As ancient as human civilization, myths are what this year’s edition of Stories That Matter turns its eye to, taking a look at how they play out in our lives through photography and film. The annual programme by non-profit arts organization Objectifs explores issues in non-fiction visual storytelling, and its fourth year examines the role of mythic traditions in national, political, and cultural narratives.
On the line-up, four indie documentary screenings, one seminar, two panel discussions, and an outdoor exhibition feature this year, with highlights like the Singapore premieres of Army by Kelvin Kyung Kun Park, and Ex-Shaman by Luiz Bolognesi. The former chronicles the life of a young man serving his country as he struggles with maintaining individuality in community, while the latter, directed by an anthropologist-turned-filmmaker, delves into ethnocide in Brazil, where a former shaman attempts to alleviate his village’s suffering after the people have been modernized by the outside world.
Also look out for works by local artists like Daniel Hui, whose film Snakeskin brings viewers to the year 2066, where one sole survivor paints a picture of his country’s traumatic history, and Robert Zhao Renhui, whose exhibition The Land Archive displays mythic scenes of Singapore from past and the future.
If you’d like to stick around for deeper discussions, Singaporean artists Loo Zihan, Zarina Muhammad, Nurul Huda, and Hui will be participating in a panel on myths in art-making, while Zhao, Ore Huiying, and Tom White converse about images and how they affect our perceptions. Then there’s the seminar by South Korean filmmaker Park, who will talk about his experiences in between the film and art realms.
On the exhibition front, you can stroll through a free installation by Swiss artists Jojakim Cortis and Adrian Sonderegger, whose works recreate the globe’s most influential photographers in their Icons showcase.
FIND IT:
Stories That Matter 2019: Myths is on from Feb 26-Apr 14 at Objectifs.
Various timings. Free and ticketed.
MRT: Bugis/Bencoolen/Bras Basah
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