After a decade’s worth of catching a mixed bag of local performances, art exhibitions and films, we’ve decided to honor the best, the worst and the most incoherent in the local arts scene.

We’ve been through a lot (and we mean A LOT) of arts performances, films and exhibitions through our decade of existence, and it’s about time that we came up with a list of some of the best and worst that we’ve seen. After all, we’ve spent a good portion of our lives catching these shows to disseminate the good and the bad to our readers, so here’s our list of the most memorable from the last 10 years. 

Best Local Play, Ever: Lear (1999)

Sumptuous costumes, set design, music and lighting make this one of the most beautiful and compelling Singapore plays. Ong Keng Sen’s Lear also successfully toured Japan to critical and commercial acclaim.

Worst Follow Up Play, Ever: Desdemona (2000)

After adapting Shakespeare’s King Lear for Lear, Ong’s controversial follow-up a year later, Desdemona, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, was dubbed as one of his most incohesive and indulgent.

Best Gay-Themed Plays: Autumn Tomyam (2001) and Asian Boys Vol. 1 (2000)

Before the onslaught of B-grade gay plays in 2002 through 2004, the sensitive Autumn Tomyam by ACTION Theatre and Asian Boys Vol. 1 by The Necessary Stage (TNS) showed that they were more than skin deep with numerous funny and sensitive moments.

Most Underrated Play: Comic Potential (2002)

Fiction Farm’s play was the local equivalent of the Razzies. But the leftfield pairing of actors Hossan Leong and Jamie Yeo made this comedy thoroughly entertaining—in an oddball kind of way.

Worst Musical: The Seventh Drawer (2001)

Touted as a serious musical (whatever), this experiment gone awry by Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble had Forever Fever’s Glen Goei singing off-key. Enough said.
Worst Play Adaptation From an Award-Winning Novel: Mammon Inc. (2002)
ACTION Theatre’s adaptation featured bad acting, dull costumes and ridiculous sets trying to be futuristic. Really, what a joke.

Most Painful Play to Watch: The Beginning of the End (BOTE) (2002)

Shocking, juvenile and extremely trying, we just couldn’t wait for TNS’ The Beginning of the End (BOTE) to just, well, end.

Most Competent Film: Perth (2005)

There is no such thing as a best local film (sic), but Djinn Ong’s Perth comes close. A compelling lead by seasoned thespian Lim Kay Tong carries this thoroughly consistent and involving film.

Most Overrated Film: Be With Me (2005)

Never mind that it showed at Cannes, this exploitative and pretentious drama about old and handicapped Singaporeans by Eric Khoo looks more like a TV melodrama.

Most Wannabe Film: Chicken Rice War (2000)

It looks more a music video crossed with elements from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and every other romantic comedy you’ve ever watched. Oh yeah, this film by CheeK had the worst acting from model Lum May Yee too.

Most Unoriginal Film: Homerun (2003)

Jack Neo’s remake of the superior Iranian film Children of Heaven by Majid Majidi is an utter letdown.

Biggest Waste of Government Money for an Exhibition: Lim Tzay Chuen at the 51st Venice Biennale (2005)

His no-show of the Merlion at the Venice Biennale has to be the biggest joke on us. What were our organizers thinking funding this giant Emperor’s New Clothes?

Most Under-rated Local Artist: Suzann Victor (2000)

Her brilliant swinging chandelier work, ‘Dusted By Rich Manouevre,’ as featured at LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts’ Text & Subtext exhibition and at the 49th Venice Biennale, was fragile yet dramatic, poignant yet original and daring; as are all her installation masterpieces. What a shame she has abandoned us for Australia.

Best New Art Gallery: Utterly Art

Opened in 2000, this groovy little gallery should be lauded for sticking its neck out and supporting unknown local artists when everyone else plays it sooooo safe.

Biggest Loss to the Local Dance Scene: Kuik Swee Boon

His consistent stand-out performances, conveying strength and masculinity combined with beauty and passion, are sorely missed and have yet to be matched by any other local male dancer. Singapore’s loss is Spain’s gain.

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Life these days may generally seem similar to 1995 at first glance, but just how different have things become over the last 10 years? We nitpick and crunch the numbers for you.
  Then Now
Per Capita GDP  $33,886 $44,666
The Number of Pager Subscribers per 1,000 People 262 16
The Number of Mobile Phone Subscribers per 1,000 People 83 978
The Average Price of Movie Tickets

$6 (Mon-Fri)

$8 (Week-ends, Public Holidays)

$7 (Mon-Wed, Thurs before 5pm)

$8 (Thurs after 5pm, Fri before 5pm)

$9.50 (Fri after 5pm-Sunday, eve of Public Holidays after 5pm and Public Holidays)

The Late Night Surcharges for Comfort Taxis: 11:59pm 50% on top of metered fare from midnight till 6am

10% on top of metered fare from 11:30pm till 11.44pm

20% on top of the metered fare from 11:45pm till midnight

35% on top of metered fare from  midnight till 12:59am

50% on top of metered fare from 1:00am till 6:00am

The Cost of COE for Cars 1,600cc and Below

1000cc & Below $21,109

1001cc-1600cc $40,106

$13,496
The Number of Private Cars 345,432 438,194
 
The Number of Babies Born 48,635 37,593
The Number of HIV Cases 111 264
 
The Number of Dengue Cases 2,008 14,209
 
The Number of Film Festivals Less than 15 30
 
The Number of Gay Clubs and Bars 6 28
The Price of Entry into Zouk

Happy Hour  $12

After Happy Hour $20 for men $25 for women

Happy Hour $12

After Happy Hour $20 for men $25 for women

 

The Price of Chicken Rice at Chatterbox $16.50 $19.50
The Rates for Hotel 81 in Geylang $49 per night $49 per night

 

Also see: The X Factor, our pick of 10 things that contributed to Singapore’s X-factor over the past decade.

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Here’s our pick of 10 things that contributed to Singapore’s X-factor over the past decade.

Not Cutting Himself Short: Royston Tan

While he is most well-known for his 12-minute short film Cut (2004), where he spoofed the board of film censors and consequently got himself blacklisted from the industry for a period of time, bad boy of local film, director Royston Tan, has a slew of quality short films under his belt. They include the cutting-edge Jesses (1999), which used stop motion animation and haunting music, and the multiple award-winning Sons (2000), which also took home the best short film award at the 13th Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF).

But it was Cut that proved to be Tan’s most high profile film to date, as was the controversial 15, which centered on teenage gangs and which suffered 27 cuts before it was given an R(A) rating by the local censors. “I don’t try to project a squeaky clean image of myself on screen,” says Tan. “I’m not perfect … and making Cut was just an honest way for me to express myself to the cuts that had been made to 15,” he concedes.

Certainly, Tan’s immaculate visual style and uneasy themes have garnered him not just much press coverage, but a growing international fan base as well. Tan’s uncensored versions of 15 and Sons, for example, have been shown to critical acclaim in the US, Australia, Spain and Busan, to name just a few places. And he remains one of Singapore’s most successful filmmakers, who is consistently making films and garnering international awards.

While his latest feature film, the quiet and meditative 4.30, which premiered at the recent 56th Berlin International Film Festival and which will close this year’s SIFF, was a change in pace for Tan, rest assured he is not resting on his laurels yet. His next project? “A shocking film that Singapore is not prepared for,” he says with a little chuckle. “I’ve never wanted to be a bad boy … it’s just that I see things differently. I’ve never conformed since young, and I’m still experimenting and still very inquisitive.”

Fashion Forward: Song+Kelly21

Arguably Singapore’s most successful fashion label, 10-year-old Song+Kelly21 is best known for its girly, fuss-free collection of womenswear that straddles casual gear and high fashion. But more than just that, the label, which started as Raw in 1994, is known for paving the way for Singaporean fashion designers into the international fashion arena. During its peak, between 1998-1999, the clothes had high-profile showings in New York and London, and was the “It” Singaporean label to wear. “Who would have thought that I could ever get so excited over a homegrown label back then,” says fashion fan Lena Lee. “If there was a Singaporean label that I would splurge on, Song+Kelly21 would be it.”

Founded by Singaporean Wykidd Song and Briton Ann Kelly, the label has produced about 150 individual designs for each collection throughout its decade-long run. Throughout the years, Song+Kelly21 has been consistently stocked in many boutiques and department stores overseas, including Harrods (New York) and Selfridges (London). Today, the label is stocked in Bangkok, KL, London and Singapore. “When we first started the label, we had already planned to take it overseas,” says Song. “We wanted to set ourselves in the international arena and compete there, and see how we would fare. Over the past decade, there has been only one other Singaporean label that tries to push the edge in terms of design overseas, and that is WOODS & WOODS.”

Song+Kelly21 should be lauded for putting Singapore on the international fashion map, and further spurring inspiring Singaporean labels such as WOODS & WOODS (Jonathan Seow), Kwodrent (Grace Tan) and Hansel (Jo Soh) to make a splash overseas, namely in Europe and Australia.

“I really feel that our local designers are very talented. They just need the extra push, and be encouraged,” adds Song. “I would like to see more designers setting the pace for Singapore-bred labels on an international level. They need to get out there and compete, and be driven to maintain a certain quality.”

Let The Music Play: The Local Indie Music Scene

The recent local rock music revival has been a long time coming, and is spurred by an underground music scene that has been bubbling in music fans’ consciousness since the early ’90s. While the likes of solo artistes such as Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah and jazz crooner Jacintha Abishegenadan have been cutting relatively successful albums, it is the underground rock groups that lend the local music scene here its edge. Mostly self-funded, albums released by bands such as Concave Scream, The Padres, Plain Sunset, Sherene’s Closet, The Oddfellows, Livonia (and more recently, My Squared Circle, Tiramisu, Ronin and Lunarin) over the past decade have been lapped up by local music fans.

“I remember it still being very underground in the ’80s,” says Patrick Chng, The Oddfellows’ vocalist. “The local indie music scene is still very much underground today, but there’re a lot more bands which have made inroads into the mainstream. In the late ’80s, there was very little media exposure and only a handful of music stores stocked local demo cassettes. Then in the ’90s, we burst from the underground to mainstream radio success. What followed was a slew of local songs charting on radio. It was a great period for local music.”

Never mind that the spirit of local rock music scene was pretty much D-I-Y then, as most songs were produced onto cassettes and sold in small independent music stores such as Dada and Roxy Music. “Obviously today, the scene has gotten bigger and more structured … there is more exposure for local bands through the advent of the Internet, and more bands being signed up by the major labels,” says Sean Lam, vocalist of Concave Scream, which was recently signed up by EMI to release its latest album Horizon.

Bands such as Ronin and Electrico also released their albums over the past two years through major labels, but they concede that their music still has an indie vibe to them. “I’ll be the first to admit that hearing our songs being played on radio is a sign of going commercial to many … but underground and commercial music have to co-exist,” says Levan Wee, Ronin’s vocalist. “But we’ll always have that motor-mouth side to us that just can’t shut up. I guess that aspect of our music will never be too commercial.”

In fact, the loud swaggering nature of our local rock bands today is not very much different from those during the ’90s. As Concave Scream’s Lam says, “What goes on today is still pretty much how it was. The Oddfellows’ Chng agrees. “I would like to think we helped shaped the mentality of Singaporeans that local bands are cool to like,” he adds.

Way Out There: ZoukOut

It was the mother of all outdoor parties. The highly anticipated first ZoukOut in 2000 drew in almost 12,000 punters — an unprecedented number back then. While there have been other outdoor parties since, such as En Route at Altivo Bar, the mammoth ZoukOut — which cost $1 million to set up at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach and featured huge DJ names such as Dave Seaman, Richie Hawtin and Les Rythmes Digitales — was the most memorable and trendsetting of them all. It was the beach party to end all beach parties, as copycats which have sprouted since then failed to emulate its success.

“I think the whole idea of a festival was a new thing for most Singaporeans at the time,” says Andrew Ing, Zouk’s then-marketing manager, who came up with the idea to stage ZoukOut. “I used to travel to Miami every year for the Winter Music Conference, and I realized that Singapore and Miami have a lot in common in regard to the weather, but that’s about it. Miami is a sexy place, so why couldn’t Singapore be as sexy? Doing it on the beach allowed us to show the world that Singapore can be sexy too, with all those girls in their bikinis dancing and grinding to the music. And since December was also the rainy season, putting the party on the beach made sense. Throw in that elusive 6am license, and we knew we had a winner.”

Indeed, ZoukOut is such a winning formula, the following four installments — in 2001 (held at Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach), 2002 (Marina Bay Waterfront), 2004 (Siloso Beach) and 2005 (Siloso Beach) — have been equally successful, culminating with last year’s event that pulled in a record 18,000 revelers. Not only is ZoukOut the premier outdoor party here, but its popularity among many overseas punters also makes it an international dance music event that puts Singapore on the world map — with coverage from dance magazines such as Muzik and Mixmag. “All the different parts were ready for such an event — the people were ready, the setting of Sentosa was perfect, the DJs were ready, our team was ready, and Singapore was ready. We knew it would work,” says Ing.

Happy Days: The Local Gay Scene

It may have been a tad short-lived, but being gay was regarded as cool not too long ago. Well, sort of. The local gay community has undergone a paradigm shift over the past two years, following a general optimism among the community in 2003 when then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong acknowledged gays working in the civil service, and embraced the monetary clout of the pink dollar. Following that, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke of an “open and inclusive Singapore … (where) people should be free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas or simply be different” in his inauguration speech that year.

But actions speak louder than words. Since then, numerous gay parties and events organized by gay portal Fridae.com, such as the annual Nation and Snoball parties, and most recently the Feelin’ Good gig at Ministry of Sound featuring Australian DJ Kate Monroe, have been banned or clamped down because of their gay content.

“Between 2000 and 2004, there was a huge explosion of sorts for the gay community,” says Fridae.com founder Stuart Koe. “Much of the crowd, that had been hiding underground for decades, were slowly coming out to party more, and hanging out at bars such as Taboo and Why Not. The advent of the Internet also kickstarted the scene, as many felt that it was an effective way for them to communicate. It allowed them the anonymity which some preferred, as well as for others to disseminate.”

But it was the massive and funky gay parties that ultimately brought the gay crowd together, especially the Nation parties that were held in Sentosa Island from 2001 to 2004. At its height, the party attracted more than 8,000 punters in 2004, of which 3,000 were tourists. “It was certainly good times among the community for a period of time,” says Koe. “The Nation parties were signs that the community was coming together … and because of it, Singapore became the center of attention with lots of press coverage. People were actually saying that Singapore was fun for once, and it was one of the best parties that they had ever attended.”

Soon enough, foreign media such as The Wall Street Journal and Far East Economic Review labeled Singapore the “gay capital of the world,” and the Singapore government clamped down on parties and events held by Fridae.com. The Nation parties have since moved to Phuket, Thailand, while Snoball is happening annually in Taipei. “The parties have generated good press for Singapore while they lasted, though,” concedes Koe. “It certainly made us cooler than usual … that Singapore was a cool place to live in. It’s more effective than any PR efforts that the Singapore Tourism Board could ever pay for.”

The Party Strip That Was: Mohamed Sultan

It was not dubbed “party central” for nothing. What started as a sleepy neighborhood with nary a partygoer in sight, Mohamed Sultan boomed into the place to party between 1995 and 1997, and later on between 1999 and 2001. Singapore’s nightlife experience was not complete without a visit to Mohamed Sultan, where some of the hippest and trendiest clubs such as Sugar, Club Eden, Amoeba, Nox and Lush were packing them in.

It all started in 1991, when ex-Business Times sub-editor Peter Wong installed a watering hole called Front Page for newspaper employees near Times House. Soon enough, bars and clubs sprouted left, right and center, and Mohamed Sultan became a club hopper’s paradise. But it wasn’t until the launch of Peter Wong and Simon Lim’s Wong San’s in 1994 that the stretch got put on the party map.

During its boom periods, the street attracted beautiful people, celebrities and big spenders. Some of the most famous faces seen at Mohamed Sultan include actor Jason Scott Lee, R&B diva Ultra Nate, late Hong Kong superstar Anita Mui, and actress Bai Ling. It also played host to some of the most lavish parties in town, including I-S Magazine’s fifth anniversary party, the first and only street party of its kind held along Mohamed Sultan, and hosted by Lim. “Back in those days, the street was heaving, and there were definitely more than a few cool concept bars and clubs that created a buzz,” says Lim. “Amoeba and Sugar were cutting edge … and there was a good overall mix, from expat bars to local bars to pool bars to dance clubs. It was a very interesting place for people to want to check it out.”

Partygoers certainly revved up the street then, as Mohamed Sultan was the only stretch where they could club hop all night. From the kitschy dance music at Sugar to leftfield dance tunes at Nox to beautiful chillout lounge Amoeba, there was something for everyone. While Mohamed Sultan has since disintegrated to just a regular bar stretch today, pulling in a younger set, the experience there was unforgettable for most who had frequented it almost every weekend. “There will always be some of us who spent the best of our party days in this area,” says Sugar’s Gary Sng, “At its peak there were so many clubs each with its own style and clientele, so I think different people will have different reasons for remembering Mohamed Sultan.”

Hipper Than Thou: Cool Neighborhoods

Over the last decade, with the impressive rise of prominent restaurants, pubs, hip fashion boutiques and unique features, once mostly tranquil residential areas and neighborhoods like Holland Village, Club Street and Arab Street have evolved from heartland havens to leading scenes all their own.

“Apollo would not have moved in if we weren’t there,” Michael Hadley, co-founder of Michelangelo’s, boldly proclaims of the restaurant’s impact on Holland Village. “We changed the perception of what Holland Village is. It was hardly recognized eight years ago, but after we opened three restaurants there, other people wanted to come in.”

Indeed, from just a few eateries, miscellaneous shops and even a kindergarten, Holland Village — with its influx of restaurants, reputable bars and boutiques like Harry’s Bar, Wala Wala and Antipodean — has certainly grown out of the shell of the looming HDB blocks into something of a scaled down version of more popular hot spots like Clarke Quay, attracting a clued-in, lifestyle driven, hip set.

Meanwhile, the Chinatown area, especially along Club Street, Ann Siang Hill and Duxton Hill, is where you can find exclusive fashion and lifestyle boutiques like Asylum, Allan Ross and Venue, and the many cafés, chillout joints and clubs that have come into their own over the past decade, giving the traditional neighborhood a contemporary facelift. The recently hip Arab Street is also where it’s at for some rare fashion finds from White Room and Comme des Garcons Guerilla Store, and cool sheesha cafes such as Mosi Café and Café Le Caire.

So what is it that really sets these places apart? The mix between the old and the new might have a lot to do with their appeal. “There’s a very eclectic mix of business and restaurants, and of course for the historical reference of Chinatown,” said Yaddo Art owner Abigail Prior Levy, on why she chose to set up in Duxton Hill.

These cultural hubs, however, are in danger of losing their particular X-factor … or, at least, that’s what Hadley seems to think about Holland Village. “I don’t think Holland Village has kept its edge,” he says bluntly. “The landlords are not working together and there are far too many owners. It’s not like a mall, where there’s a certain mix. There is no master plan.” Whether Hadley’s words will ring true for the future of the area remains to be seen. For now, these places still buzz with the crowds.

Young at Heart: Hip Conserved Historic Buildings

What’s old is new again … and it’s hotter than it ever was. With historic buildings set up for conservation, Singapore has managed to not only keep a part of its rich heritage intact, but has also spun something contemporary out of it.

Compared to the ’80s, when everything from the past was seemingly due for extinction, the ’90s saw us embracing our history. In the past decade, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been actively conserving historic buildings either for their location or distinctive architectural style. To date around 6,800 buildings have been gazetted for conservation, including The Fullerton Hotel and various shophouses in Chinatown, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Arab Street.

Entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng has been pushing the boundary of this conservation effort, with his groovy boutique hotels the New Majestic Hotel, which opened just recently at Bukit Pasoh in Chinatown, and Hotel 1929 in 2002. “At the back of the 1929, we had a Jacuzzi, which was considered a novelty at the time,” he said. “We were also the first to have a sky garden, which was actually pretty controversial.” But Loh had to fight a little for his vision that was 11 years in the making. “The URA actually had a small issue with it, but they approved it in the end after some thorough discussions,” he adds.

Nevertheless, the hotels have now taken their places beside other conserved milestones such as the row of shophouses along Emerald Hill and Boat Quay. Loh, however, feels that there needs to be a limit to the rules of conservation, and that some artistic liberties still need to be taken to add a dash of modern and local elements to the buildings. “Having local artists provide an artistic component is one of the ways to incorporate local elements into these buildings, yet keeping them hip and modern all the same,” he explained. “Singapore still struggles with her identity, and I agree that a lot of this preservation is important. But at the end of the day, no one wants to stay in an ‘old’ place as it has a shelf life. ‘Updates’ on these conserved buildings are important to make them work.”

The URA and owners like Loh may still be trying to find that right balance of old and new, but for now, these landmarks remain some of the most stylish and unique on our streets, ever.

High Art: Local Theater Circa 1999-2001

Local theater has certainly seen better days. It was not very long ago when local theater companies such as TheatreWorks, Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble, The Necessary Stage (TNS) and Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) were at the forefront of quality and experimental theatrical productions which defined the burgeoning arts scene here.

Who could forget the much-talked about epics Lear (1999) and Desdemona (2000) by TheatreWorks’ controversial Artistic Director Ong Keng Sen, the onslaught of sex plays Asian Boys Vol. 1 by TNS, and smaller, more intimate dramatic gems such as Autumn Tomyam (2001) by ACTION Theatre, Titoudao (2000) by Toy Factory, and Eleemosynary (2001) by luna-ID. They were brave and unpredictable plays that made theatergoing a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

“There was a buzz and real sense of hope in theater in those early days between 1999 and 2001,” says Parvathi Nayar, correspondent for The Business Times. “It was as if new grounds were being broken then. The annual Singapore Arts Festival got into a new edge-of-the-moment mode, and there were also nice discussions and debates created by Lear and Desdemona. It felt that, all round, perhaps, wow, theater and the arts are on the way to becoming part of the stuff we discuss like the movies.”

Fueled by an increasing interest in the scene, directors such as the Toy Factory’s Goh Boon Teck and W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng pushed the envelope with more forward thinking plays including A Tinted Edge (2000) and Animal Farm (2002) respectively, but that’s as good as it gets.

Soon enough, with the onslaught of SARS and the recession taking their toll, theater companies became more concerned with commercial viability and filling up seats in performance spaces, and their quality suffered, resulting in countless lackluster plays such as Dangerous Liaisons (2005), Mardi Gras (2003) and Spring Singing (2005). “Perhaps it was inevitable because harsh realities always overtake dreams,” adds Nayar. “That the struggle for survival is hard … with sponsorship, raising money and all that stuff. And sometimes you feel there is a lack of cohesiveness among the players with too many plays opening at the same time.”

Still, we are hopeful that local theater can revisit its earlier glory days, if the practitioners can put their heads together, and come up with more creative and groundbreaking plays that may not necessarily be commercial, but are bold statements in their own right, much like those from the later ’90s and early ’00s.

A Taste for Durian: Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay

It rose from the mud of the Marina Bay and, with its twin domes of metal spikes, attracted the glint of the sun and both bouquets and brickbats. Now, four years after it opened in 2002, there is little doubt that Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay has had a major impact upon Singapore, injecting life, color and energy into the cultural scene. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2005 the center welcomed over seven million visitors, a 39 percent increase on the previous year.

There were many—largely local artists—who predicted the center would flop because the local arts community would not be represented. But as J P Nathan, Director of Programming at The Esplanade Co. Ltd., explains: “One key focus for Esplanade since its opening has been to grow and nurture local talents in the Singapore arts industry across all fields. Some 30,000 from the local arts community [local talents involved in each performance] have been welcomed here, in a variety of venues ranging from outdoor to indoor spaces … non-ticketed to ticketed shows.”

The center has also encouraged shared knowledge, with musicians such as Jeremy Monteiro, The Observatory and Bushmen opening for star international acts James Moody, Tortoise and The Skatalites respectively, besides inviting artists to workshops by international talents. Indeed, you would be hard pressed to find a local artist who hasn’t worked with Esplanade.

And no, despite what your taxi driver will tell you, Esplanade isn’t just for the rich. Its 04/05 Annual Report reveals 799,745 people attended free performances, including ground-breaking events such as BayBeats and the New Year’s Eve Celebration. But perhaps Esplanade’s greatest achievement is the quality of the international acts being brought in. Non-commercial shows which would never reach our shores due to their esoteric, unprofitable nature—international legends such as kd lang, Patti Austin, Youssou N’Dour, Jessye Norman, Pat Methany, Poncho Sanchez, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, to name just a few—have dazzled audiences starved for star acts.

As to what international artists think of Esplanade, the vote is always unanimous. As Maceo Parker said, after opening for the 2006 Mosaic Music Festival, “The festival was organized to the highest standard. Everyone was wonderful and professional. I’ve participated in probably thousands of festivals worldwide and I would say this has been an experience to rate in the top five or six. It takes love and commitment to produce this kind of quality.”

A lot can change over the course of 10 years and here at I-S, we've compiled a little table of numbers to show you what are some of the changes that has taken place in our lives besides us morphing from being called "kor kor" and "jie jie" to today's "uncle" and "auntie"... Oh-the-horror...

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In our melting pot of high temperatures, low tolerance and close quarters, even the slightest disagreement can quickly escalate into a shouting match. But every argument can be resolved amicably. A lawyer, a monk, a psychologist, the cops, a communicator and a guru tell you how.

The Romans and the Israelites, East versus West, good against evil, the old and the new—mankind seems to have been born to fight and disagree. But lately the cause seems to be less important than the result. Jilted by your lover? In Singapore, one man thought it was OK to gouge his ex’s eyes out. Caught in a traffic jam? Road rage is all the rage. And if the maid is giving you grief? A good scalding seems to have become the norm.

Violence, threats, screaming and lawsuits may be some ways to deal with an argument, but there are better alternatives to handle differences of opinion that won’t leave you in even deeper trouble—although at the time it might seem impossible. I-S spoke to six experts for their advice on how to handle nine of the most common areas for dispute. Take the boxing gloves off and read how.

ROAD RAGE

You’re signaling to cross into the other lane, but a car next to you keeps speeding up to cut you off. You honk your horn, he gives you the finger before slowing down suddenly, causing you to hit his rear bumper and smash his tail lights.

THE LAWYER: Rajan Chettiar, solicitor at Rajan Chettiar & Co., says: “This is a typical incident on the roads in Singapore. I would advise that both drivers pull to the side and reach an amicable agreement. An amicable solution would be to acknowledge that the other party who caused the accident was in the wrong. Each party bears their costs of the damage to their own vehicles.” 

THE SHRINK: Dr. Vanessa San, a psychologist with Psycare Consultants, suggests: “Was it really all his fault? Or were you negligent in some way? Pull over and talk to him. Explain your situation calmly; that you unintentionally hit him; why you were honking (trying to make him aware you were changing lanes?). If he still blames the whole situation on you and insists you pay the full amount for the damage, he may be justified in doing so. Apologize, pay up, and cut your losses. Learn to be more careful of unreasonable drivers in the future. If you have reason to disagree, stay calm, explain your position, and make a police report.”

THE COPS: Spokesman Stanley Norbert of the Singapore Police Force Public Affairs Department, has this to say: “The police take a serious view of road bullying. We appeal to all road users—motorists and pedestrians alike—to be alert, patient and courteous on the roads. Should the public encounter any road bullies, we would like to offer the following advice:
• Remain calm and collected at all times. Do not further agitate the road bully with exaggerated gestures, expressions or behavior.
• Do not engage in a face-to-face confrontation with the road bully.
• Note down the vehicle number of the road bully and file a report with the police so that we can take the necessary action.
• If confronted by the road bully, call ‘999’. Remain in your vehicle and secure the doors while waiting for assistance.

FREE-LOADING BEST FRIEND

Your best mate from university is in town and wants to sleep on your sofa for three weeks and party nonstop like its 1999 … again.

THE GURU: Rag Maini, director of Sacred Space, a holistic hub offering yoga, meditation and tarot card readings, has this to offer: “Give the excuse that boy/girlfriend or husband/wife does not like friends staying over, has a habit of walking around naked, and likes his/her privacy. Try to make alternate plans to meet best friend everyday for the three weeks outside for coffee, tea, movies, dinners.”

THE SHRINK: “Know thyself. If you know that it’s probably going to drive you up the wall because you sleep at 9pm every night and need order and personal space, then obviously it will not be good for your friendship if she stays. Consider the friendship; how important is this to her? Will it ruin the friendship if you say she can’t stay? Are there other options or friends she could stay with part of the time? If you know you really cannot put her up, explain the situation in terms of YOUR need for quiet, privacy, order, no disturbance. Be prepared to bite the bullet and accept that it may offend and affect the friendship. If you decide to let her stay, talk to her nicely and set house rules, such as not bringing friends home, no smoking inside, quiet after 10pm on weekdays, and please, no hanky panky on your sofa.”

PUSHY PARENTS

As usual, your father is offering unsolicited advice about your plans to drop out of a career in law to become a film director. This time he is threatening to cut you out of his will (and the family fortune).

THE MONK: Gen Kelsang Wangchog, resident teacher at Odiyana Buddhist Meditation Society (who is teaching a course on overcoming anger in February) suggests: “You should remember that your father loves you very much, and strongly wishes for you to have protection and safety in this uncertain world. He is merely expressing his view on how—in his opinion—you would be best protected. You don’t have to follow his advice, you have the right to choose your own path, but it would be unfair of you to hurt him with words of anger. Accept your father’s view on this, and not try to change him. (Anyway, who ever did exactly what their parents wanted them to do?!)”

THE LAWYER: “I would advise you to keep quiet. Wait for your father to calm down. Approach him a couple of days later. Impress upon him why you prefer to be a film director. Highlight to your father the cons of being a lawyer in Singapore and highlight to him that you are an unhappy and discontented lawyer who is likely to drop out of law within the next three years of practice. Tell him success stories of law students, like Kelvin Tong, who have done well for themselves by dropping out of law and becoming film directors. Appeal to your father’s senses and he will realize that you have given a lot of thought to this and are very serious about it. It may be helpful for you to inform your father of your future concrete plans as a film director. You may have to do this in a few sessions. I would advise the father to be patient.”

THE SHRINK: “How sure are you of your career switch? Have you done enough research/thinking regarding both career paths? If you are sure, talk to him again and give your reasons for the change. Show that it is a carefully thought through decision. Draw out a career plan. Show that you will be able to support yourself and give some proof that you will have opportunities. If there is still disagreement, work out an arrangement by which you can start by going part-time in both first to ease him into the idea. Or say you just need a break from law, it’s probably temporary, and you are just trying something new. If that fails, you are still sure, and he’s still threatening, go ahead—it’s your life. Accept his anger. He is of a different mindset, and aggression towards him will do you no good. Don’t burn your bridges—he might soften when he sees you successful in your new career and change his mind!”

CRAZY PARTNER

You tell your boyfriend/girlfriend you need a cooling off period from the relationship but he/she doesn’t take it well and instead begins following you and hangs a dead rat from your front door with a note “things are going to get hotter not colder.”

THE GURU: “As there is still love in the air, buy a healing session for boy/girlfriend giving the excuse that it is good for each other to go for healing. The healer must be wise to explain the karmic effects of doing things like hanging a dead rat. Hopefully, after the healing and wise words from the healer, you can talk things out so as to remain friends rather than enemies with bad karma.”

THE SHRINK: “It seems he/she may have read your ‘cooling off’ as ‘breaking up’ and is desperate or out for revenge. But even if you did just mean cool off, he/she has disrespected your boundaries and seems highly unstable to threaten you in this way. Realize that he/she may be extremely fragile and vulnerable. Talk to him/her and politely request he/she respect your need for space, and to not repeat such behavior. If he/she takes an offensive attitude, the best thing you can do is nothing. Maintain your ‘cooling off’ status. Protect yourself. If you feel in danger, tell a friend/parent/relative and have them stay with you or stay with them for a while. If he/she persists with nasty behavior, make a police report. As a side note, are you sure you want to be with this person at all?! You may want to consider ending the relationship, rather than put up with such behavior in the long run.”

THE COPS: “For parties involved in a dispute, we would encourage them to resolve the matter amicably or have it mediated by the court. Members of the public involved in a dispute are advised not to take the law into their own hands. Where an act of harassment disturbs the general peace of the neighborhood, police may investigate and persons found using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior, or displaying any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby causing harassment, alarm or distress, can face a fine of up to S$5,000.”

MAID ABUSE

Despite telling her repeatedly not to, your new maid puts your expensive designer dress into the washing machine where the colors run—and then dries it until it’s Barbie-size—this is the third time! You tell her you’re returning her to the maid agency; she threatens to jump out the window.

THE COMMUNICATOR: Laureli Blyth, director of Training and Research at the Australasian Institute of Neuro-Linguistic Programming says: “In a normal tone of voice that is friendly, praise her work so far, how well she cleans for example. Ask her if she has something that is fragile and valuable—something she takes special care of—and ask her how she’d feel if someone treated it without being delicate. Show her how to launder and dry one piece, then have her show you how she will duplicate the process. Then give her more praise. Make sure you do this in a normal calm voice and, if appropriate, pat her shoulder to solidify the message.”

THE MONK: “There is a famous Buddhist quote that summarizes the practice of patient acceptance: ‘If a problem can be remedied, why become unhappy? And if there is no remedy, there is still no point in becoming unhappy.’ Here, you have a choice: Either you fire the maid, and learn nothing (and who is to say the next maid will come free of all problems?), or you take the time to be patient, explain out of kindness her error, and accept that she is human, makes mistakes and give her another opportunity. In this way, the maid becomes your practice of patience. How wonderful it is to have such a kind maid, teaching you patient acceptance in this way!”

THE CLUELESS BOSS

A hot new job opens up in the company and even though you’re perfect for it you’re overlooked for the position in favor of the smarmy new guy.

THE GURU: “Of course anyone will get angry and feel cheated, but psyche yourself and think maybe my guardian angel is protecting me from a) being overworked; b) protecting me from facing conflicts with friends I have [up to now] been working harmoniously with; c) the pressure of the new status; or d) the most likely, that this is not my rice bowl, even though I deserve the position. There could be something else for me in the future that will make full use of my potential! If the newbie got the job ... then it is his Good Karma so wish him well.”

THE COMMUNICATOR: “Let the boss know you are disappointed, but not discouraged. The worst thing you could do is to get angry and ‘show them’ how you feel. Find out how you can be seriously considered for future promotions or hot jobs. Ask for more responsibility and let the boss see your results. It’s important to keep your disappointment to yourself, not let everyone know how wronged you feel. Act the part of the hottest employee and you’ll soon have the next hot job.”

THE MONK: “We all need to learn to be flexible—and adapt to life’s adversities. Adaptation is the art of survival! A powerful way to view this situation is to remember to say this to yourself: ‘Who is to say that the new job would have brought me a happier life? On the contrary, it will have brought with it a new set of problems. How wonderful that I am now free from the new set of problems I would have encountered if I had been given the job!’.”

VINDICTIVE CO-WORKERS

A presentation to a major client tanked and now the team leader is pointing fingers saying your stats and info let the side down—who’s responsible?

THE SHRINK: “Keep your cool and don’t say anything that might aggravate the situation. If you know you haven’t pulled your weight, swallow your pride, talk to her and apologize for letting the team down. Make sure it never happens again. If you felt that it was unjustified, talk to her and find out why she thinks it’s your fault. Clear up misconceptions, ask her what she thinks you could have done better, and how to improve in the future. If what she says is reasonable, take it as a learning experience. If not, keep your cool. See if it happens again. If it does, see if there’s another senior you can talk to. If the situation doesn’t improve, you may want to look for another job or request a transfer to another team.”

THE COMMUNICATOR: “Keep your calm and hold your head up high. Tell them your stats and info provided are what was requested. Remind the leader that it is a ‘team’ effort. Perhaps suggest a brainstorming session for ways to make improvements as a group for future presentations so all could benefit. Keep your feelings and comments to yourself about how you really feel, as this will lead to you being the target for any future finger pointing.”

THE GURU: “Cool yourself down and visualize that everybody involved is willing to listen to your explanation positively. Call for a meeting with all those involved in the project and the one pointing the finger to explain how you got the stats. If, at the end of it, they still think that you are responsible, accept responsibility and apologize. There’s no harm in apologizing to cool things off.”

NOISY NEIGHBORS

Every night the neighbors crank up the volume for their nightly karaoke sessions of Cantopop, which last until 11pm. Your anonymous letters for peace and quiet are not working!

THE MONK: “First try to accept the situation by practising patience, and if you are totally unable to, then with a calm and peaceful mind, kindly ask them to reduce the noise. Getting angry and displaying our temper to them will certainly not solve the situation in the long-term, since resentment will exist for many years between you and the neighbors, and even if you did blow out at them, you would find it hard to sleep anyway with an angry mind. It is always possible to be patient—even when attempting to solve a situation.”

THE LAWYER: “Approach the neighbors and highlight the problem to them. Explain the effect of their actions on you and your family. Ask them to be considerate and turn down the volume or finish their sessions by a reasonable time, say 9pm. Ask them how they would feel if they were in your position. Finally tell them politely that if this matter persists, you will have no choice but to commence legal action against them.”

THE COPS: “Again, it’s worth repeating that where an act of harassment disturbs the general peace of the neighborhood, police may investigate and persons found using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior, or displaying any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby causing harassment, alarm or distress, can face a fine of up to S$5,000.”

GREEDY LANDLORD

You’re due to renew your flat’s lease next month, now the landlord has just upped the rent by 50 percent with no warning.

THE LAWYER: “Check the tenancy agreement as to whether the landlord is entitled to do so. Usually, they have the right to do so and it would be reflected in the tenancy agreement. Even so, you can still negotiate with your landlord not to increase the rent by 50 percent. Counterpropose a figure or propose that the rental hike takes effect on a future date. If the landlord does not agree, you have no choice but to agree to his terms or give notice of your intention to quit. This may make your landlord think twice.” 

THE COMMUNICATOR: “Make an appointment to see the landlord to discuss the lease terms. Find out the purpose for the huge increase and let them know your intention to be a responsible, long-term tenant. Keep your cool, don’t let it become personal. Determine if there is a possibility to negotiate and if so, make an offer; if not be prepared to move.”

THE GURU: “Try to negotiate. If the landlord is handy then get the agent who got the place for you to talk to the landlord, showing him records that you have been a good tenant, paying rent on time and have been looking after the property. Tell them that it will take some time before someone takes the unit over and there is the possibility of new tenants not paying the rent on time thus causing loss of income. If all fails, even to bring the increase down, look for another place soon and just let go.”

A THIRD PARTY

Solicitor Rajan Chettiar also offers this piece of advice: “As a backgrounder, negotiation and mediation are common and popular alternative dispute resolution methods used by lawyers and the Courts to resolve minor conflicts and problems. The advantage of this system is that it creates win-win solutions for the parties, maintains the relationship between the parties, and saves time and legal costs for both parties. These methods can be effectively used by litigants with the help of lawyers without filing a case in the Courts. For these methods to work, each party must be reasonable/willing to negotiate and must possess the correct mindset to give and take so as to reach an amicable settlement. Parties have to put their interests forward and reach a common position which is acceptable to both parties. Again, negotiation and mediation may be only effective after parties have gone through a few rounds. The tone of language/mood, behavior and body language of parties are important in the mediation/negotiation process.”
Community Mediation Centre (Subordinate Courts): #01-13 The URA Centre, East Wing, 45 Maxwell Rd., 6325-1600, [email protected], www.minlaw.gov.sg/cmc
Singapore Mediation Centre: Level 4, 1 Supreme Court Lane, 6332-4366, [email protected], www.mediation.com.sg

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