GRAPPLING WITH CHANGE: FEATURING “WAYANG” BY LENNE CHAI AND ScRach MarcS

By Carolyn Oei, 28 July 2021

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Cover image: Screenshot of “Wayang” from Lenne Chai’s Vimeo page.

New York-based photographer, Lenne Chai, popped back in to Singapore for what she thought was going to be a short visit. That was two years ago. Yah, lah. Because COVID.

“I'm not the religious sort, but I've been learning a little about Buddhist philosophy recently, and I find the concept of impermanence rather comforting.” - Lenne Chai. Photo: Lenne Chai

As a result, naturally, the concept of change is something that Chai has been grappling with lately. For anyone, managing change is exceedingly difficult; it’s scary, it’s risky, it can be painful. It’s also a necessary constant that we live with.

One product of Chai’s grapple with change is “Wayang”, a poignant short film that Chai directed. The film is a minute and a half long and explores the questions that hang over the heads of so many traditional artists and artisans; questions like, “How do we continue?”, “CAN we continue?” In Singapore, as is the case pretty much everywhere else, physical and societal changes – urbanisation, gentrification, Tik Tok-tification – keep us on our toes and challenge us every single day.

In addition to its concept, the choreography in this beautiful piece of art deserves attention. Devised and performed by ScRach MarcS, the movements overwhelmingly depict a passage of change that entails remixing. I don’t mean a conventional blending of old and new (what does that even mean anyway?). Rather, I wonder if what is required is a practical rebirthing.

I’m very much into anything Korean at the moment and I see amazing examples of “rebirthing” in the work of the band, Leenalchi, and Ambiguous Dance Company.

 So, how should we continue?

“Wayang” is part of “Spaces Between Us”, a film series by Chai that examines our relationship with forgotten and overlooked spaces in rapidly-urbanising Singapore. Filmed at Goh Chor Dua Pek Gong Temple, the outdoor stage featured in the film was constructed in 1906 and is one of the last of its kind. Chinese street opera, colloquially referred to as wayang, was introduced to Singapore by Chinese immigrants who arrived in the 19th century but its mass-audience appeal has steadily declined over the years. 

Most of our profile features discuss change in some shape or form. You can read them here.