Luminous Clouds III
Friday, 10 March: 8–9pm
Saturday, 11 March: 2–3pm
Lobby, Level 1
Free admission
Evoking the ephemeral and transformative qualities of cloud formations, this work brings together a violist specialising in contemporary music, a guqin player, and a gamelan ensemble, creating connections across different musical cultures.
The performance features a historical gamelan set from the ACM collection, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience these objects as they were intended to be appreciated.
The first performance on 10 March will be followed by a short Q&A with the performers, who will share their experiences performing on museum instruments.
About the performers
Christoven Tan
Singaporean violist Christoven Tan is a contemporary artist with a passion for redefining the performance of the viola. He actively performs in solos, ensembles, and orchestras in public and commercial galleries, and in artist-run spaces in London, Lithuania, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Spain, and Singapore.
Thow Xin Wei
Xin Wei specialises in the playing and teaching of the Central Javanese gamelan. He performs in a variety of settings in Java and Singapore. He also conducts workshops for schools and the public. He is currently the music director for Singa Nglaras.
Hoh Chung Shih
Chung Shih is a composer and guqin player. His study of ancient Chinese qin music led him to an in-depth study of Chinese literati culture, which includes brush painting, philosophy, and garden design. His interest in composition can be described as an exploration of two intersections: one between the avant-garde and the experimental, and the other between international contemporary and traditional Chinese literati cultures. Since 2016 he has served as the President of the Composers Society of Singapore, promoting the creation and performance of new music in Singapore and abroad.
De Silva Alicia Joyce
Alicia is a versatile composer-performer who collaborates frequently with various arts disciplines to create new experiences and multi-sensory performances. She has long been intrigued by the sounds and musical traditions of Southeast Asian cultures. Her compositions encompass works for conventional instrument ensembles and various ethnic instruments. Alicia is currently the programme leader of the Office of Academic Affairs at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Singa Nglaras
Singa Nglaras means “relaxing lion” (nglaras means “to relax” and “to harmonize, tune”). Formed in January 2004 by A/P Jan Mrazek and assisted since 2012 by Thow Xin Wei, the ensemble is supported by the NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies. The ensemble is made up of students, alumni, and faculty of both NUS and Yale-NUS, together with members from outside the university. Their primary activity is a weekly latihan (practice session) where audiences and performers learn, socialise, and relax to seriously relaxing music.
