Online Brochure - Singapore Art Museum

Public Talk: Imagining Nanyang: Southeast Asia as framed in Wong Kar Wai movies
Known internationally as an auteur for his stylised films, Shanghai-born director Wong Kar Wai not
only depicted diasporic Chinese communities on celluloid but also located them in trans-national
sites and enclaves across the world. This talk explores how he framed the Chinese communities
of the region, especially those of Philippines, Singapore and Cambodia in the 1960s. Examined
against broader narratives of Nanyang, these are illustrative of larger social and cultural
connections between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia generated for consumption by a larger
diasporic Chinese market via popular and literary cultures.
Lai Chee Kien is Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, National University of
Singapore. He researches on histories of art, architecture, settlements, urbanism and landscapes in
Southeast Asia.
Fri, 13 Aug | 7:30pm | Chapel, Level 2, SAM
Free admission.
Ming Wong, Four Malay Stories (based on films by P. Ramlee), 2005, 4 channel video installation,
Singapore Art Museum collection
120 Malay Movies Book Launch
120 Malay Movies is a cheerfully irreverent romp through the films that were made through the
studio system in Singapore and subsequently Kuala Lumpur from 1948 to 1972. Malaysian writer
and filmmaker Amir Muhammad watched 120 films, about a third of all Malay-language films made
during that period, in chronological order and responds to the films in our contemporary context.
Sat, 31 Jul | 4pm | Glass Hall, Level 1, SAM
Free admission.
Public Talk: Films of Change in Early Singapore Cinema by Timothy P. Barnard
This talk focuses on five films that changed the culture of filmmaking in Singapore during the
“Golden Era” of Malay filmmaking from 1940 to 1967. They presented a shift in how films were
made and understood at a period in which major issues of technology, narrative and
independence were being debated. The focus will be on films ranging from Mutiara (The Pearl,
1940) to Badang (1962).
Timothy P. Barnard is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the National University
of Singapore, where he specialises in the environmental and cultural history of the Malay World.
Fri, 6 Aug | 7:30pm | Chapel, Level 2, SAM
Free admission.
Education Programmes for Schools
Life of Imitation Education Workshop
Designed for primary and secondary children, this workshop is made up of an education tour that
encourages students to discuss their feelings and reaction to the artworks and an interactive
session that invites students to re-enact and create voice-overs for a segment from Four Malay
Stories, one of the artworks on display. This unique experience allows students to interact with
the artwork in a new way to explore film narrative and identity.
Available till 22 August.
Every Thu | 10:30am – 12pm | SAM
For 9 to 14 years old
Free admission. Limited to 20 students per session, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Dramatic Encounters: Life of Imitation
This workshop uses drama techiniques to engage participants with the artworks through active
discussion, reflection and expression of their personal opinions about the artworks. Focusing on
processes like examining and discussing context, issues and themes brought up by the artworks,
students get to draw upon their own personal relevance to these artworks and form their own
opinions on issues like urbanisation, language and identity.
This workshop is a collaboration between SAM and the Singapore Polytechnic Applied Drama
and Psychology programme.
Available for the month of July only.
Every Tue, Thu, Fri | 3pm – 5:15pm | SAM
Every Thu & Fri | 10am – 12:15pm | SAM
For 15 to 17 years old / upper secondary
Free admission. Limited to 40 students per session, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
All education programmes for school bookings only.
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Interested schools, please email nhb_sam_programs@nhb.gov.sg or call 6332 3220.
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