Spaces Between Us is a film series that examines our relationship to forgotten and overlooked spaces in rapidly-urbanising Singapore – in "Wayang", we revisit traditional Chinese Opera through the lens of street dancers.
The essence of time is the essence of change; in this film, street dance duo ScRach MarcS collaborates with director and photographer Lenne Chai to explore time, tradition and evolution with the guidance of opera maestro Gordon Choy, and his father, Mr. Choy Yien Chow. Mr. Choy also performs the ancient dramatic art of Face Changing in the short.
Filmed at Goh Chor Dua Pek Gong Temple, this outdoor "wayang" stage, which was constructed in 1906, is one of the last of its kind. Chinese street opera, colloquially referred to as "Wayang", was first introduced to Singapore by Chinese immigrants who arrived in the 19th century. Due to factors such as westernisation, banned dialects, and the ageing audience; the once popular Chinese opera performances has slowly lost its appeal to the masses.
What goes through the mind of the performer as they journey through countless stories of war, hope, love and tragedy? What can we adapt from the past into our future? Can we find new things in the old, and the old in the new?
Formed in 2008, ScRach MarcS are in pursuit of new ideologies to evolve street dance. With roots in classic street dance, the dynamic duo is all about creative movement and treating dance as an art form without boundaries or labels. The two are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting works that push the creative mind and elevate their artistry as creators, innovators and artists. www.scrachmarcs.com
Raised in Singapore and based in New York, Lenne Chai is a photographer and director who once fell into the sea while photographing Lily Cole. Having shot for magazines since the age of 19, her work has been featured in titles such as Dazed, Esquire, L'Officiel, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, TeenVogue, WWD, and more. www.lenne.photography
Spaces Between Us is a film series that examines our relationship to forgotten and overlooked spaces in rapidly-urbanising Singapore – in "Wayang", we revisit traditional Chinese Opera through the lens of street dancers.
The essence of time is the essence of change; in this film, street dance duo ScRach MarcS collaborates with director and photographer Lenne Chai to explore time, tradition and evolution with the guidance of opera maestro Gordon Choy, and his father, Mr. Choy Yien Chow. Mr. Choy also performs the ancient dramatic art of Face Changing in the short.
Filmed at Goh Chor Dua Pek Gong Temple, this outdoor "wayang" stage, which was constructed in 1906, is one of the last of its kind. Chinese street opera, colloquially referred to as "Wayang", was first introduced to Singapore by Chinese immigrants who arrived in the 19th century. Due to factors such as westernisation, banned dialects, and the ageing audience; the once popular Chinese opera performances has slowly lost its appeal to the masses.
What goes through the mind of the performer as they journey through countless stories of war, hope, love and tragedy? What can we adapt from the past into our future? Can we find new things in the old, and the old in the new?
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