Prog Format

Programme

Partner/Tenant/Artists

FLIPSIDE

Curated by RSCLS
12 – 15 Jan 2023 | 12pm – 10pm | Free | Music Studio

12 artists from the urban art scene take to a new canvas (quite literally) in the form of tabula scalata, where they are challenged to create two paintings within a singular canvas. Audiences would have to move in the space to get the entirety of the work, inviting conversations about different perspectives shifting, coexisting and interacting in an evolving environment.

*Featured Artists:

1. ANTZ

2. BONY

3. Demster

4. nuriman

5. KILAS

6. PHATNOEZ

7. SAM LO

8. SPAZ

9. SPEAKCRYPTIC

10. TraseOne

11. TUYULOVEME

12. Boon Baked

*See below for artist bios

SEE YOU ON THE FLIPSIDE: Artist Talks

Curated by RSCLS
1pm & 4pm | Free | Music Studio

Moderated by ZERO from RSCSLS, 4 artists discuss their process and concepts for their works in the exhibition and explore topics of interaction, identity and representation within and between communities.

Moderator:

ZERO

1pm – 2pm

SAM LO

TraseOne

4pm – 5pm

SPEAKCRYPTIC

SPAZ

Various – Tours, Workshops, Demonstrations, Sharings

Black Market

Curated by RSCLS
12pm – 8pm | Free | Multipurpose Studios & Courtyard B

RSCLS

Formed in late 2006, RSCLS is an urban art collective that believes in the propagation of acts of artistic nonsense through open uninhibited random collaborations and discourse. A collective of artistic misfits and outsiders from diversely distinct backgrounds, the collective is united by their love for graffiti and street art.

Urban Sounds

Curated by Steady State Records 5pm – 9pm | Free | Multipurpose Hall

Indulge in fresh tunes and fun riffs with this edition’s line-up of independent bands and artists of various music genres. From math rock band woes, to feel-good R&B outfit Astronauts featuring Thai artist Lukpeach, and more, the festival invites you to come for the music and stay for the good vibes.

Featured Artists: 1. Woes

woes is an Indie/Math rock band based in sunny Singapore. Weaving intricate twinkly guitar lines over solid dance-like bass riffs and melancholic vocals, the quintet uses their music as a channel to reminisce and express everybody’s daily life struggles. With a background of jazz and indie rock, the band breathes new life into the indie and math rock scene in Singapore, giving their take on the genres. Their distinctive sound, alongside the band’s exhilarating live shows, have made them a highly-sought staple in Singapore’s indie rock scene. Following their well-received debut “Zoodreams”, Woes dropped their sophomore EP, “Wake Up Pls”, last year to critical acclaim. The band is currently working on their debut full length album.

< CLOSING >
RE:union Party
curated by ScRach MarcS 9.30pm | Free | Multipurpose Hall

To round up the festivities, celebrate street culture with music, dance and sheer vibes at the RE:union Party by ScRach MarcS. Going back to the roots of street dance and urban culture, we have re-imagined the Block Party; a gathering of everyone in a final rendezvous of the night against the backdrop of graffiti and street art of Kampong Gelam. Soak in the energy of the streets with dance performances and battles; jive and groove the night away!

ScRach MarcS

ScRach MarcS (Rach, Marc) was formed to represent a new ideology and evolution of street art in Singapore, and soon, the world. Having both started out in the classic street dance styles, ScRach MarcS is about creative movement – they aim to look at dance as an art form, without boundaries and without labels. They appreciate movement, and aim to create new and exciting works that push the creative mind and artistic level.

New Feature Wall Showcase (Title of Work TBC)

Side Facade of AAC

Visual artists ZERO and TUYULOVEME collaborate for the first time to refresh the side façade of the Aliwal Arts Centre, coming together to create a large mural that responds to each other’s practice.

TUYULOVEME

Based in Yogyakarta, Widayat, also known as TUYULOVEME, developed his artistic practice as a graffiti artist. He started with graffiti lettering before the introduction of distinct figures and characters in his works which frequently appear in 2009. These figures are visual representation of his alter ego—an alternate self that hardly gets exposed in everyday life and lives vicariously through the artist’s creative journey. TUYULOVEME is internationally recognized with works in Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Russia, Philippines and The United States as well as solo exhibitions in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. Working in many mediums, he is an active advocate of graffiti as an artistic discipline.

ZERO

Zul Othman, also known as ZERO, is a visual artist with a ‘graffiti-esque’ aesthetic. He is the founder of RSCLS, an artist collective that seeks to evolve and develop urban art. One of the leading street artists who catalysed the second wave of graffiti art in Singapore, ZERO is a passionate advocate of research, archiving and documentation of the movement, particularly through his work with RSCLS. 

Live Graffiti Painting & Installation by Has.J

12pm – 10pm | Back Alley of AAC

Watch Has.J’s visual world unfold on the wall at the back of Aliwal Arts Centre as he paints live for the day. Observe the process of a graffiti artist as he transforms his ideas into picture, and perhaps have a conversation or two that’ll help you better appreciate all that goes into a completed mural!

HAS.J

Naturally finding his entry into graffiti through exposure to street culture at skateparks, Has.J’s exploration into graffiti started in 2011 as a curious endeavour. Combining his background in photography and skill in graffiti, he uses his keen eye to tactfully combine geometry and organic forms in his compositions. Working with experimental and illustrative typography, his vibrant and dynamic visual world deconstructs visual space. He combines multiple perspectives and two- and three-dimensional form within the same plane to fragment the overall composition. His current trajectory of works explores human body and forms within texts, with illustrative characters referred to as “Simple Problem Beings” forming part of or emerging from the lettering.

Live Graffiti Painting by Titan Aerosol Crew

12pm – 10pm | Courtyard A

You might have seen the graffiti works of Titan Aerosol Crew in spaces around Singapore and beyond, but have you stopped to observe the process? As the artists create their works live, watch and be inspired – you might even want to try your hand at spray painting afterwards with a graffiti workshop.

Titan Aerosol Crew

One of Singapore’s pioneer graffiti groups with more than 20 years’ of action, this crew’s mission is to spread graffiti art to various parts of the globe.

Contemporary Opera Duets

New Opera Singapore

Dance Performance by Kalpavriksha Fine Arts (Title TBC)

Courtyard A | Free

Kalpavriksha Fine Arts presents an Indian Dance performance that interacts with the live graffiti artwork in progress by the Titan Aerosol Crew.

Kalpavriksha Fine Arts

Kalpavriksha Fine Arts is a performing arts company founded in 2013 by three young local dancers; Meera Balasubramanian, Sruti Rao and Shruthi Ramesh, with the aspirations of contributing to the Indian dance scene in Singapore.

Kalpavriksha, a term derived from Hindu mythology, denoting the ‘tree of fulfilment’ - the tree that grants all boons and instils happiness in all. Rooted by the traditions of the classical arts and an ardent follower of the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam, Kalpavriksha as an institution follows the same principle of inculcating the spirit of joy and humility, innately imbibed in the arts.

URBAN IMMERSION by The Improv Company

12pm – 1pm | Multipurpose Hall | Free with registration

"Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f***ing sharp knife to it."
- Banksy, 'Wall and Piece'

The Improv Company

Founded in 2013, The Improv Company is Singapore's first and biggest school of improvisational theatre and comedy. We welcome dozens of new students every month, imparting the positive values of "Yes, And" to every new cohort.

Open Studio: Livestreaming of Teochew Opera Concert

2pm – 5pm | Free | Online for Concert Livestream & #03-02 for Open Studio

2pm – 3pm: Concert Livestream
3pm – 5pm: Informal Sharing & Screening of Past Excerpts

With its roots from the streets before Chinese Opera was performed in theatres, the Chinese Opera Studio believes in the power of opera singing in bringing people together. Visit their studio for a sneak peek into their behind-the-scenes of livestreaming one of their concerts from 2pm – 3pm.

Stay on after to have a chat with these Chinese Opera enthusiasts to discover more about the art of opera singing, and what the artform entails as they screen excerpts of their past productions and share about their experiences from 3pm – 5pm.

Visitors can check out their concert online on 14 Jan at 2pm here: https://www.facebook.com/chineseoperastudiogroup

The Chinese Opera Studio

Founded in Singapore in 2021, The Chinese Opera Studio is a group of opera-loving friends and enthusiasts who are passionate about opera singing and performance, welcoming anyone who share their enjoyment of the art form to join them.

The Everyday Vinyl: Collaging with Repurposed Vinyl Stickers
By DASSAD

12pm – 6pm | Free | #02-04

Expanding from their installation work ‘The Everyday Vinyl’, DASSAD invites you to explore how unwanted vinyl stickers can be given a second life through collaging. Create a collaborative collage with the community and learn more about repurposing single-use materials with sustainability in mind. Drop by #02-04 anytime from 12pm – 6pm, and get hands on!

DASSAD

A multidisciplinary art trio based in Singapore comprised of Woong Soak Teng, Adar Ng and Dave Lim, DASSAD is a team of image-makers that use the artmaking process as a vehicle for communicating their practice.

Improv Taster Session
By The Improv Company

1pm – 3pm | $20 | The Nook Studio #02-05

Get your tickets at: https://improvtastersessions.eventbrite.sg

Tell engaging (or even hilarious) stories on the fly! This workshop is a fun, no-pressure introduction to improvisational theatre, a popular form of scriptless storytelling. We'll explore the core principles behind performative improv and why they are just as applicable in daily life as on stage. You'll then get to try out a few simple games and exercises to put these principles into practice. By the end of the session, attendees will better appreciate how improv can help build skills in lateral thinking, collaborative teamwork, and public speaking. No theatre experience is required, and laughter's guaranteed!

Over the years, we've also produced and performed in hundreds of improv shows. Our coaches have supported a handful of performing groups; some have gone on to grow as independent troupes, while others stayed as TIC's House Teams. Internationally, we've represented Singapore at numerous festivals around the world. We even host the Singapore Improv Festival, which we produce biennially since 2016.

Ultimately, we hope to keep advancing improv as an applicable approach to daily life as well as a staple form of community theatre in Singapore!

Viewpoints: An Experience Workshop
By Nine Years Theatre

An award-winning Mandarin theatre company in multicultural Singapore, Nine Years Theatre loves to dream up game-changing ways to do things. Since the beginning, the company has been invested in actor training in order to create work that is consistent in quality. Nine Years Theatre believes in entertaining our audience in ways that are honest and thoughtful, with works that are recognised for being relatable and culturally layered, possessing deep sensibility that speaks to audiences from all backgrounds. Fluid in scale and genre, Nine Years Theatre creates performances ranging from re-imaginations of classics and adaptations of literary works to original plays as well as interdisciplinary and international collaborations.

Open Studio by RSCLS

RSCLS

Formed in late 2006, RSCLS is an urban art collective that believes in the propagation of acts of artistic nonsense through open uninhibited random collaborations and discourse. A collective of artistic misfits and outsiders from diversely distinct backgrounds, the collective is united by their love for graffiti and street art.

Open Studio by DASSAD

Open Studio by Hothouse

Hothouse

Hothouse is a space in Singapore that supports and prototypes artistic practices. It nurtures experimentation and production as a mode of upending conventions and liberating inquiry. Founded in 2020, it is housed within space and time shared between art collective INTER–MISSION, design agency Currency, and more recently, research lab formAxioms.

This ever-evolving interdisciplinary setup encompasses expertise across contemporary art, technology, design, and architecture, allowing for emancipatory approaches toward knowledge building and dissemination.

Open Studio by Wolfsloth and Chris Chai

Wolfsloth

Gabriel De Souza, also known as Wolfsloth, is a Singaporean artist whose creative pursuits span across several mediums and continents. A painter, illustrator, and tattoo artist, he has also had a 16-year stint as the guitarist for one of Singapore’s foremost post-hardcore bands, Caracal.

Gabriel’s works draw inspiration from ukiyo-e, surrealism, mythology, animal folklore, and nature, which he masterfully weaves into his art through his signature visual style and unique language of colour.

Open Studio by Kalpavriksha Fine Arts

Open Studio by Nine Years Theatre 3.30pm – 5.30pm | #02-09

Drop by the studio of Nine Years Theatre to get acquainted with their works. Make yourself comfortable and watch excerpts of their past productions including recent ones such as See You, Anniversary, Electrify My World and First Fleet, as well as their first few productions such as Twelve Angry Men and ART.

Nine Years Theatre 九年剧场

Open Studio by Chinese Opera Studio 2pm – 5pm | Free | #03-02

2pm – 3pm: Concert Livestream
3pm – 5pm: Informal Sharing & Screening of Past Excerpts

For those curious about Teochew Opera, visit Chinese Opera Studio for a sneak peek into their behind-the-scenes of livestreaming one of their concerts from 2pm – 3pm.

Stay on after to have a chat with these Chinese Opera enthusiasts to discover more about the art of opera singing, and what the artform entails as they screen excerpts of their past productions and share about their experiences from 3pm – 5pm.

The Chinese Opera Studio

Founded in Singapore in 2021, The Chinese Opera Studio is a group of opera-loving friends and enthusiasts who are passionate about opera singing and performance, welcoming anyone who share their enjoyment of the artform to join them.

One of Singapore’s pioneer street artists, ANTZ is one of the Singapore urban art scene’s mainstay talents. From mythology to dialect and identity, he references Chinese culture and vernacular stories to create a “juxtaposed mash” of contemporary urban styles with ethnic and traditional Chinese visual language and influences. Co-founder of RSCLS, an urban art collective, ANTZ has continuously mentored and engaged youth through design, street art and graffiti. As an artist, ANTZ has been involved in renowned projects internationally (Southeast Asia, Chine, North America and Europe) and brands such as ADIDAS, NIKE, IdN, Converse, Taggerbags, Tiger Translate, and many more.

After taking some time away from art, BONY recently returned to graffiti, working at home, with the new goal of not wanting to be “just another graffiti artist”. Raswadi Bin Rahmat, also known as BONY, channels innovation into works, striving to breathe new life into his inspirations—wildstyle graffiti, bushido and nature—through his works. He fuses together his passions for graffiti and natural hardscape in his latest series of works. His favours the use of aerosol paint, expanding foam, acrylic-based markers and preserved reindeer moss.

Graphic designer and urban artist Adam Wang (also known as Demster) is a member of the RSCLS, an urban art collective in Singapore; a representative of TAC (Titan Aerosol Crew), a local graffiti crew; and concurrently runs DIVISION HQ., an independent art & design studio that specialises in brand identity designs and murals. His art navigates the emotional, physical and spiritual plane to make sense of one’s being in a perturbed existence and is a collective showcase of his various experiences and skill sets. In his 11 years of experience, his professional design work has expanded to include commissions for events, exhibitions and club establishments, and workshops he conducts to share his craft.

Nur Iman (b. 1990), also known as “Stranger,” started in the Singapore graffiti scene in 2005, impressively winning a graffiti competition that same year. Graduating in 2012, he studied fine arts, majoring in Western Painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). In 2019, he dabbled in art management and curation, representing 11 artists in the Tatinis art fair under the name of his own art gallery, The Common Space. In addition to graffiti, he extends his creative passion through education, teaching adult art classes, college art electives, secondary and primary school art workshops, and most recently, preschool art excursions.

Adopted the moniker KILAS in early 2003, Zahir Sanosi’s works stretches across multiple platforms. Works of sometimes controversial and contradictory themes, KILAS’s illustrations and designs can be found on skateboards, T-shirts, screen prints, posters, canvases and walls. His works detail the struggle between personal beliefs and public issues, as well as the passion and heartbeat of underground counterculture. He has worked with brands like Tiger Beer, Earache Records (UK), and Santa Cruz Skateboards (USA), to name a few.

A member of ZNC or Zincnitecrew—a graffiti collective with 75 members worldwide—Ayid Razak, also known as NOEZ23 (pronounced “noise”) was a late starter in the graffiti scene, being an avid fan first before dabbling in the art form without formal training. He apprenticed at The Blackbook Studio, working in exchange for knowledge on the craft and practicing whenever he could. Today, Ayid has ties with various graffiti writers and artists across the world, mostly from Southeast Asia, and participates actively in local and regional urban art events.

Sam Lo is a visual artist whose work offers social commentary fuelled by observations of their surroundings and research into the socio-political climate. Their early forays into street art sparked a local debate on Singapore’s definitions of art and vandalism, earning them the moniker "Sticker Lady" and making them a household name. Today, Lo’s work spans installations, large-scale murals and digital designs that aim to deepen our understanding the world around us and how our actions are interdependent.

The two-time recipient of the LASALLE Scholarship, and the first Southeast Asian artist to win the Takifuji International Art Award in 2013, SPAZ (Laurie Maravilla) is a Singapore-based urban artist and researcher from Manila, Philippines who expresses her personal experiences of motherhood, politics of gender and self-determination in her radically political works and writings. She co-founded The Solidarity Movement, an initiative that seeks to research, establish and document graffiti and street art as a culture and art discipline in Southeast Asia. She also founded REBEL DAUGHTERS, a movement aimed empower of women through graffiti and urban art, and address issues affecting working class women and women in male-dominated industries. She is currently part of Tambisan sa Sining, a labour-oriented cultural mass organization based in the Philippines.

Farizwan Fajari, professionally known as Speak Cryptic, currently working and living in Singapore, primarily explores the constructions, conditions and tensions of identity. Through intricately rendered patterns and figures that populate his compositions—sometimes accompanied by texts and phrases extracted from punk lyrics—his drawings, paintings and installations investigate the phenomena and experiences of ancestral migration, ethnic dislocation, gentrification, alternative subcultures and diaspora. He has exhibited at the Koganecho Art bazaar (Yokohama, Japan, 2018), The 1st Kuala Lumpur Biennale (2017), Secret Archipelago (Paris, France, 2015), The Singapore Biennale (2013) and Future Proof (2012).