Music As A Muse: Automatic Drawing

After Caroline I strolled about & discovered there was something on at the concourse. It was 1 of those free programmes, held in conjunction with Singapore Arts Festival.


"Batik artist Kamal Dollah creates spontaneous surrealist art to the inspiration of live traditional Flamenco music interpreted and performed by solo guitarist, Indrasani Mursalim." (taken from Esplanade website)

As the guitarist played, the artist painted.

Electrolab: Caroline

Think I'm really getting into electronic/indie music. Went for a mini-concert at Esplanade's Recital Studio with Caroline (Lufkin) performing. I enjoyed it. She had this really sweet voice.

As I was listening, I suddenly realised that my interest in the similar kind of music started not recently, but long ago even with Mono, a now disbanded duet (remember Great Expectations - Gwyneth Paltrow & Ethan Hawke). Also the post-Lovefool Cardigans. Savage Garden and Darren Hayes are also a bit so, though more indie? Not very sure of the definition of the genres, but since their myspace site said so, I believe it's so.

This was also my 1st time attending an electronica concert (is that what you call it?) and of course, 1st time at Electrolab. Interesting really to see only laptops and synthesizers (ok, the sound engineer also had a bass) and how the artistes controlled the sound bits & rhythm with them. Jay (the sound engineer) was using this key pad thingy to produce all the beats and stuff. After the performance, half the audience actually went up to check out the gadgets (that's how I overcame my curiosity too over the keypad - how he created the sounds/tones of beats). Pretty cool.

Now, with all this exposure, I find it so exciting that I want to try out electronica rather than stick to conventional means...I've reduced my dose of classical music now. Can't wait to save enough or decide on my MacBook (should I go Pro?) and place some investment in music software like notational software and what they use to create these (what do you call it?).

Mabou Mines DollHouse

Caught DollHouse by Mabou Mines at Drama Centre last night as part the Arts Fest programme. It was the 1st night of the play, and who else but Goh Chok Tong and his wife graced the event.

Anyway, it was a rather interesting show set in a playhouse-like dollhouse with tall, full-sized women and short men (3’4” to 4’5”). The wife, Nora is a submissive, child-like character to her husband Torvald, who treats her like a pet; she is like a pretty doll/puppet to him. Something happens, or rather something she did came back to her which would "disgrace" him, but eventually, it was resolved, except that she realises that it was time to break free. At that point, one realises the significance of the setting.

The grandest scene was the end where there was a whole backdrop of puppets as the husband & wife sings (opera-style), where she says she's leaving him & the reasons, while he tries to salvage their relationship. The puppets imitated their mannerism during this "dialogue". Eventually, the big finale came with her stripping off her clothes & wig (she was bald!), like stripping off her doll image.

I would say it was a serious comedy as there were many funny parts and exaggerations.

Judgement vs Discernment

Sometimes I wonder how fine the line is between "judging" someone (Matthew 7:1-5) and discerning about a person's character. Well, according to the dictionary, they are synonyms, except that discernment is making a good & wise judgement.


I believe God gave us the power to discern as part of being wise and also to protect ourselves. Towards people, there is intuition? However, do our biases get in the way?

I don't want to be someone who is "judging" or biased; I try to be as objective as possible, but sometimes it's scary if you "see through" people, especially if it's proven right.

Superstring by Joshua Yang

After the musical, I took a walk around to see what's going on around Esplanade. There was an exhibit going on at the concourse called Superstring conceptualised by Joshua Yang.

The series of works was created using a single continuous line drawn on rolls of canvas to depict the images as seen. Rather interesting as one will need to do some careful planning in order to use 1 single line to draw.

Georgette: the musical

I caught the musical Georgette at Esplanade's Recital Studio, which was a small production done by the Musical Theatre Ltd. The singing was not too bad.

It was a simple "down-to-earth" kind of production, with minimal props and frills. Athough the acting was a bit "stiff" at some parts, the music & lyrics were very touching & I was moved to tears. There was live music by a pianist (Chris Nolan, I think) no less.

The musical was created as part of the Five Foot Broadway musical incubation program.

Heart vs Reason

"The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of."
~ Blaise Pascal in Pensées

Walking the Talk

As I read "Our Daily Bread" for the day, there was this meaningful poem.

I’d rather see a Christian

Than to hear one merely talk,

I’d rather see his actions

And behold his daily walk. —Herrell

How true! Similar to what Jackie Pulinger raised, no point for someone to just talk talk, he/she must use action.

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Do we forget this sometimes?

iPod

Yeah! I've finally bought my iPod! 80GB!

Heehee...as it was the GSS, there was a 20% off for it & 10% off for accessories (bought a cover) with DBS cards. Yippee!

Mabou Mines' DollHouse

I can't believe this, this show is sold out!
Fortunately, I think I got the last ticket. Have not checked, but when I went to buy the ticket yesterday, the person told me that she only had tickets for 21 June left. Great as that was the only day I could make it as I would be having my cell retreat on the next 2 days of the show.
Then as she checked, she said there is only 1 ticket left. So I bought it. Haha...Fortunately I remembered to go buy it or else it would probably be gone.