SPECIAL EVENT
In their work Into Still Life, the notion of “still life”, typically reserved for depicting inanimate objects, evolves into a rich exploration that transcends familiar forms. An oxymoron arises as “still” and “life”—terms often seen as opposites, with stillness suggesting an absence of motion and life embodying endless change—merge into a relationship that surpasses conventional boundaries.
Into Still Life embodies this paradox, illustrating how life emerges within stillness and stillness within life. It invites us to observe the delicate dance between these two forces, reflecting the Eastern philosophy of yin and yang. Yin, embodying stillness, and yang, embodying movement, represent dualities that are not merely oppositional but symbiotic. Each holds the essence of the other, underscoring the interconnectedness and rhythm of existence.
The essence of this philosophy reflects how opposing elements are, in reality, deeply interconnected. The balance between yin and yang captures the harmony between stillness and motion, where each aspect is not only shaped by its counterpart but also sustained by it. Through this lens, the performance becomes a meditation on life’s cyclical nature, where moments of quiet are interwoven with movement, each nurturing the other.
Into Still Life invites the audience to uncover the profound within the ordinary—the quiet objects, moments, and experiences that often go unnoticed. It is a call to mindfulness, encouraging us to cultivate awareness of life’s subtleties and embrace the transformative power of stillness. This practice of mindfulness serves as a path to well-being, reminding us that true balance emerges not only through movement and change but also through the ability to dwell in stillness, to pause, observe, and simply be. In these quiet spaces, we reconnect with life’s deeper currents, finding solace and clarity beyond the rush of constant activity.
This interpretation reflects a unique adaptation of Shaman Tearoom’s 2022 exhibition performance Still Life, reimagined here to focus on well-being in the intimate setting of ArtScience Museum’s gallery. Incorporating music composition, acoustic instruments, spoken word, and vocal improvisation with a digital audio workstation (DAW), the performance culminates in a tea ceremony that gently underscores themes of reflection, balance and connection.
Into Still Life is presented as part of ArtScience Encounters: m—a, a micro season of performances inviting an emptying, grounding and centring of oneself.
Date & Time
29 Nov: 7pm – 7.45pm
30 Nov: 2pm – 2.45pm & 7pm – 7.45pm
Aiwei Foo is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in Fine Art and Fashion Design. Her creative process focuses on the mundane aspects of everyday life where she explores the sustainable and mindful integration of art into everyday existence. She works with limitations in various disciplines, including visual arts, photography, moving images/video works, performance art, music, texts, textile, tea ceremony and food.
Kent Lee, a self-taught sound artist and musician, has a penchant for exploring diverse artistic disciplines. Driven by an affinity for the experimental side of music, he adeptly blends acoustic sounds with electronic gadgetry, prioritising improvisation over rigid compositions. With an extensive portfolio, Kent has composed, recorded and performed for dance and musical theatre productions.
Shaman Tearoom has participated in local and international exhibitions/performance such as the inaugural Singapore Ceramics Now! 2021 as part of Singapore Art Week’s programmes, and also took part as the international collaborator for the London Architecture Festival 2021. In 2022, they took part in Buka Buku exhibition, an international collaborative project led by artists and curators in Wales and China, exhibited in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Their video works were showcased at The Body Language exhibition in Venice, Italy and Blackout, a screening in Berlin, Germany. In the same year, they also had their first solo exhibition performance Still Life which unfolded across a month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At ITBA (Islands Time-Based Art Festival), they were invited to present their new solo piece during Singapore Art Week 2023. As a sound healing practitioner, they conducted sound bath sessions as part of the programme at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2023. In 2024, they were invited to perform at the Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts in Singapore and showcase a new performance piece along with video works at the Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale at the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
EVENT
SPECIAL EVENT
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