Thanks to my sister, she managed to get me tickets to watch- Diaspora. This work by Ong Keng Sen has toured Berlin and is supposedley internationally acclaimed. Commissioned by Singapore 2006, the purpose is to showcase a side of Singapore as being creative and artistically inclined. Being the first time that I have actually stepped foot into the concert hall of The Esplanade, I was more excited over the venue that the performance will be held in. The view of the Concert hall is very different from that of the theatre in The Esplanade.
The concert hall was transformed into a stage with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra right in the middle of all the happenings. wondered why the Orchestra was hiding behind a semi-transparent screen and the answer unfolded when the show started. A mix of film, sound and drama, the show unfolded in many layers and surprise elements. The idea of Ong was the theme of immigrants and chinese. The chinese that left China and seeked a life away from their homeland, not just that, but also how connected the rest of the world can be with the chinese from China, including India and the Vietnam. There were a lot of emphasis on Vietnam chinese and it is extremely interesting. There were frequent mentions of Vietnamese actually survived in America and how the war had actually changed their lifestyle and perception. He even brought the audience into a journey into the different states of America to take a peak into how the Vietnamese actually infiltrated and made America their home and how they ahve embraced the culture. From Oregon to Simi Valley, they are relentless in their pursuit of happiness in the foreign land.
History also came across as the main theme, with pictures and video footage of the early immigrants. He managed to make the video gel seamlessly into the music of the SCO with precision to the music and video. One may leave the hall without understanding what the show was all about. But that is the whole idea, not knowing where you are and seeking an identity to call your own. It doesn't matter as long as you know that you share a history with something that you can call your own. A well put together show. Was thinking about LL and how he might be able to relate to the whole idea.
The concert hall was transformed into a stage with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra right in the middle of all the happenings. wondered why the Orchestra was hiding behind a semi-transparent screen and the answer unfolded when the show started. A mix of film, sound and drama, the show unfolded in many layers and surprise elements. The idea of Ong was the theme of immigrants and chinese. The chinese that left China and seeked a life away from their homeland, not just that, but also how connected the rest of the world can be with the chinese from China, including India and the Vietnam. There were a lot of emphasis on Vietnam chinese and it is extremely interesting. There were frequent mentions of Vietnamese actually survived in America and how the war had actually changed their lifestyle and perception. He even brought the audience into a journey into the different states of America to take a peak into how the Vietnamese actually infiltrated and made America their home and how they ahve embraced the culture. From Oregon to Simi Valley, they are relentless in their pursuit of happiness in the foreign land.
History also came across as the main theme, with pictures and video footage of the early immigrants. He managed to make the video gel seamlessly into the music of the SCO with precision to the music and video. One may leave the hall without understanding what the show was all about. But that is the whole idea, not knowing where you are and seeking an identity to call your own. It doesn't matter as long as you know that you share a history with something that you can call your own. A well put together show. Was thinking about LL and how he might be able to relate to the whole idea.
Saw a few friends from the theatre scene after the short 1.5hr performance. =)
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