Arts guide: Oct 25 to Nov 2

SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL 2014. The annual literary event focuses on the theme of Beauty and will feature around 250 events and a line-up that includes 200 international and Singapore writers. Among these are: Paul Theroux, Raymond Feist, Naomi Wolf, Karen Joy Fowler, Barry Lopez, David Hine and Su Tong. Oct 31 to Nov 9, various times and venues. For details, visit https://www.singaporewritersfestival.com.

SINGAPURA: 700 YEARS. A journey through Singapore’s history from the 14th century onwards. This immersive exhibition comprises six sections: Archaeology in Singapore, Ancient Singapore (1300–1818), Colonial Singapore (1819–1942), Syonan-To (1942–1945), Road to Merdeka (1946–1965) and Independent Singapore (1965–1975). Oct 28 to Aug 10, 2015 at Exhibition Galleries 1 and 2, Basement, National Museum of Singapore.

STUTTGART BALLET: ONEGIN. The Esplanade’s da:ns Series presents the renowned ballet company performing this ballet by John Cranko based on Alexander Pushkin’s landmark eponymous poem. With the music of Tchaikovsky performed by the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra. Oct 31 and Nov 1, 8pm, Esplanade Theatre. With a 3pm Sat matinee. Tickets from S$60 at SISTIC.

RUN ANOTHER WAY 2014. The gallery becomes the setting for this showcase of new works-in-progress from RAW Moves’ dancer-choreographers. Heather Ou, Matthew Goh and Melyn Chow look at the worlds of loss and mortality, with music from guest sound artist Ho Wen Yang and mentorship by artistic director Ricky Sim. Oct 30 to Nov 1, 8pm, Artspace222, 222 Queen Street. With a 3pm Saturday matinee. Tickets at S$18 from rawmoves.tix [at] gmail.com or 9668 0870.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA. Players Theatre re-imagines the classic fairytale—and there’s a giant robot, too. Nov 1 to 9, noon, Ulu Pandan CC Theatrette. With an extra 10am Saturday show. Tickets at S$30 from SISTIC.

HOP AND HONK — THE UGLY DUCKLING AND THE FROG PRINCE. I Theatre brings together these two iconic children’s book characters. How did the prince turn into a frog and who did the ugly duckling meet when she ran away? Oct 29 to Nov 15, various times, Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets at S$30 and S$32 from SISTIC.

JUNIOR CLAUS. Singapore Repertory Theatre’s new children’s production about Junior Claus, the rebellious heir to the immense empire in the North Pole who runs away and leaves the workshop to the greedy elf Grumpo. Oct 31 to Dec 14, various times, DBS Arts Centre — Home of SRT. Tickets from S$32 at SISTIC.

QUEEN - IT’S A KINDA MAGIC. This music spectacle recreates Queen’s 1986 World Tour concert and features the band’s greatest hits such as We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions. Nov 1, 8pm, Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. Tickets from S$55 at SISTIC.

DIRECTORS’ LAB SHARING SESSION. Tan Shou Chen, Agnes Christina, Tan Liting, Eng Kai Er, Pat Toh, and Tim Nga discuss their works as part of the final phase of their 18-month residency for The Substation’s Directors’ Lab programme. Oct 29 to 31, 8pm, The Substation Theatre. Free admission. Register at directorslab [at] substation.org.

SPEAKEASY #15: JOSHUA IP AND JOEL TAN. The latest instalment of the regular reading presents poet Joshua Ip and playwright Joel Tan. Oct 29, 8pm, Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang.

THE GOLDEN LEAF. An exhibition by Julio Etchart, Dr Li Yi and Tom White that explores contemporary and historical issues in Myanmar. Until Nov 15, 11am to 7pm, Objectifs — Centre of Photography and Filmmaking, 56A Arab Street. Free admission.

WEAVING VIEWPOINT. A group exhibition featuring 11 Singaporean and Korean artists: Seeun Ahn, Wonjung Choi, Youngjun Choi, Kira Kim, Urich Lau, Justin Lee, Seungah Lee, Jinhyun Park, Shinyoung Park, Sangjun Roh and Grace Tan. The exhibition is part of Korea Festival 2014. Until Nov 16 at Space Cottonseed, Gillman Barracks, 47 Malan Road, #01-24. Free admission.

HISASHI TENMYOUYA X INDIEGUERILLAS. Japanese and Indonesian cultures meet in this contemporary art exhibition. Until Nov 30, 11am to 6pm, at Mizuma Gallery, Gillman Barracks, 22 Lock Road, #01-34. Free admission.

YAYOI KUSAMA: PRINTS. A showcase of limited edition screenprints and etchings over the past two decades by the esteemed Japanese artist. Oct 25 to Nov 22, 11am to 7pm, Ota Fine Arts, Gillman Barracks, 7 Lock Road, #02-13. Free admission.

BAMBANG ‘TOKO’ WITJAKSONO: BATIKKOMIK. The Indonesian artist’s first solo show in Singapore comprises works that experiment with the techniques of traditional batik making. Oct 31 to Nov 30, noon to 7pm, Equator Art Projects, Gillman Barracks, 47 Malan Road, #01-21. Free admission. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.

AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES. An exhibition as part of the Singapore International Photography Festival and in partnership with the Noorderlicht International Photofestival in Netherlands, it comprises 250 photographs from 30 artists from 20 countries. Oct 31 to Dec 28 at ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands.

MIA&D FAIR. The Milan Image Art Fair opens its first international edition here, which showcases photography, video and design, and features 120 artists from 50 international art galleries from 30 countries. Until Oct 26, 11am to 8pm, Marina Bay Sands, Expo & Convention Centre. Tickets at S$27 and S$37 (two-day pass) from SISTIC.

THE BEST OF YOU. An exhibition of submissions from Julie’s Biscuit’s The Best Of You campaign as well as sharing sessions by Kumar and Michelle Chong, an edible art installation by Janice Wong, film screenings of works by the likes of Royston Tan and more. Until Oct 26, 11am to 9pm, Marina Square, Central Atrium. Free admission.

BODY OF WORK. Photographer Tan Ngiap Heng’s latest solo show comprises a few series and a video installation that look at dancers and the body. Until Nov 2, 10am to 10pm, ION Art Gallery, Level 4, ION Orchard, Free admission.

FROZEN. Pangdemonium’s latest production is Bryony Lavery’s award-winning and hard-hitting piece revolving around the mother of a 10-year-old who went missing years ago, a psychiatrist with a controversial theory about serial killers, and a serial killer who is also a paedophile. Stars Karen Tan, Janice Koh and Adrian Pang, and directed by Tracie Pang. Until Nov 9, 8pm, Esplanade Theatre Studio. With 3pm weekend matinees. Tickets at S$35 AND S$40 from SISTIC. Advisory 16: Mature theme & coarse language.

MANNER OF SPITTING. An exhibition on acts and interventions in public spaces around the heartlands of Tiong Bahru. Curated by Justin Loke and featuring Asanul Nazryn, Samuel Chen, Fish Jafaar, Clement Liang, Juhardy Mohd, Lim Cheng Jun, LIYU, Joshua Yang, Yang Jie, Black Baroque Committee, Mission:SG, Vertical Submarine. Until Nov 4, 1pm to 7pm, Grey Projects, 6B Kim Tian Road, Tiong Bahru. Free admission.

LIMINAL. A solo show by Andre Wee that deal with themes of space. Until Nov 6, noon to 7pm, Galerie Sogan & Art, 16 Mohamed Sultan Road. Free admission.

BUDI DAYA. A special exhibition featuring 19 artists and 57 artefacts, including 18 new commissions that explore notions of “culture” from a Malay perspective. Includes paintings, sculptures, installations, embroidery, performance, architecture and video art. Until March 29, 2015, 10am to 6pm, Malay Heritage Centre. Closed on Mondays.

POPCORN COMBO. Singapore artist Andre Tan’s latest collection of movie-themed paintings inspired by the exhibition’s venue. Until Nov 1, 11am to 7pm, The Cathay Gallery, 2 Handy Road #02-16. Free admission. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

PATH. 6, UNPACKING MY LIBRARY. Boedi Widjaja’s exhibition is part of an ongoing series where he uses drawing, printmaking, video, installation and live art to create a home in the city. It takes off from the gesture of selecting a book from the artist, his father and his daughter’s personal libraries to build a private one. Until Jan 4, 2015 at Jendela Visual Arts Space, The Esplanade. Free admission.

FISH UMBRELLA. A group show from the Visual Studies staff of the Faculty for the Creative Industries that respond to notions of the absurd. Artists include Erzan Adam, Chen Chin Tyng, Edmund Chia, Rashid Gapur, Sawn Hwang, Urich Lau, Eugene Lee, Serena Loke, Zarina Muhammad, Nadia Oh, Zaki Razak, Janet Teoh. Until Oct 26, 10am to 6pm, Praxis Space and Project Space, LASALLE College of the Arts. Free admission. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.

KHOO SUI HOE: AN OVERVIEW PART I. The first of a two-part major show by the Malaysian painter and NAFA graduate who is known for his surreal stylization of masks, figures and landscapes. It comprises 25 paintings from his private collection. Until Dec 14 at The Private Museum, Waterloo Street #02-06. Free admission.

STILL MOVING. The Singapore Art Museum’s latest exhibition is a triple-bill that focuses on photography and new media: Afterimage, a survey of South-east Asian contemporary photography in collaboration with the Singapore International Photography Festival; Time Present, a showcase of works from the Deutsche Bank Collection; and Image & Illusion, a small selection of video works from the Yokohama Museum Of Art. Until Feb 8 at SAM@8Q, 8 Queen Street.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL 2014. The biennial event is back, feature more than 800 works at a handful of exhibitions at various venues including the new DECK space at Prinsep Street and ArtScience Museum. Its anchor show, the Open Call Showcase, comprises 47 photography portfolios from 23 countries. Until Nov 11 at various places including DECK at 51 Prinsep Street. Festival passes at S$50 (S$30 for students) at Eventbrite or the festival office. http://www.sipf.sg.

DISAPPEARANCE AND FORMATION. Japanese artist Shinji Ohmaki continues his Echoes-Crystallisation series comprising images of floral motifs, this time incorporating the traditional Filipino ensemble of the barong and saya. Until Oct 26 at The Drawing Room, Gillman Barracks, 5 Lock Road, #01-06. Free admission.

THE REIGN OF QUANTITY. British artist Peter Peri’s first solo show in Singapore features new paintings that elaborate on French writer Rene Guenon’s explanation of the Taoist conception of the three dimensional right-angled cross. Here, a single marker pen colour becomes the subject of each painting that builds up into parallel lines that cover the length of the canvas. Until Nov 9, 11am to 7pm, Pearl Lam Galleries, Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road, #03-22. Free admission. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.

THEATRICAL FIELDS. The latest exhibition at the CCA looks at artistic practices that use theatricality in performance, film and video. It coincides with the ongoing Singapore International Festival Of Arts and will feature major video installations by Judith Barry, Stan Douglas, Joan Jonas, Isaac Julien and Constanze Ruhm. Until Nov 2 at Centre for Contemporary Art Exhibition Centre, Gillman Barracks, 43 Malan Road. Free admission.

TELLING TALES. A solo show by Malaysian artist Shia Yih Yiing that moves through art history and the recent past, from known to imagined social topographies. Curated by Shireen Naziree. Until Nov 2, 11am to 7pm, Chan Hampe Galleries, Raffles Hotel Arcade #01-21. Free admission.