Celebrating our young artistes!

Congratulations to our College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) / Faculty of Science (FoS) students from three arts groups who received Distinction awards for the Tan Ean Kiam Arts Awards under the NUS Achievement Awards (NAA) (2023) held on 27 and 28 October!

The recipients from the three arts groups are:

Original Work of the Year: Bairagi by the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble

• Aparna GIRI SHANKAR (Double Majors in Life Sciences and Public Health)
• Neha LAKSHMANAN (Double Majors in Data Science and Analytics and Communications and New Media)
• Abhishek BALAJI (Major in Quantitative Finance, Minors in Statistics and Computer Science)

Production of the Year: Essentially Macbeth by NUS Chinese Drama and NUS Chinese Orchestra

• Shaylie YU Shihui (Major in Environmental Studies, Minors in Life Sciences, Chinese Translation and Asian Studies)
• Darren BOON Ming Xuan (DDP in Engineering and Life Sciences)
• LIEW Chet Ming (Double Majors in Chemistry and History)
• CHEN Ziting (Major in Data Science and Analytics, Minors in Quantitative Finance and Computer Science)
• YEN Kai Xi, Cassie (Major in Life Sciences, Minors in Forensic Science and Public Health)
• JIN Jianzuo (Major in Data Science and Analytics)
• LAI Ze Ming (Major in Data Science and Analytics, Minor in Forensic Science)
• WEN Feiyang (Double Majors in Statistics and Mathematics, Minors in Psychology and Computer Science)

Outstanding Community Arts Project of the Year: Helping Hands, Moving Bodies 3.0 by NUS Dance Synergy

• Edrick DAMARIO (Double Majors in Life Sciences and Psychology)

 

Original Work of the Year: Bairagi by the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE)

Bairagi, a 17-minute musical odyssey composed by members of IIE, was performed as part of Inter/change, in collaboration with NUS Chinese Dance. A homage to the historical Silk Road, the piece unfolds like a tapestry, expertly weaving Chinese instrumentation into the fabric of classical Indian expression and capturing the essence of intertwining cultures in flux.

On the decision to collaborate with NUS Chinese Dance, Neha, Logistics and Production Manager and violinist in IIE, explains, “We wanted to break out of our comfort zone by challenging ourselves to synergise with a completely different art form. Working with Chinese Dance also added an invigorating visual aspect to our concept and showcased the harmony between art forms from two different cultures.”

The end result was a sumptuous and evocative performance which highlighted the musicians’ versatility, both in embracing new musical narratives, and in adapting their idiom to the dynamics of Chinese Dance. In winning Original Work of the Year, Neha says, “It not only affirmed our efforts but also motivates us to continue working even harder.”

 

Production of the Year: Essentially Macbeth by NUS Chinese Drama and NUS Chinese Orchestra

Staged as a play within a play, Essentially Macbeth, 必要麦克白 examines the complex, ambivalent relationship arts practitioners have with the art they make, and the meaning they find within it. The collaboration between NUS Chinese Drama and NUS Chinese Orchestra as part of NUS Arts Festival (2023) demonstrated that diverse art forms can be fused to culminate in an authentic performance. This metadrama cheerfully subverts traditional roles of actor and musician within a theatrical production, requiring both to interact as the plot unfolds.

Darren, Vice President and actor in NUS Chinese Drama, says, “The project was inspired by an article that highlighted the public's perception of arts as non-essential during the pandemic. Through our performance, we sought to provoke our audience to reflect on the significance and meaning of art in their lives.”

While the team faced challenges in achieving precise synchronisation between the actors and musicians, it was “an empowering process which reminded us of the importance of open communication,” Darren says.

 

Outstanding Community Arts Project of the Year: Helping Hands, Moving Bodies 3.0 by NUS Dance Synergy

Building on the lessons learned from previous iterations of the programme, NUS Dance Synergy worked with Anglican Senior Centre and NTUC Health Senior Activity Centre for Helping Hands, Moving Bodies 3.0, an expanded community dance programme for seniors.

Over several sessions, students choreographed and taught groups of seniors a simple contemporary dance routine designed with their specific physical and cognitive abilities in mind.

On his decision to volunteer in the programme, Edrick says, “It was a meaningful opportunity to share my passion in dancing with others, especially the elderly who are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles.” The programme proved to be a source of valuable learning and meaningful intergenerational interaction through the arts for both the students and beneficiaries.

The Tan Ean Kiam Arts Awards honour the best of our NUS Arts Groups who have raised the artistic bar and contributed to the growth of the creative arts in NUS and the wider community. The NUS Achievement Awards (NAA), formerly known as the Student Life Awards, is a prestigious University-level award which recognises the outstanding achievements of our students beyond academics.

Once again, congratulations to our students! We hope that you will continue to develop yourselves holistically and contribute to a vibrant campus community!

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