O.P.E.N. your minds

SINGAPORE — Take a walk around Iranian photojournalist Newsha Tavakolian’s exhibition I Know Why The Rebel Sings, and you might be surprised by one of the scenes that greet you — a smattering of blacked out photographs are plastered on a wall, accompanied by their normal counterparts.

According to Ong Keng Sen, Festival Director of the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2016 (SIFA), these photographs were darkened because the Media Development Authority (MDA) had issues with them. Thirty-one photos were disallowed.

“These photographs were already circulated in Singapore in the April 13 issue of TIME Magazine ... it was very surprising to me because these photographs were of women fighting the terrorism of ISIS,” said Ong.

In response to TODAY’s queries, an MDA spokesman said some of the photographs submitted included photographs of members from a terrorist-linked organisation, who had committed acts of violence to further their cause.

“Singapore takes a firm stand against extremism, and will not allow photographs that undermine public order, national security and/or stability to be displayed,” said the spokesman, adding that SIFA was informed of the concerns with the photos as soon as it was determined that they depicted members from a terrorist-linked organisation.

The spokesman also pointed out that MDA does not pre-vet publications that are sold in Singapore. “MDA will review the contents of the said issue of Time magazine.”

The decision to place the photographs on the wall anyway is a testament to what SIFA’s pre-festival The O.P.E.N. hopes to do and achieve. The festival, which started on Wednesday (June 22), is a public engagement initiative by SIFA — O.P.E.N stands for Open, Participate, Engage, Negotiate — to encourage a shift in attitude and increased awareness among audiences, by profiling courageous individuals who have acted as change agents and inspiring role models in challenging circumstances.

This theme of potentialities is highlighted through both the selected works and the artists behind them. The 43 programmes lined up for the next few weeks (it ends its run on July 9) showcase the world of pop, fashion, design, architecture, photojournalism, film — and even clubbing.

For Tavakolian’s exhibition for example, which spans two storeys at TheatreWorks and is curated by London-based independent curator Vali Mahlouji, the line between art and photojournalism is blurred as viewers are shown the dire aspects of war and genital mutilation in the Middle East and Africa. Presented in a combination of life-sized photographs hung from the ceiling and smaller ones placed in a zigzagging manner on illuminated narrow platforms across the room, the images are visually arresting explorations into the indomitable human spirit.

Yasser Mroué, the protagonist in Rabih Mroué’s mixed-media theatre piece Riding On A Cloud — one of the highlights of O.P.E.N. — also shows the depth of human tenacity as a maimed survivor of the Lebanese civil war.

Speaking at the launch, Ong said: “This festival addresses how we can make the future less grim by looking at the potentials in the disastrous situation the world is in right now. We focused on several aspects of the world including terrorism, radical Islam, migration, financial crisis. Every year we are told constantly that we are on the brink of a financial crisis — we try to spin a different narrative, we try to look at the world positively, with a sense of beauty and optimism.”

The potentialities of old forgotten sites in Singapore are also addressed in Club Malam, which is inspired by Singapore’s night scenes of the 1940s and 1950s. Artists from Singapore, Jogjakarta and Germany, such as Speak Cryptic and Senyawa, will transform the iconic Old Kallang Airport into an explosive rave where music, digital media, installations and performances collide and interact.

Aligning with the overarching theme of diversity and potentiality, the headlining act of The O.P.E.N. is Uyghur rocker Perhat Khaliq, who performed with his band Qetiq in both Uyghur and Mandarin on Thursaday, and will be performing another show on Friday. Perhat became an overnight international star with his powerful vocals and emotionally-charged performances, after he auditioned for reality show The Voice of China. Through his performances and music, Perhat, who was the show’s runner-up eventually, was able to increase awareness about China’s minority Uyghur community and change the way his community is perceived.

Festival organisers said they hope that with their selection of artists and works, they will be able to encourage a shift from insular thinking to an open mindedness where people can relate to different traditions and practices.

Elaborating why he felt this approach was crucial, especially for a Singapore audience. Ong said: “I think it is very important for a small country like Singapore to have a culture of openness rather than fear. There are very important takeaways (from O.P.E.N.). It is not about HDBs and CPF, it is not direct in that sense but it is direct to our sense of self-worth.

“The Singapore audience has to realise that we are not isolated. Today, we all have a loved one working or living in other parts of the world so it is very important for us to know more about the world.”

O.P.E.N. runs until July 9. The Singapore International Festival of Arts is set to run from Aug 11 to Sept 17.