Ever wonder what magic would art films bring? There are many forms of art. Some of which include dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Film on the other hand has so many different genres, such as romance, action, adventure and more.
Well, you are up for a treat as National Gallery Singapore is hosting Painting with Light 2021. This year marks its fourth edition of the event. From now till July 25th, head down to National Gallery Singapore and look out for a hybrid format of online and on-site screenings across the spaces in the gallery.
Painting with Light 2021
Painting with Light: Festival of International Films on Art is a film festival that happens annually and presented by National Gallery Singapore. The festival is dedicated to films of artistic practices, institutions of art, and moments in art history that is still relevant till this day.
Themed ‘origin stories’, this year’s festival celebrated the spirit of experimentation in artmaking. The films selected for the festival dives into how the urge to create something new opens more possibilities for practices.
Programmes
There are a total of 7 programmes lined-up for the event. Each programme will cover a different aspect of art that is relevant today. Let’s take a look at some the programmes in store for us!
Special Focus
This year, Special Focus centres on Something New Might Turn Up: Six Singaporean Artists After 1965. It is a joint exhibition of six presentations at the gallery. A film anthology entitled: ABSTRACTIONS: Filmic Readings of the Something New Might Turn Up Exhibition expands in the exhibition.
The anthology consists of six short films by Singapore filmmakers as a response to the practise of an artist that is featured in the exhibition: The six films include:
- Axis by Ryan Benjamin Lee
- One After Another by Chew Chai Shao Min
- Void and More by Toh Hun Ping
- Mystic and Momok by Russell Morton
- Quest or Quest by Chong Lii
- Wanderings by Gladys Ng and Ng Hui Hsien
Venue: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium
Time and Date: Saturday, July 24th, 2021: 2.00pm | Sunday, July 25th, 2021: 2.00pm
Admission: $10.00
Evenings on the Terrace
Evenings on the Terrace will feature two films that offer a mix of the popular and the artistic of the Supreme Court Terrace. The two films featured will be Talking the Pictures / Katsuben! By Suo Masayuki and Serendipity by Prune Nourry.
Talking the Pictures is a coming-of-age comedy that follow the character Shuntaro Someya, a petty thief who dreams of becoming a famous benshi, just like his idol Shusei Yamaoka. However, life does not go his way and he has to deal with several issues along the way such as his boss, his slave-driver wife, a projectionist and other vocal performers.
Serendipity addressed the question of ‘What is the role of art in human illness and suffering?’ through a dive into the life and work of Prune Nourry. The film shows how she embraces the elements of chance and uncertainty in her practice.
Venue: Supreme Court Terrace
Time and Date: Friday, July 23rd, 2021: 7.30pm | Saturday, July 24th, 2021: 7.30pm
Admission: $10.00
Ways of Seeing
This next programme will feature a total of four movies such as A Cinema Prayer by Andrey A. Tarkovsky, Cunningham by Alla Kovgan, Lumiere The Adventure of Cinema Begins by Thiertty Fremaux, and What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael.
A Cinema Prayer features Tarkovsky’s views on art, artist in contemporary society and the meaning of human existence. The film was also premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2019. Cunningham by Alla Kovgan goes along the lines of the artistic development of renowned choreographer Merce Cunningham. It features some of Cunningham’s most memorable performances and collaborations.
Lumiere! The Adventure of Cinema Begins is a documentary that draws viewers into starting conversations on the Lumiere brothers’ iconic films. The film also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 and it has been selected for several international film festival as well.
Finally, What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael portrays a profile of Kael putting together her words from interview recordings and published writings. The film was also featured at the Telluride Film Festival 2018, Berlin and Hong Kong International Film Festival 2019.
Venue: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium
Time and Date: Friday, July 9th, 2021: 7.30pm | Saturday, July 18th, 2021: 7.30pm
Admission: $10.00
Apart from these programmes, you can also check out other programmes over at their website. If you are huge fan of films and the arts, Painting with Light 2021 is definitely an event you must visit.
