Why does art need criticism? Because it needs something outside of itself as a place of reflection, discernment, and connection with the larger world. Art for art’s sake is fine, if you can get it. But then the connection to the real becomes tenuous, and the connection to the social disappears. If you want to engage, if you want discourse, you need criticism.

-Noted poet and critic David Levi Strauss on the value of criticism in the context of art.

The Arts House has launched a new mentorship programme which aims to develop and nurture the next generation of reviewers and arts critics. The 1st edition of this 12-month long mentorship focuses on writing book reviews as well as critical essays. The selected mentees for 2016 are Andrea Yew (image below, centre), Kevin Tan (image below, right) and Laura Kho (image below, left). Their mentors are Cyril Wong, Eddie Tay and Toh Hsien Min.

The Arts House is grateful for the support of the following partners for this programme.

Ethos Books
Epigram Books
Marshall Cavendish
Monsoon Books

The reviews and essays written as part of their mentorship are posted below:

1. Spomenik by Marc Nair 

• Andrea Yew
• Kevin Tan
• Laura Kho 

2. Phedra by Euginia Tan 

• Kevin Tan

3. 3 by Krishna Udayasankar

• Andrea Yew
• Kevin Tan

4. Now That It's Over by O Thiam Chin 

• Andrea Yew
• Kevin Tan
• Laura Kho

5. Critical Essay 1

• The Mercurial Nature Of Literary Censorship by Kevin Tan
• To Carve a Space of Our Own by Andrew Yew