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Photos: Alkantara, A Syadiq
The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2024 returns this May to June, offering a canvas of artistic expressions under the thematic banner “They Declare.” Orchestrated by Arts House Limited and commissioned by the National Arts Council, this year’s festival, helmed by visionary festival director Natalie Hennedige, is set against Singapore’s vibrant arts scene.
Embracing a multiplicity of voices, SIFA 2024 promises an invigorating journey through newly commissioned productions and international showcases that ponder our harmonious coexistence with the natural world and the rich tapestry of human experience.
At its heart, SIFA 2024 is a clarion call to explore the endless possibilities of performance as a medium, not just for artistic exploration and expression, but as a vital conduit for societal reflection and dialogue.
Through a meticulously curated lineup of performances that span music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, the festival invites audiences to immerse themselves in the innovative and the traditional, the local and the global.
In these testing times, SIFA is symbiotic of hope and unity, encouraging participants to open their hearts to diverse ways of being and the transformative power of the arts in shaping our world.
REFUGE by The Observatory
Photo: Arabelle Zhuang
Dive into the enigmatic world of REFUGE, an interdisciplinary live performance at SIFA 2024 that descends into the realm of caves, presented by Singapore’s iconic band, The Observatory. This project is a metaphysical sojourn that combines sound, live music, moving images, and light to scrutinise the intricate relationship between the self and the natural world.
It embarks on an exploratory journey into the subterranean, seeking to reveal hidden wisdom from ancient cave art, living organisms, and the storied underland. REFUGE reflects on our bond with the environment and probes the depths of our existence amidst the backdrop of constant change.
This performance is not just an artistic expression but a profound inquiry into our interconnectedness with the Earth. It encourages audiences to ponder their place within the natural cycle of life and the wisdom concealed beneath their feet.
SUARA / Oro Rua
Photos: A Syadiq, Atamira Dance Company
Envision a future where silence reigns until fossilised voices break through the earth, heralding a new era. SUARA / Oro Rua, a collaboration between Singapore’s Safuan Johari and Māori choreographer Eddie Elliott, melds diverse musical backgrounds and New Zealand dance to explore this post-anthropocene vision.
Integrating the Māori concept of Te Kore with the Earth’s sonic evolution, it delves into the emergence of voice as a transformative force. This commissioned piece for SIFA 2024 invites us to ponder the voices that shape our world and the future they might call into being.
The Prose and the Passion
Photo: Joseph Nair
A collaborative effort by celebrated Singapore theatre-makers Haresh Sharma and Chong Tze Chien, this play draws inspiration from the works, letters, and life of E. M. Forster. It weaves together characters from Forster’s novels with those from Sharma’s imagination, creating a cross-temporal narrative that explores themes of identity, connection, and the human condition.
This performance promises a rich, lyrical experience that challenges the boundaries between fiction and reality.
Sun & Sea
Photo: Alkantara
Making its Southeast Asian debut at SIFA 2024, Sun & Sea is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning opera performance that was first showcased at the 2019 Venice Biennale. Set on an artificial beach, performers sing about mundane existence, worry, and boredom while subtly remarking on the Earth’s ecological decline.
This performance invites audiences to contemplate the effects of human activity on the planet in a strikingly unique and immersive environment.
