Educational Kit: MEPAAN by SCO (SG) and Tuyang Initiative (Sarawak, Borneo – MY)

Arts House Limited Organises

MEPAAN

by Singapore Chinese Orchestra (Singapore) and Tuyang Initiative (Sarawak, Borneo - Malaysia)

20 – 22 May, Fri – Sun 8pm Pasir Panjang Power Station

1h15m, no intermission Rating: General

Photo credit: Sean Lee

EDUCATION KIT For ages 13 and up

MEPAAN–meaningalwaysintheKayan languageoftheindigenousKayanpeopleof Borneo–isasonicandvisualtripintothe wellspring of spiritual and cultural nuance embeddedinSoutheastAsiannativeculture.

MEPAAN SIFA.SG

In a breathtaking performance, stirring strains of indigenous music and vocal tradition from Southeast Asia’s island nations are woven into a fabric of powerful orchestral compositions, evoking grand ritual and ceremony to transport the mind into the pristine rainforests of Southeast Asia.

HOW TO USE THIS KIT

This kit is designed for deeper engagement and discussion with the performance of MEPAAN. Divided into four sections, it comes with guiding questions, suggested activities and links for further exploration on the subject and themes presented in the show:

BEFORE THE SHOW Pre-show preparation to understand the context

DURING THE SHOW Questions to think about while watching the show

AFTER THE SHOW Areflectiveexercisetojot down your thoughts

POST-SHOW ACTIVITY For further exploration on thesubject,topicorthemes

Helmed by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in collaboration with Tuyang Initiative – a Sarawakbased creative agency focused on Borneo indigenous cultural heritage – MEPAAN delves into dynamic new dimensions with astounding design interventions.

Local fashion designer Max Tan creates the costumes, weaving the ethereal with the earth connecting bodies in rapt musical and physical exprssion, with fabric and design Singaporean Sean Lee’s photography and Sarawak-based indigenous film-maker Harry Frederick capture through their unique individual lens and artistic approaches the anatomical landscape and cultural history embodied in indigenous bodies and lived spaces.

The imagination of set designer Wong Chee Wai and lighting designer Andy Lim collectively Vevoke the surreal grandeur of the work set within the cavernous halls of Pasir Panjang Power Station, as multimedia artist Brian Gothong Tan takes the entire experience into transcendencewith his visual treatment.

Directed by Natalie Hennedige, MEPAAN is set to thrill audiences in an arresting evening of music, beauty and transcendence.

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BEFORE THE SHOW

PASIR PANJANG POWER STATION MEPAAN (pronounced as Mer-pahn) is a performance held in a very unusual venue, the Pasir Panjang Power Station.

Let’s watch this short video to find out more about the space:

What are some places where you have watched a live performance before?

I have ben to.

Click or Scan here

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In what ways is the Pasir Panjang Power Station similar or different from the usual places you have watched performances in?

Similarites:

ifferences:

I think having a perfomance in a place like the Pasir Panjang Power Station is…

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MEPAAN Education Kit

THE

KAYAN PEOPLE

BEFORE THE SHOW

OF

BORNEO

Try searching for more information about the Kayan people from Borneo. What did you discover?

You can sketch, describe or attach photos of your findings below:

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The title of the performance, MEPAAN, means “always” in the Kayan language. The Kayan people are indigenous of Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, and they have a very rich history and culture.

If someone was to ask you about the Kayan people and culture, how would you describe them?

The Kayan people and culture are...

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MEPAAN Education Kit

BEFORE THE SHOW

MEPAAN

is a performance that features music performed by the

SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA (SCO)

Let’s try to find out more about the instruments that are commonly used by musicians in the SCO:

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Try completing the instruments matrix below to see how well you know the instruments – bonus points if you managed to find sound clips or videos of the instruments being played!

I t s o u n d s l i ke …

O

NA

It is speci

al

be

ca us

SU

ER

Click or Scan here

It is pl a

ye

d

u si

ng

YA

e…

N

IN GQ

It looks like …

to…

minded m I t re eo f

N

O LU

I t i s d i ff e re n t

f

ro m

YA

DI

I

UM

It is similar

…

Z

DR

N

HU

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BA

is…

PI

P

…

it

A

n ’t k n o w I did tha t

I t i s i n t e re

sti

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…

E

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use …

Arts House Limited Organises

MEPAAN Education Kit

DURING THE SHOW

READ THESE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY before the performance starts, and remember to pay close attention while you are watching so you do not miss out on any details:

1 SIFA.SG

Close your eyes and listen closely to the music that is being played.

How would you describe the mood and atmosphere it creates? How does the music make you feel?

2

Now, watch the performance and notice all the visual details that you can see.

Do any of the details look like something you have seen before, such as a place, an object or a person?

Photo credit: Sean Lee

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3

Look at the way the performers move on stage.

What do their movements remind you of? What do you think they are trying to convey in their movements?

Photo credit: Sean Lee

4

Notice the instruments that are being used by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra

5

Which is your favourite part of the performance and why?

What are some of the instruments that you recognise? How do they sound when played together?

MEPAAN Education Kit

NOW THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS OVER,

AFTER AFTER THE THE SHOW SHOW

Write down what you have noticed to answer the questions above, or a simple reflection of your thoughts about the performance.

SIFA.SG SIFA.SG

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MEPAAN Education Kit

CULTURE HERITAGE SITE

IS THERE A

OR

POSTSHOW ACTIVITY

YOU WILL BE INTERESTED TO EXPLORE MORE?

Create an audio-visual record or diary about it – use the following to help you:

1

CHOOSE A SITE/CULTURE • Why did you choose this site/culture?

• What is so special about it, and what makes it interesting to you?

2

DOCUMENT AND TAKE PHOTOS

• Find old and new photos of the site or the culture online, or take your own photos if you can.

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• Compare all the photos, and try to see how much has changed or remained the same over the years.

• What comes to your mind? Write down your thoughts.

3

• Gather all these photos for your visual presentation later.

MAKE A VISUAL PRESENTATION OF WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN WITH ACCOMPANYING MUSIC

• Look at your photo collection – is there a song or a piece of music that you feel can go best with the photos you have gathered?

• Think about the mood or atmosphere you want to create as you choose your music.

• Why do you think this music is most suitable?

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4

SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND GET EACH OTHER TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVOURITE PRESENTATION! MEPAAN Education Kit

WORDS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU DIVERSE

CULTURE

CONVEY

Showing a great deal of variety

The way of life, customs and beliefs of a particular group of people at a particular time.

To express a thought, feeling or idea so that others can understand.

RITUAL

The same way of doing something or an action every time.

VISUAL

A picture, photograph or film used to give a particular effect, or to explain something.

RECORD

Information that is kept, written or stored.

People who originally lived in a place, rather than people who moved there from somewhere else.

The feelings created at a particular time.

A place created in the past that has historical importance.

ATMOSPHERE

AUDIO-VISUAL The use of recorded pictures and sound.

The character, feeling or mood of a place or situation.

COMMUNICATE Share information by speaking, writing, moving the body, or using other signals; to talk about feelings and thoughts and help others understand them.

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INDIGENOUS

HERITAGE SITE

MOOD

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION

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Pasir Panjang Power Station

The Tuyang Initiative

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra

Click or Scan here

Click or Scan here

Click or Scan here

Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) As Singapore’s annual pinnacle performing arts festival, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) presents captivating and diverse works across theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts. First launched as the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977, the festival has gone through several evolutions and inspired generations of arts lovers and practitioners.

Under the helm of Festival Director Natalie Hennedige from 2022 to 2024, SIFA will focus on performance and creation in the physical and online space, around the theme The AnatomyofPerformance.

Today, the highly anticipated festival is a high point on Singapore’s arts and cultural calendar.

SIFA continues its festival mission to champion the creation and presentation of Singaporean and international works.

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#SIFA2022 We can’t wait to welcome you at SIFA. Share with the world (and us!) what you are most excited to see at this year’s festival, or your photos and videos of your favourite SIFA festival moment. sifa.sg

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Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL is the cultural place manager of Singapore’s Civic District. It manages two key national monuments – The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs performing arts space Drama Centre as well as three creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses – the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre and Stamford Arts Centre.

AHL organises the Singapore International Festival of Arts – an annual pinnacle performing arts festival; as well as the Singapore Writers Festival – a multilingual festival presenting the world’s leading literary talents.

In addition, AHL manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House. AHL was set up in 11 December 2002 as a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council and was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 March 2014.

Formoreinformation,visit artshouselimited.sg

TICKETING INFO FOR SCHOOL BOOKINGS

Engage your students in the arts at SIFA with our special deals for schools.

CONCESSIONS SIFA offers 20%* off ticket purchases to local and international students. *Applicabletoselectedticketcategoriesandprogrammes

TOTE BOARD ARTS GRANT For selected programmes, government schools may enjoy subsidies up to 50% of the ticket price. Applicable for Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Centralised Institute and Institute of Technical Educations (ITE) levels.

Special Education Schools may use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 70% of the programme cost. For more details on school bookings or Tote Board Arts Grant, please email sifatickets@artshouse.sg.

SCHOOL BOOKING DEALS For every 20 students tickets purchased, 1x complimentary ticket provided for the teacher.

CONTACT US

For further enquiries on programmes or education kits, please contact meganlee@artshouse.sg.

For group bookings, please contact sifatickets@artshouse.sg.

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To read more about the Tote Board Arts Grant, visit tinyurl.com/nac-Tote-Board-Arts-Grant.

For more information on the festival, visit sifa.sg.

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