Life

For the unaware, the beaded patterns hanging in wooden frames in Robert Sng’s Little Shophouse might seem nothing more than pretty craft displays.In actual fact, those intricate pieces are designs to be made into a famous part of the Peranakan iconography – the kasut manek (beaded shoes). No traditional Peranakan sarong kebaya is finished without

By Vibrant Dot Staff Ben, 24, recalled spending much of his adolescence at Portland Place, London, near the BBC’s headquarters and Royal Institute of British Architects. Together with his mum, he endured some of harshest winters as they held silent vigil, everyday, round the clock, opposite the Embassy of China. Joined by volunteers comprising retirees,

“My idea is this: I can’t save a generation of people now, but if one of the children becomes a significant person, more lives can be changed.” – Linus Lin, founder of Global Village for Hope On December 21, 2012, he didn’t expect the new Mayan calendar to bring about a new era for him. But

As the music ensemble begins to play, a transformation comes over the voluble and energetic Lim Ming Yi, an administrative manager and principal musician of Siong Leng Musical Association. Seated in the centre with a wooden clapper, her bearing is sombre as she sings the nanyin vocal piece ‘Nostalgia’. “I am very bubbly now, but

One of the advantages of government support for arts and culture is its limitless potential to spur sustainable development and create job opportunities. Imagine there wasn’t an interest in art in Europe during the Renaissance. Would Europe still be what it is today? Suppose there is no ‘David’ – the Renaissance masterpiece by Michelangelo in

“I think a well-developed arts and culture scene is an indicator that a society is liveable, and probably makes the country more attractive for foreign investors.” – Jane (pseudonym), a Singaporean arts enthusiast For millennials, the arts have served as a moral compass for mankind, enabling it to discern beauty from baseness and righteousness from evil.

(WATCH: Keeping Traditions Alive! – Eng Tiang Huat, Singapore) To Jeffrey, all this effort and respect is what artisanal work is about. It is a reflection of how things were done in the old days, and though it might not be the most efficient or profitable, it is certainly the most sincere. Tucked away along Geylang

“I strongly believe that, in a developed country, technology and the arts share a symbiotic relationship, where the two complement each other.” –  Mr Nelson Kwei, premier choral director. “Currently, there is a lack of emphasis on arts education in our local education system,” stressed premier choral director, Mr Nelson Kwei. Part of the problem, he explained,

“I always believe that our consciousness is connected to something larger, maybe the universe.” – Dr John Sharpley, international composer and pianist Awakening Consciousness Dr John Sharpley’s compositions sound vast and expansive, just like the universe. When he composes, the extraordinary sounds of the universe – which he had once heard from his phenomenal out-of-body experience –

Studies show that culture appreciation can enhance one’s mental health, including relieving stress, lowering one’s risk of anxiety and depression, and preventing memory loss. “Man does not live by bread alone. We do wish for the finer things in life, to appreciate beauty, love and something uplifting for the spirit,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien

Do you know that music is composed of waves of vibration? And that trillions of cells in our body resonate and respond to vibrations, which influence our feelings? From ancient sages to modern molecular science and string theory, studies have proven that all matter in the universe, including our bodies, vibrate. In other words, the

“Music to me is a realm. It brings me into another realm. When the music is taken to another realm, I always call it magical.” – Mr Toh Ban Sheng, award-winning choral conductor In 1999, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, a self-taught conductor, stood on the stage of the historic Victoria Concert Hall with Raffles Junior College Chorale.

(WATCH: Epoch Times Spoke to Mr Lee Yuk Chuan, President of the Singapore Choral Association) “A good conductor is able to condition the choir members to achieve the right state. Each member is able sing in tune with emotional honesty, while blending into a chorus without overwhelming each other.” – Mr Lee Yuk Chuan, a pioneer of Singapore’s

(WATCH: Artist Khan Siong Ann and his work) An artist has to rely on himself and work hard. It depends on how the artist attains his realm through cultivating [his character and skill]. – Second-generation artist Khan Siong Ann Born in 1942, second-generation artist Khan Siong Ann has been painting for over six decades. His interest in art

What’s your life’s biggest, unfulfilled dream? If you don’t yet know, I’d suggest you watch ‘All in 700’, a 2016-2017 Taiwanese drama series directed by Danny Teng. Join 10 lively residents of the Yinhwa Senior Community—with a combined age of more than 700 years—on a nostalgic road trip, as they embark on a serendipitous journey

“Master Tan’s paintings are amazing. They can be interpreted through the lens of Taoism or Buddhism. They are akin to what Laozi once said: “Pliant, and yet unyielding, exceedingly great, and exceedingly strong.” Both the false and the real, the large and the small, existence and nonexistence, Heaven and Earth all manifest in his artworks.

An acquaintance recently related a story from her days as a kindergarten teacher. Once, in haste, she started throwing workbooks to her pupils at the back of the classroom. To expedite the process, she asked a boy to help her distribute. To her horror, he started throwing workbooks as well. “That was when I realise