Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence this year. To mark the milestone, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) will showcase an unprecedented number of commissioned local works and inaugurate a temporary arts pavilion at Bedok Town Square from 16 May to 1 June.
At the helm for the last four years has been Natalie Hennedige who, with a Sinhalese father and Indian-Chinese mother, is no stranger to cultural diversity. She discovered a passion for the arts while studying a triple science syllabus in junior college and switched streams after the first year. Her inclination with art, she says, is typically towards radical ideas. “The more progressive it is, the more I’m there for it.”
In her opinion, an international festival plays a crucial role in shaping Singapore’s arts landscape as it serves as a nexus for experimentation, exchange, and discourse. Additionally, it amplifies the visibility of homegrown talent, providing artists with opportunities to position their work in a global context.
As such, she notes that while SIFA facilitates collaborations with international artists, “it is inextricably linked to the city that cradles it and to the people who make up this land”.
In this regard, it is perhaps appropriate for this edition’s opening to take place in Bedok. Hennedige describes “More Than Ever”, this year’s theme, as a statement of optimism and aspiration. The goal is to capture the urgent need for harmonious coexistence.
“It’s an appeal to bridge divides and uphold the arts as a vital space for exploring differences of opinion in society. It urges us to resist limiting binaries, relate to each other with fluidity, and accept otherness.”
As an example, the local festival commission Umbilical shines a spotlight on these nuances through an examination of the poignancy of the separation between Singapore and Malaysia. The performance will be presented by Zul Mahmod, Rizman Putra, and Thesupersystem, and features music, movement, AI, and visual projection.
One challenge Hennedige faces when managing an event like SIFA is dealing with unpredictable live experiences. Another is developing a well-rounded programme that reaches a broader audience without compromising artistic exploration.
To overcome them, she is on her toes at all times. “I remain nimble and flexible, reacting swiftly and with openness to changes to ensure the vision of the festival remains uncompromised.”
To push boundaries, we must embrace artistic fluidity, she emphasises. It is for this reason that SIFA takes a broad-minded approach. “There are ever-shifting definitions as to the ways artists define, redefine, see, and unsee themselves. As a festival, we want to be really open and adventurous to stay ahead.”
Although Hennedige will be moving on to other endeavours after wrapping up this year’s SIFA, we will still see a lot of her in the creative space as she is also the Artistic Director of Cake Theatrical Productions. The contemporary performance company’s productions include the multidisciplinary theatre series Running with Strippers.
“I’ve truly always been a person who lives in the moment and works on what’s in front of me. I don’t think in terms of leading or driving the arts scene—I just always want to be in the midst of the artistically brave.”
Photography Mun Kong
Art direction Ed Harland
Hair Crystal Loh using Goldwell
Makeup Sarah Tan using Shu Uemura
