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Para Site is excited to announce Another Word for Silence, an afternoon of talks and panel discussions in preparation for A Luxury We Cannot Afford, an exhibition opening at Para Site on September 18, 2015. The programme features art critic Lee Weng Choy, artist Cheo Chai-Hiang, playwright Tan Tarn How, poet Ng Yi-Sheng and writer Isa Kamari, all members of the research committee for A Luxury We Cannot Afford. The silence referred to in the title is the illusion maintained by Singaporean mainstream society that ignores various pitches and frequencies outside of the official, Sino-centric and heterosexual noise.
For the first talk, The Myth of the Lazy Native, writer and Singapore Cultural Medallion winner Isa Kamari will speak on the alternate historical narrative portrayed by the Malay Muslims in Singapore. Isa will also expand on the works by sociologist Syed Hussein Alatas (1927- 2007), such as The Myth of The Lazy Native (1977) and Thomas Stamford Raffles: Schemer or Reformer? (1972), which formed a critical precursor to Isa’s own writing as well as to the field of post-colonial anti-imperialist literature.
In the second session, writer and gay rights activist Ng Yi-Sheng will explore a contradiction within the contemporary LGBT culture: that of being heard and being deliberately ignored. Ng will look at the history of LGBT culture in Singapore from the 1960s to the present day. He will also expand on why the increasing democratization and growing awareness of LGBT culture in Singapore still does not translate to favourable political changes.
The day’s programme will end with a panel discussion with Cheo Chai-Hiang, Isa Kamari, Lee Weng Choy, Ng Yi-Sheng and Tan Tarn How. Looking at the strategies and negotiations that occurred under the Singaporean government, this panel will speak of the struggles of contemporary art and sustaining a healthy art ecology within a heavily institutionalized environment.
2:30 – 3:15 pm: The Myth Of the Lazy Native, Isa Kamari
3:15 – 4:00 pm: Background Vocals: Queerness and Singaporean Mainstream Culture, Ng Yi-Sheng
4:00 – 5:30pm: Another Word for Silence Panel Discussion, Cheo Chai-Hiang, Isa Kamari, Lee Weng Choy, Ng Yi-Sheng and Tan Tarn How. Moderated by Qinyi Lim, Curator of A Luxury We Cannot Afford.
Language: English
Para Site is financially supported by the Springboard Grant under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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The content of this activity does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Para Site fully supports the democratic aspirations of the people of Hong Kong.