"Each object
is a "mirror of all others." Our perception of the object through all perspectives
is not that of a propositional, or clearly delineated, perception. Rather,
it is an ambiguous perception founded upon the body's primordial involvement
and understanding of the world and of the meanings that constitute the landscape's
perceptual gestalt." (Wikipedia text on philosopher Maurice Merleau Ponty)
This
concept has no function, does not provide a clear or fixed image about a work,
but has an ambiguous, subjective character. Therefore you could say that it's
a continuation, an existential movement, part of an unfinished work, a 'philosophical
intervention'. It is my strong believe that there is no in between 'things'
so a work of art does not exist as a scientific object. Edwin
Stolk
Is
a call for the censorship of expression actually bad for a community?
Is it in fact in the interest of a single group of people to decide what
ideas are acceptable, and what ideas are not?
a "rhizome"
embodies the model of a seemingly chaotic, non-hierarchical thinking which
can be interrupted at any time and then be continued elsewhere
to
live well is to fully express one's power, to go to the limits of one's potential,
rather than to judge what exists by non-empirical, transcendent standards.
With
globalization permeating deeper into the core of our everyday living, there
are bound to be winners and losers. The sophisticated allure of a global playground
- where instant gratification, connectedness, and universality have mostly prevailed
- constantly seduces the masses into the global vernacular. This global power
struggle inevitably eliminates many age-old traditions and culture that, in
the past, had been a guiding light and a reflection of our cultural identity.
What happens then, when something as important as the art of Chinese opera is
on the losing end of this cultural deterritorialization? How then, can we remember
the stories our forefathers had to share with us? How can we boldly proceed
forward if our cultural identities are slowly fading with the dying of the light?
Commonpeople is proud to present our first mini documentary. We hooked up with
local director Royston Tan who got us backstage VIP style to observe and interview
the members of the Sin Sai Hong Opera Troupe—the oldest Hokkien opera company
in Singapore. Backstage, they share with us their stories, creative processes,
and sadly, a losing battle they are fighting to keep the trade of Chinese opera
alive in Singapore.
