Class Acts: Watch A Documentary About Singapore’s Creative Zeitgeist Of The ’90s
Are you familiar with Singapore’s creative scene in the ‘90s? Left: Audience at a performance by Psycho Sonique, Singapore’s first all-girl punk band. Right: The crowd at Zouk’s Halloween night (Credit: Alex Ortega, Michele Blow)
Despite being a red-tape city that often perceives things in black and white, the story of Singapore’s creative community is delightfully colourful.
What do you know about the hardcore mosh-fests at The Substation or the rise of independent zines like BigO? Do you know about Singapore’s ‘Godfather of Design’? Or how about the tale of local graffiti crews in a country where street art is traditionally frowned upon? There are countless chronicles bound together by fascinating nexuses, all part of an everlasting creative network with a legacy that endures till this day. Whether you played a part in this timeless saga across the decades or you’re an avid spectator who wishes to dig deeper, there’s now a feature-length documentary that you can’t miss.
The Substation was a significant venue for the local hardcore scene (Credit: Reynold Pereira)
Class Acts is an ambitious undertaking spearheaded by filmmakers, Deon Phua (part of the Tell Your Children creative collective) and Hwee En Tan (Stacking Stones, Singapore Community Radio). Since last year, they set off on a mission to document the origins and growth of Singapore’s oft-overlooked creative scene spanning the ’90s and early noughties. The two history-sweepers uncover narratives surrounding the rise and demise of formidable creative institutions, the perilous dance with stubborn government regulations, and waves of talent that would further inspire a new generation of creatives. These are stories of success and strife, encapsulated in a documentary that will make its premiere on 14 January during Singapore Art Week.
A performance by homegrown radicals, Zircon Lounge (Credit: Koh Nguang How)
These anecdotes were gathered across dozens of interviews – 31 to be exact – with key figures in the local creative community who helped make an impact one way or another. Featured musical pioneers include Eddino Abdul Hadi (from surf-rock band, Force Vomit), Suhaimi Subandie (from hardcore legends, Stompin’ Ground), Ginette Chittick (from all-girl punk unit, Psycho Sonique), and the late Chris Ho who rebelled with Zircon Lounge. The documentary also tells the stories of other creative mavericks like Elim Chew (founder of streetwear brand, 77th Street), Mark Ong (best known as the artist, SBTG), SLACSATU (chieftain behind graffiti collective, ZNC), Tracy Phillips (director of lifestyle marketing consultancy, PPURPOSE), and Theseus Chan (Singapore’s own ‘Godfather of Design’ who’s made strides in the world of graphic design).
The Class Acts documentary is a culmination of this arduous quest of archival, following a corresponding themed exhibition that launched last year at National Design Centre, which continues its run until 31 January 2023. Future screenings of the documentary are currently being planned, but for now, tickets are still available for the official premiere on 14 January which includes a post-screening panel talk.
Is Singapore a metropolis that breeds creativity? History says yes.
Behind the scenes with Theseus Chan, Kiat and Najip Ali (Credit: Stacking Stones)
Class Acts Documentary Screening, 3pm-5.30pm (incl. panel talk) and 6.30pm-8pm, 14 January 2023, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969. For more information on the premiere and details on the exhibition, visit the Class Acts website and Stacking Stones Instagram page.
