The best things sometimes stem from moments of chance. Perhaps it was the entrancing record being played in the background at your weekend coffee joint, or the book of poems you picked off a friend’s shelf. It’s how the arts are best enjoyed, after all. Bit by bit, forming the building blocks of your own little creative nook in a vast landscape. It’s also how most of us began carving out space for our local arts scene—one that thrives in indie spaces and underground enclaves. Like a local band that was playing live at the restaurant we went to for a friend’s birthday; a spoken word night that was happening at the usual jazz bar you frequent; or the first local film you watched for a first date to The Projector.
Whilst we all have our own varied tastes from across the globe, we can’t deny that when something is bred on our shores, it just becomes that much more special in our hearts. For what matters more is that these artists and creatives are offering us perspectives we would not ever see or hear about elsewhere. Not only do some of them offer a nuanced lens into the underbelly of Singapore’s textured narrative, they also hold a beacon of hope for the future of our local arts scene.
In the spirit of Vogue Singapore’s ‘Home’ July/August issue, we grew curious and decided to look inward to discover the vastly different corners of culture which we’ve all lived in. Between comedic plays that touch on themes of censorship, emotional classics from legacy filmmaker Jack Neo and gripping new reads for anyone who’s been through Singapore’s school system, these are the local works which the Vogue Singapore team has resonated with most over the years.
1 / 11
Janice Sim, digital editor: Homerun by Jack Neo
“I feel emotional whenever I think of the strife, the scene and the heart behind Homerun. One of Neo’s greatest works beyond his flair for comedy, the local adaptation of the Iranian film Children of Heaven is one I still remember fondly. The young actors at that point of time, Shawn Lee and Megan Zheng perfected their roles as siblings who despite being impoverished, showed greatness in their love and strength for one another.”
2 / 11
Jesslyn Lye, writer: G*d is a Woman by Joel Tan
“Watching Munah Bagharib descend from the three-storey-high ceiling of Ngee Ann Kongsi theatre as Ariana Grande to deliver an impressively accurate rendition of ‘God is a Woman’ is something that I’ll never forget. Written by Joel Tan, G*d is a Woman might be the play I’ve laughed the hardest in—but the way it deals with ever-relevant issues like censorship and moral outrage with such nuance is also painfully sobering.”
3 / 11
Azrin Tan, senior digital writer: The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew
“My first brush with Sonny Liew’s magnum opus, was ironically enough, in a Sing Lit. module I was reading at university in 2018. Now a decade old, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye may have debuted in a cloud of controversy for its politically-charged material, but real life circumstances perhaps held a mirror to the crux of this graphic novel which is as educational as it is entertaining. Following the life of a fictional comic artist named Charlie Chan, not only does it paint a picture of what alternative Singapore could have looked like at one point in time, but it also poses the ultimate question of unreliable narration: in the retelling of history, who gets to tell the story?”
4 / 11
Nurul Firdousee, fashion features writer: Remember a Stranger by motifs
“A piece of local music that has stayed with me is Remember a Stranger by motifs. I first heard about them through my cousin, who is actually in the band. He once recommended me songs that matched my love for dreamy sounds, and when their album finally came out I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. My favourite track is ‘Fluorescent’, the very first song I heard from them, which carries that dreamlike vibe I always gravitate towards.”
5 / 11
Desmond Lim, editor-in-chief: Army Daze by Michael Chiang
“A 1987 theatre play written by one of our most prolific playwrights and screen writers Michael Chiang, Army Daze is an exhilarating tribute to young male recruits who enter the army at the tender age of 18—capturing the moment when boys from diverse ethnicities and social classes came together to serve the nation. As one of the first local plays to embrace a distinctly Singaporean voice, it resonated greatly with the audiences. In 1996, Army Daze was adapted into a film that only further cemented its legacy, earning rave reviews for its unique storytelling and heartfelt celebration of kinship.”
6 / 11
Nicholas See, senior fashion stylist: Dreaming and Dying by Nelson Yeo
“Singaporean director Nelson Yeo’s debut feature will leave you mesmerised and deeply moved. Lensed by Lincoln Yeo, the whimsical film consists of a multitude of vivid hues and peculiar framing—all of which immerses the viewer in a visual trip that is rare within Singapore’s film landscape.”
7 / 11
Jordan Ong, junior designer: Mee Pok Man by Eric Khoo
“An intimate story set in a period I never experienced, yet felt immensely familiar. I resonate deeply with the main characters as I saw how they humanised people in the fringes of Singaporean society. The film showed how disenfranchised people often do not make bad decisions out of their own accord, but are simply products of their circumstances.”
8 / 11
Gordon Ng, watches & jewellery editor: I Not Stupid by Jack Neo
“I Not Stupid is one of the rare childhood-growing-up films I still vividly remember. It seems to have marked a very specific moment in Singapore’s culture. A time when locally made films would (could?) screen in the cinema and express national frustrations, criticise the government, and we’d all go watch, laugh and commiserate.”
9 / 11
Emily Heng, beauty editor: The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei
“This breathtaking novel by Jemimah Wei surpassed all my expectations—set in 1996, it details the tumultuous relationship between two sisters set against the intensively competitive backdrop of Singapore’s school system. Heartbreaking but also peppered with moments of levity, it made a strong impression and cemented itself as one of my favourite books of the year.”
10 / 11
Micah Phua, senior lifestyle writer: Green Around the Gills by Xingfoo&Roy
“Wistful lyrics borne upon a wind of soaring anthems, catchy hooks, and jangly production—these boys are carrying the emo torch forward with all the nostalgia and melancholy you could ask for.”
11 / 11
Lance Pielago, fashion stylist: Ilo Ilo by Anthony Chen
“Ilo Ilo is a 2013 Singaporean film directed by Anthony Chen, depicting the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis on a middle-class Singaporean family through their relationship with their Filipina helper, Teresa. The film explores themes of family, cultural differences, and the search for belonging during a period of economic hardship.”
