Takashi Kuribayashi’s art will throw you off a little. Designed to upset conventional ideas and logic, his works often invoke mystery and surprise. His site-specific installations at Hermès and Tanglin Camp, entitled Hermès Column and Aquarium: I feel like I am in a fishbowl respectively, are no exceptions.

For Hermès Column, Kuribayashi creates a bogus pillar with a secret chamber, weaving a fantasy shopping area for fake seals. “The basic concept is of seals going shopping. I want to create a cheerful ambience. I create a fake pillar, and make a hole in it. The seals will come out from the pillar and come shopping. This is a gallery, but I’ll put Hermès’s products all over to make it like a boutique. In a corner, there will be wetsuits for the seals. The audience will come and discover a kind of connection to a different world,” Kuribayashi quips.

Aquarium: I feel like I am in a fishbowl is no less intriguing. “When you experience this art work, you’ll feel like you’re looking into an aquarium, but at the same time, someone is looking back at you. For example, when you go to the zoo, you think you are looking at animals, but actually the animals are watching human beings. I’m dealing with that kind of changing perceptions and situations here,” he says.

When talking about his influences, Kuribayashi points to his father: “He is a photographer and specifically captures images of insects. He was one of the most famous photographers in that area, and is very dedicated and committed to his work. I really respect that kind of attitude.”

Do check out the riveting shows Kuribayashi has put up for the Singapore Biennale 2006. Quirky and uncanny, they provoke you to put aside your common sense (for a while) and indulge in a fantasy world he has created.

Directed by Steven Dexter, Forbidden City was performed to acclaim in 2002 and 2003. This year, the red curtains are once again unveiled for this musical. Kit Chan, who plays the leading role Empress Dowager, chats about her role in the production, her favorite moments on stage, and her new book.

Is it boring playing the same role the third time round? Has your role been reworked?
Not a chance of it being boring, especially since it’s been a while since I last played it. Empress Cixi is such a complex character, and I have so much material to work on that I see this time round as another opportunity to refine and to improve on my performance. Scenes have been added or restaged to make the relationships between the characters even clearer.

What is your most unforgettable moment on stage?
Quite a few…I love the first moment when the walls of the Forbidden City are thrown open to the audience. I always get goose bumps. And there’s my big number, “Why Dream of Love” which is so absolutely tragic in epic proportions.

What are some difficulties when playing the role of Cixi?
Things like having to progressively age with Cixi in the space of two-and-a-half-hours. I had to work out a subtle transformation in my singing and speaking voice, as well as my demeanor and body language. It’s all in the details, and in picking the right moments to make those transformations.

So what is it like working with Hossan Leong, Sebastian Tan and Cynthia Lee?
Crazy, funny buggers! One is a chili padi, small and potent; one is hilarious when inebriated; and the other one is very sexy, and has an extremely healthy body image! Work out who’s who for yourself!?

OK, do you prefer performing in musicals or singing songs and producing albums?
The adrenaline rush of performing on the musical stage is addictive, but it does take a lot out of me. I need to be disciplined. It is a much more relaxing and creative process in the recording studio. You can afford to make mistakes, try out stuff and just chill and hang out. However, the “extra-curricular” activities (album promotional tours) of the pop music industry are things I absolutely detest. That’s why I’m laying off it completely for the time being.

What are you busy with currently then?
I have no life outside of Forbidden City. I am indeed living the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi, being trapped “within these walls of gilt and gold….” OK, I’m getting mental now. There’s my newly released book co-authored with my best friend Yong Siew Fern called Cathy & Jodie: the Princess and the Flea! It’s available in all major bookstores as well as at Flowers In The Attic at The Heeren. It’s a book that celebrates friendship, music, movies, and food, and the embarrassingly loud ’80s!

Fort Canning Park will come alive with the thumping sounds of world music when music festival WOMAD arrives in town, bringing with it artistes from 13 different countries who are all set to rock this otherwise tranquil park for three whole days. Expect a good time and great sounds in a variety of languages.

As Sarah Martin, the festival director of WOMAD Singapore 2006 says, “WOMAD is a platform that acknowledges differences and the beauty of them through music. And believe me, music does transcend languages—it’s time proven. In nine years at WOMAD Singapore, we have seen messages in so many different languages somehow conveyed through music.” Martin continues, “WOMAD remains true to the roots of what it stands for—the celebration of cultural diversity through the universal language of music and love!” So open up your heart and join these acts at WOMAD Singapore 2006. A diverse menu of music is scheduled for your enjoyment.

DAY 1: FRIDAY

Fort Green Stage

Kicking things off at one of the two large outdoor stages, Fort Green Stage, is Sam Tshbalala. This South African, with pianist Patrick Bebey, guitarist Jack Djeyim and vocalist Koko Oadjah, will dish out elevating and rebellious numbers that talk about exile. Be prepared for a riotous start to a fun-filled festival.

Up next is the respected Indian tabla player Hameed Khan Kawa. He helms the group Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan, which is made up of other musicians and dancers from his native hometown Rajasthan. Together, they will weave ethnic music that’s absorbing as well as refreshing.

After which, Susana Baca from Peru will sing tunes that have a strong African, Spanish and Andean feel. If you love songs that speak of spiritual rejuvenation, do catch this lush voice. It’s a treat for the ears—and soul.

Not to be missed is the electrifying and dynamic Radio Mundial. Funk, Latin, soul, reggae and rock are fused into likable rhythms. Even Carlos Santana covered their hit song “La Raiz.” A Puerto Rican band that is particularly good at getting the crowd roaring.

Top Stage

Taking things to a high at the other outdoor stage, Top Stage, is Dulsori, a Korean drumming group that whips out zealous and fervent beats that simply thrill. Look forward to an exciting performance inspired by the Korean percussive style pungmul.

Watch out for a revered songwriter from Brazil. Chico Cesar creates memorable pop songs that tackle issues ranging from women’s rights to the homeless. His unique nasal voice adds to the appeal of his performances, driving home the messages he wants to convey with impact.

For a band that’ll make you dance, check out T-bone. This 10-piece act is the first Thai band to play in the UK music event Glastonbury Festival, sharing stages with UB40, The Beat and INXS. Anticipate doses of reggae, ska and jazz in their set, and trust us when we say they are really worth a listen.

DAY 2: SATURDAY

Fort Green Stage

Multitalented Stevie Goldsmith takes the Fort Green Stage on the second day of WOMAD Singapore 2006. This Australian aborigine, who has a slew of international festivals to his credit, will incorporate dance, storytelling and yidaki (didgeridoo playing) in his show. His performance will be an enlightening one, strongly influenced by his culture and traditions. Accompanying him on stage is his son Jamie Goldsmith. You bet this father and son duo is gonna deliver an eye-opening show.

The highlight of Saturday’s line-up at the Fort Green Stage, however, is undoubtedly the legendary Jimmy Cliff. This ambassador of Jamaican reggae has produced classic tunes such as “Miss Jamaica,” “King of Kings,” “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Wonderful World, Beautiful People.” Cliff has also ventured into acting, and is involved in films such as The Harder They Come, Club Paradise and Marked for Death. This artiste, who has a string of albums to his name, has worked with Bob Marley, Sting, Kool & the Gang, Annie Lennox, Wyclef Jean and Joe Strummer. If you can only catch one act in WOMAD Singapore this year, he would be it.

Top Stage

Rocking the Top Stage is Nigeria’s Bukky Leo & Black Egypt. A leading saxophonist and a familiar name in the acid-jazz circles, Bukky Leo whips out a mean concoction of Afrobeat and jazz-funk. He and his band Black Egypt will steal the limelight, grabbing your attention effortlessly.

After the performance by Bukky Leo & Black Egypt, be prepared for a stirring set by Risenga Makondo. This versatile percussionist-cum-dancer makes music primarily from African traditional musical instruments such as the marimba, berimbau and mbira. But much more lies in wait. He also creates innovative sounds from ordinary objects such as oil cans and plastic pipes.

Dulsori, Chico Cesar and Susana Baca will also perform on the second day of WOMAD Singapore 2006.

DAY 3: SUNDAY

The last day of WOMAD Singapore 2006 sees various artistes coming together in one big joyous show. For the finale at the Fort Green Stage, we have Bukky Lee & Black Egypt, T-Bone, Chinese flutist Guo Yue, Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan, Sam Tshbalala, Dulsori, Risenga Makondo and Stevie and Jamie Goldsmith pumping out their own trademark numbers, one after another. It will be a rousing concert, a rapturous finish to a splendid three days of celebration.

There you have it. Brilliant acts from all over the globe are slated at the two main outdoor stages set up at the Fort Canning Park. If you are itching for more action, take part in the various workshops or check out the party venue called Groove Tunnel. Housing deck wizards Marvin Kam and Adrian Wee, Thai band T-Bone and the UK act Soul Jazz Soundsystem, Groove Tunnel invites you to party till the wee hours of the morning. After all, the world music festival WOMAD is a celebration of life, and the best way to do that is to let your hair down.

Literature fans will remember Second Link, a play that made its debut at the Singapore Writer’s Festival 2005. A production that has garnered many satisfied nods and thumbs-up, it sees Singaporean and Malaysian actors performing the works of the wordsmiths from both countries. The result is a witty and perceptive play with subject matter that ranges from Sir Stamford Raffles to sexuality, censorship to chicken rice, and Sang Kancil to Singlish.

Second Link promises to be novel. “I think we are quite used to hearing dramatists’ texts but the nice thing about Second Link is that we also get to hear the text of poets and prose writers. For me, I found those segments the most refreshing. And it’s just great to see how a poem can leap into life when performed,” quips Eleanor Wong, the co-curator of Second Link.

As Singaporean actors act out texts by Malaysian scribes and vice versa, the audience delves in the commonalities and disparities between Singapore and Malaysia. “It struck me how similar and how different our preoccupations were, on both sides of the causeway. On the one hand, there were echoes that resonated in both halves, for example, both halves have interrogation scenes, both halves obviously touch on race and religion to some extent, but there were also differences. The Malaysian half contains many more agrarian images. The Singapore half was more urban,” Wong continues.

If you missed Second Link in 2005, catch it this time round as it hits the stage to be as the finale of the Singapore Theatre Festival ’06. It stars Singaporean thespians Lim Yu Beng, Jonathan Lim, Karen Tan and more; and Malaysian performers that include Reza Zainal Abidin, Fahmi Fadzil and Anne James. The sole message that Wong hopes you’ll take home? “Let’s celebrate our own voices.”

Check out New York-based Radio Mundial if you are itching for fresh aural candy. Comprising of front man Jean Shepherd, guitarist Richard Shepherd, percussionist Jon “Gianni Mano” Uman and drummer Eric Bolivar, this dynamic quintet plays soulful and oh-so-catchy Latin inspired rock and funk.

The name “Radio Mundial” (which means “World Radio” in Spanish) says everything about the band’s music. “We don’t have a set formula for what we do. So when you hear our music, it’s like listening to a Radio of the World. We blend styles from all over the globe. We mix Latin music with funk and electronic, rock with traditional African rhythms, house music with Brazilian samba, and more,” quips Jean Shepherd.

Radio Mundial was discovered by Chris Blackwell, who helped nurture U2 and Bob Marley & the Wailers, and Gary Kurfirst, the manager of The Ramones and Talking Heads. Their music has also caught the discerning ears of the legendary Carlos Santana, who covered their hit number “La Raiz” and renamed it “El Fuego.” “No words can describe how we felt when we found out Carlos Santana covered our song. I turned as pale as a ghost. He is my hero! His version sounds amazing. We’ve met and played with him and his band, and they are all incredible,” Shepherd adds.

Radio Mundial is one of the exciting acts razing the stage at the festival WOMAD Singapore 2006. Jean says, “You can expect some surprises and a crazy, high energy show. Our specialty is playing live and we have prepared for our first show in Singapore extremely well.” Look forward to a sizzling set from this band at WOMAD Singapore 2006. The innovative music played by Radio Mundial is definitely worth your time.

Some say the plays penned by the late Irish playwright, novelist and poet Samuel Beckett are gloomy. Others claim they are insightful with elements of wit. Decide for yourself as The Beckett Project, a production featuring four emotive plays Play, Footfalls, Rockaby and Not I by Beckett, is unveiled. We sit down with director Patricia Boyette to chat about this much anticipated performance.

What are the issues tackled in The Beckett Project?
All the plays deal with the plight of the human being in extreme situations that we can all relate to. Questions about life and death are raised. These basic themes provide a challenge for the actor and a different experience for the audience. The effect of the plays is in the experience itself. They do not have a neat beginning, middle and end and a comfortable story line. They work on our imaginations, hearts and minds through their visual images and the poetic music of the language.

Is it hard directing The Beckett Project then?
Directing The Beckett Project is a challenge in many ways. Because Beckett’s works are so minimal, so mathematical in their precision and use of space, the elements that are prescribed must be exact. The empty theater space must be carefully considered and the use of that particular theater space in relation to the few objects and set pieces must be exact.

Many interpret Beckett’s works as stark and pessimistic. Do we expect The Beckett Project to be melancholic?
Beckett is often thought to be dark and depressing. This is not at all the case. There is great humour in Beckett, subtle though much of it is. I find Play extremely funny—a man, his wife and his mistress caught in a hell of their own making and unable to see or change the foibles of their own nature that keep them from repeating the same mistakes. When we performed in Ireland, we had audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.

Ireland? Where will this play be performed at after Singapore?
This is our debut performance in Asia. We will be performing in Madison, Wisconsin, in the US in September after leaving Singapore. There are some discussions about performing in Seoul, but these are not yet confirmed.

The graduating students of Theatre Training & Research Programme (TTRP) headline this production. What is it like working with them?
They have been amazing. I was concerned about the relatively short time we have to train and rehearse. But these student-actors are professional and because of their training in a variety of theater forms, our training instantly made sense to them and they were able to apply it quite quickly.

OK, lastly, what do you hope the play will achieve in Singapore?
I hope that the Singapore audiences will enjoy the adventure of experiencing something completely different from the usual theater fare and will come away with a sense of why Beckett is one of the most influential and provocative theatrical poets of the 20th century.

The posh and classy Velvet Underground hits 12. Inspired by the number 12, the party people at Zouk will take things to a high with the zodiac signs of both East and West. So look forward to decorations and programs revolving around constellations, divinations, and mysteries.

“‘Gods’ and ‘goddesses’ will share what’s written in the stars for you. There will also be free flow of nectar and an assortment of magical characters out to enchant. There will be the signature velvet sound—warm, deep, lush and effortlessly mixed together by residents Jeremy Boon and Brendon P.,” reveals Tracy Phillips, Zouk’s marketing manager. “This year’s celebration will be just as opulent as the last, but like always, tongue-in-cheek.”

Does she personally believe in predictions, astrology and the stars, or is it all just groundless superstition? “I believe in some methods of divination. I think we all come into the world with certain energies that relate to our moment of birth and this information can be interpreted by someone trained to do so. The readings have to be understood in context though,” Phillips quips.

Regardless of the status of zodiac signs in our lives, you are assured of a good time in the Velvet Underground’s 12th Anniversary party. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be magical, with intriguing programs and music lined up to make you feel absolutely divine.

Tell us more about the campaign. What is it that you are championing for?
The campaign is bigger than just one person. It’s about you. It’s about me. It’s about getting off our butts and doing something. It’s about public memory and a place for everyone who has made a significant contribution to the Garden City.

OK, what is your strategy to pull off a successful campaign then?
My Vice-President, Aveline Constance Thambiyah and I spent late nights over countless Milo-Dinosaurs cracking our heads on this one. So far, the general consensus is that we need more members for ASS!

More members? Is it hard recruiting members for ASS?
Well, I’ll admit that it’s hard for ASS to compete with so many groups in NUS. But, we seem to garner a lot of interest from males with a penchant for tight T-shirts. Thanks to my lovely sidekick, Aveline, no doubt.

Are we expecting quiet petitions, loud speeches, chaotic rallies or the kissing of babies from you?
I’ll do anything to get attention for my campaign. Anything! Babies? Heck, I’ll kiss old ladies!

By undertaking a political campaign, aren’t you scared of going to jail?
Jail?! We’re doing everything with utmost respect for the law of the land, mind you! We fully intend to get the endorsement of the authorities for everything we do. Furthermore, we live in a democracy with the right to free speech enshrined in the constitution itself!

What repercussion do you fear the most?
Is a country of fear a country at all? Did Singapore gain its independence through fear? Of course not! Franklin D. Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and that’s my mantra.

If you are President of Singapore for a day, what will be the first thing you do?
Well, there’s just so much any President can do within 24 hours. I’ll declare it “Self-Expression Day”, throw the gates of the Istana wide open and invite everyone for a massive, rocking political party!

Dealing with identity, female adolescence and sexuality, the series of photographs in the exhibition i like you, too. gives one a nagging sense of disquiet. Never is the entire human form encapsulated in the picture. Instead, various parts of the body are captured in discomforting and riveting snapshots.

This collection of works strikes a rather personal cord with its photographer Aida Dolrahim. “It’s like a record of my personal growth, my gender and desires, and my own awkward nature. I just generally feel uneasy half the time, and it’s not a physical thing. It’s more like an imaginary blunt pencil scratching across your back kind of uneasiness. And I want people who see my works to see and feel that,” Dolrahim says. She adds, “I’m not expecting immediate acceptance or anything, but simply a sort of recognition that works like this exist and that they are on par with works that deal with social issues. It’s a cliché, but I hope art works that are gender-based or of a sexual nature become more accepted.”

i like you, too. is also a milestone in Dolrahim’s artistic career. She has spent more time working on this show than she has on any of her past shows. The exhibition also reflects an evolution towards shooting more staged and controlled pictures, rather than spontaneous ones. As i like you, too. reveals, the most poignant moments may lie in the most uncomfortable situations. Dolrahim quips, “When I was thinking of a title for the exhibition, I was imagining a small, girlish and shy voice timidly saying something. Her voice is like a whisper. She’s saying, ‘… i like you, too.’ She’s scared, yet confident. Almost like there is a shaky strength in her frailness. That was the feeling that I was going for.”

After many months of anxious waiting, museum goers finally get to set their feet—and admiring eyes—on the revamped National Museum of Singapore. Besides up to date facilities, this 119-year-old building is now endowed with 10,000 sq. ft. of new exhibition space. Catch the acclaimed German art exhibition The Scenic Eye: Visual Arts and the Theatre, which marks the debut of these new digs.

Nineteen esteemed visual artists the likes of Mark Lammert, Qin Yu Fen, Thomas Schütte, Wolf Vostell, Ute Weiss-Leder and Raimund Kummer crack their brains over theater. The resultant art pieces reveal links between the director, thespian, audience and stage. It’s a spectacle—with videos, paintings, photographs and installations teasing your every sensory organ.

Wolf Vostell conceptualized The Scenic Eye 10 years ago. Ever since, the show has graced galleries around the world, such as the Christchurch Art Gallery and Center for Contemporary Art at UKMA. Goethe-Institut Singapore and the National Museum of Singapore now bring this international exhibition to our sunny island.

Why choose The Scenic Eye to be the first exhibition of the refurbished museum? “The Scenic Eye plays up the strengths of the museum’s new space. It explores human experiences through art and theater, which is very much in line with our philosophy of using different media to bring history across to the public,” explains Lee Chor Lin, director of the National Museum of Singapore.

Hop over to the National Museum of Singapore now. All class and sparkling new, this place (still smelling of fresh paint) houses a fascinating exhibition to steal your breath away.