGD 38 and SGD 48. 

Life Profusion

A first for SIFA, the festival announced the beginning of the new virtual venue, Life Profusion. Natalie explains that Life Profusion is a platform for critical discourse and ideas generation in art. 

“Life Profusion is a fresh imagining of SIFA’s virtual presence. Running parallel to the festival in May (and beyond), it serves to connect artists, ideas, and festival attendees near and far, bolstering SIFA’s international reach with creative zest. A world changed irrevocably by the pandemic requires a fresh response to the virtual.”

The virtual space will feature five different portals, all of which aim to deepen and explore the many ideas from this year's festival.

 

 

 

 

 

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The program begins with +EAT, a series of seasonal capsules curated by local tastemakers, Syndicate, who deliver digital content across music, moving images, and digital arts. +EAT will feature new inter-disciplinary collaborations, with the first capsule by local musician and illustrator Anise, and a three-way collaboration between CyberSesspool, Claude Glass, and deførmed, debuting in the festival. The first capsule of +EAT is now out, you can check it out here!

Life Profusion will also include various other digital programmes including +DREAM, which will feature the premiere of renowned sci-fi artist Lucy McRae's Delicate Spells of Mind. 

The performance film—which serves as SIFA's first foray into high-profile digital commissions—unravels the operating systems of the human mind by simultaneously exploring two worlds, 'Seeker' and 'Other'. The film can be viewed online daily from 20 May to 5 June. Tickets are priced at SGD 15, check SIFA's official website for more information. 

Life Profusion will also feature +READ, a hub for written articles—curated by journalist Hong Xinyi—that explore the artistry of SIFA 2022, +GROW, which give insight into the mind of this year's participating artists, and +DISCUSS, a panel for artistic discussions and contemplations. 

SIFA X

SIFA X will feature a wide selection of alternative performances, allowing for more showcase of diverse and eclectic art. Described to be the interjection of expressive chaos amongst a sea of traditional spaces, the programme will feature an array of offerings at Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre across the festival duration. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Early bird tickets for SIFA 2022, which offers audiences savings of 20%, go on sale from 22 February 2022 8.00 PM to 31 March 2022 11.59 PM on sifa.sg.