Page 22 - NAFA Annual Report 2015/2016

Collaborations with the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts

The Institute of Southeast Asian Arts (ISEAA) is a resource and research development
agency within NAFA that works closely with schools, industry and regional partners.
ISEAA embarked on a trip to Hanoi and Mandalay to conduct research on water puppetry
and marionettes as part of the final instalment on puppetry across Southeast Asia.
This endeavour was collaboratively accomplished as part of interdisciplinary projects
involving students and lecturers. Through months of work, production and ISEAA-led
workshops, outcomes were presented through the exhibition Silent Actors II: Puppets
of Myanmar and Vietnam.

To further integrate cultural practice research with regional and industry relevance,
ISEAA also initiated active academic partnerships, starting with 3D Design and Dance.
Ageing-in-place was conceptually engaged within the first year foundation and second
year industry project module, while a workshop on basic Kabyarlut dance from Myanmar
was assimilated into the Asian Dance and Movement module. These efforts have
complemented, influenced and expanded the multi-discipline curriculum and deepened
its Southeast Asian focus; as with the second instalment of Art Clinic, where students
were tasked to address the relevance of a Southeast Asian identity in art making.

Formulating collaborations that leverage on a network of different partners in Singapore
and abroad, ISEAA also brought in educational workshops, lectures and forums that
featured a spectrum of visual art forms. In conjunction with local and international
exhibitions, several lectures and presentations were delivered by chief designer of the
Sori Yanagi office, Koichi Fujita; Cultural Medallion recipient Teo Eng Seng; and artists and
illustrious alumni Khoo Sui Hoe, Yeo Chee Kiong and Henry Lee, the latter three working
together on a lively three-panel discussion which enthralled students and the public alike.

Art Hats in Renaissance City

NAFA part-time Lecturer Renee Lee was the editor of Art Hats in Renaissance City, which
is an anthology of the personal reflections and aspirations of four generations in the new
ecostructure in Singapore, from those who helped formulate policies to the individual
artists who contributed in developing and building an exciting arts and cultural scene from
scratch and transformed it into a viable economic model. The diverse scope of work within
the creative and cultural industries is evident in this anthology. Individuals coming from
backgrounds such as history, communications, management, economics, law, science, art,
psychology and entertainment contributed to this anthology. It showcases the voices and
experiences of the go-to people in Singapore’s developing art scene and also explores
their thoughts and insights, as well as their personal roles in heritage development.
The publication includes a foreword by Professor Tommy Koh and articles contributed by
several NAFA colleagues namely, Dr Caren Carino, Chiew Sien Kuan, Dr Joyce Beetuan
Koh, Ma Wenhai, Carol Tan and Dr Eleanor Tan.

19