Valerie Oliveiro
Keep a lookout this June for some rather queer performing artists! Running from May 24 to June 22, the Singapore Arts Festival 2008 hits the streets again with a band of international and local buskers at locations near you. Roving artists will turn up whenever you least expect them to brighten your day with their antics. The Arts on the Move segment of the SIngapore Arts Festival aims to make the arts more accessible.
Arts Where We Eat
Arts in Tampines
Arts in Trains
Other Roving Artists
Arts where We Eat
High-end restaurants may have violinists to play for their guests, but for the next 3 weeks, Arts on the Move in collaboration with the National Environment Agency brings artists like Macadam Piano (France), Erwin Adam (Singapore) and
La Guardia Flamenca (Belgium) to play instruments or even dance for you while you’re having breakfast or dinner at the nearest food centre.
Eating hotspots, such as the famous Newton Food Centre, Tiong Bahru Market and East Coast Lagoon Food Village, will enjoy the full eating experience with these roving artists on the weekends of May 31 to June 1, June 7 to 8 and June 14 to 15.
Arts in Tampines
The residents of Tampines Street 11 were the first to be treated to Arts on the Move performances by guzheng master Neo Sek Koon, young guitarist Erwin Adam, balloon sculpturer Mdm Twister, and the all-time favourite Macadam Piano by Pomme D’or.
UrbanWire spoke to those who encountered the artists at the Tampines Round Market & Food Centre over the weekend (May 24 – 25).
“Bringing these artists to public areas allow us to experience the Arts Festival even though we cannot afford to buy tickets to other plays or concerts,” shared Toh Yi Guan, 55, who stayed to watch the performances even after he had finished his breakfast.
Sally Liu, 37, thought it was a good experience for her toddler. “We were caught by surprise when we came down for breakfast. My daughter, Selene, was amazed by the moving piano.”
The highlight of the weekend was definitely Macadam Piano, a quirky pianist on a moving piano. Dressed smartly in a coat with tails and a top hat, the roving 
French pianist charmed the crowd easily with his simple nods and facial expressions while his fingers flew elegantly on the keyboard. This crowd-pleaser stopped the shoppers in their activities at the Tampines Food Centre as he played the pieces of Mozart and Schubert for them.
Along his route, the artist played to an elderly woman seated against a side wall. It was magical how his music brought a smile to her face even though there were no words exchanged between the artist and the elderly woman.
Arts in Trains
Busy areas are the best areas for mingling with the crowd. The Three Tai Tais (Mandarin for non-working woman with a very rich husband) take the busiest train stations by storm to tease you and brighten up your day with their hairdos, colourful costumes and cheerful personalities.
Meet Daisy from the 70’s, Helen from the 80’s and Shirley from the 90’s as the Tai Tai trio drop by the Orchard MRT, Dhoby Ghaut MRT and City Hall MRT.
In an interview with UrbanWire, the Three Tai Tais share their excitement of interacting with people at the train stations. “We have our characters, but we still improvise. It is more fun that way”, beams Tai Tai Daisy, complete with long straight hair and a colourful loose shirt from the 70’s.
“We want to show people that although we’re from different eras, we are still actually quite the same,” explains Tai Tai Helen from the 80’s, in a golden shimmering dress and Tai Tai Shirley from 90’s, in white-framed glasses and a pink chequered dress.
The trio kept their act going throughout the interview with UrbanWire, as if we were really speaking to three real Tai Tais! These veteran actresses are the real deal. Don’t forget to say ‘Hi’ to the Three Tai Tais when you see them over the weekends of June 7/8 and June 14/15.
Giraffes by Xirriquiteula Teatre (Spain)
Three life-size giraffes will stroll along the streets of Singapore to interact and play with the young and old alike. Accompanied by musicians who bring the savannah experience to the bustling city, these Giraffes can be spotted at Raffles City and VivoCity during this Singapore Arts Festival period.
Join the marching parade of flamenco-majorettes as the girls make their way down to Clarke Quay from June 6 to 8.
Complete with pink skirts, dark red boots and flowers in their hair, the La Guardia Flamenca is bound to charm you with their exuberant laughter and dance moves.
For the full schedule of Arts on the Move, please visit the Singapore Arts Festival 2008 website.
This article is part of UrbanWire’s 9-week Singapore Arts Festival 2008 special. Get all the latest Arts Fest updates and reviews on UrbanWire.