Siong Leng Musical Association – An Odyssey to the South (Jan – Mar 2023)
Drawing on both traditional and contemporary expressions of Nanyin, an ancient musical art form from China, Siong Leng Musical Association presented An Odyssey to the South —a multi-programme response to the exhibition Liu Kuo-sung: Experimentation as Method.
The music of Nanyin can be likened to a running stream, overflowing with simple elegance in distant seclusion. Like many traditional arts in search of new audiences, there is a call not only for the preservation of Nanyin, but also its revitalisation through new ideas. Through a series of performances and workshops, Siong Leng will draw inspiration not only from Liu Kuo-sung’s artworks, but also his journey of preserving, revitalising and reimagining a traditional art form.
About the artist
Siong Leng Musical Association (SLMA) was established in 1941 and owes much of its success to its late chairman, Mr. Teng Mah Seng, a Cultural Medallion recipient who worked hard to reform and revive Nanyin. Under his guidance, SLMA has become an arts company known for its preservation and promotion of Nanyin. Since Mr Teng’s passing, SLMA has kept true to its mission and has cultivated a group of Nanyin professionals over the years. It aims for Nanyin music to be recognised on the international stage, and to expose more audiences to traditional and contemporary Nanyin music through performances, as well as education and outreach initiatives.