Returning for its 7th year, the dance, music, theater and visual arts extravaganza that is the Fringe Festival is renowned for its innovative and engaging showcases. Past festivals have opened the door not only for artists around the world to exhibit some of their edgier works, but have also built a dedicated and active community through their thought-provoking themes. This year, organizers and curators from The Necessary Stage will explore the relationship between art and education through the works of 19 international and local artists from 10 countries, including three fringe highlights from India, France and Singapore. We pick the most visually stimulating and intellectually engrossing works from the fest.
Another Me: Transformations from Pain to Power
This exhibition by independent Indian documentary photographer Achinto Bhadra takes him to a half-way house called Sanlaap in Kolkata, India. Survivors of trafficking, rape or abandonment, and the children of sex workers, were counseled to take on human, animistic and divine beings of power, love, revenge and freedom through costume and make up. Bhadra captures their transformation and reveals their inner strength of these women through his photography work.
Through Jan 16. ION Art Gallery, 4/F, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6838-6520. Free.
Entre Nous
The Asian premier of Belgian Helmut Van den Meersshaut’s one man performance is nothing if not energetic. Entre Nous is an entertaining and explosive story of a man’s search for himself. Helmut’s acclaimed performance sees him free fall into the “space” of his characters, with neither an emotional safety net for himself nor the audience.
Jan 7–8, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19-30 from Sistic.
Monster
Performed by American dance troupe Pappas & Dancers, Monster sees dancers crumble and reform; creatures with oversized breasts and prosthetic noses storming the stage. The Los Angeles Times calls it “mesmerizing” with a performance that questions Jewish identity, shame, and what it means to be a victim and a victimizer.
Jan 14–15, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19-30 from Sistic.
Perceptio
This audio-visual concert explores our ideas about pollution and climate change through music and sound, cinematics and art and animation. Curated by local collective PMP, the exhibition uses sound and visual samples from various parts of Singapore, combined with computer generated visuals and sounds to create an immersive experience.
Jan 15, 7:30pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $19 (double-bill with Oldfish) from Sistic.
School Of Hard Knocks
Singapore’s quirky knick knack emporium, the Little Dröm Store, has partnered with international advertising company JCDecaux to explore social interaction within the premises of a playground. The photographic exhibition will feature these childhood monuments that have captured our imagination but are now in the process of extinction.
Through Jan 18, JCDecaux Bus Stop Shelters islandwide; Through Jan 23, Esplanade Tunnel, underground walkway from Esplanade to Raffles City MRT. Free.
Something About Education but Not Exactly…
Curated by Hong Kong visual artist Leung Chi Wo, this installation work features text and images exclusively created for the festival. A pseudo-educational video entitled Signs will be screened in a classroom setting, aiming to translate the ideas of non-mainstream communication and the meaning of human reality overloaded by mass media.Through Jan 23. Jendela, Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. Free.
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2011: Art + Education is on through Jan 23 islandwide. For more details, log onto www.singaporefringe.com.
