Lingual Nerves: An Afternoon of Poetry Readings

Lingual Nerves: An Afternoon of Poetry Readings Veteran Singapore poets Isa Kamari, Koh Buck Song, Madeleine Lee, Lee Tzu Pheng and Edwin Thumboo read original poems written in response to works by Chua Mia Tee. The poets also delve into their expansive oeuvres to present existing socially-engaged poems that reflect on our ever-changing society. Following the readings, hear from the poets in a panel moderated by Yong Shu Hoong, as they unpack their works and trace the wider influences of social realism in poetry and literature. Koh Buck Song was the Gallery’s Poet-in-Residence for 2021–22; following Edwin Thumboo (2018–19) and Madeleine Lee (2017–18). This programme took place at National Gallery Singapore on 10 April 2022, and was organised in conjunction with “Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real at National Gallery Singapore”. Find out more about the exhibition and its programmes here: https://www.nationalgallery.sg/direct... About the Speakers Edwin Thumboo is Emeritus Professor in Department of English Language and Literature, in National University of Singapore (NUS). Some of his poetry includes Rib of Earth (1956), and A Gathering of Themes (2018). He has received numerous awards such as the Singapore Cultural Medallion (1980) and the Meritorious Service Medal Singapore (2006). Edwin Thumboo was National Gallery Singapore’s second Poet in Residence. Isa Kamari has written 11 novels, 3 collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, a book of essays on Singapore Malay poetry, a collection of theatre scripts and lyrics of 3 song albums. Isa was conferred the Southeast Asia Write Award from Thailand in 2006, the Singapore Cultural Medallion in 2007, the Anugerah Tun Seri Lanang from the Singapore Malay Language Council in 2009, and the Mastera Literary Award from Brunei Darussalam in 2018. Koh Buck Song is the author and editor of more than 30 books, including 6 books of poetry and haiga art. He has held several exhibitions of haiga works, including at the Esplanade’s Super Japan Festival (2016) and an ASEAN 50th anniversary event in Vientiane, Laos (2017). He was poet-in-residence at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh in 1992 under the Singapore-Scotland Cultural Cooperation Programme and has also represented Singapore at literary events in Manila, and at Cambridge University, Harvard and MIT. In the 1990s, he was literary editor and columnist at The Straits Times, and English Editor and General Editor of the literary journal Singa. Lee Tzu Pheng, Anne, is the author of seven collections of poetry. Her poems have won her numerous awards, such as the Singapore Cultural Medallion for Literature (1985) and the Gabriela Mistral Award from the Republic of Chile (1995). Lee’s poetry is known internationally and studied in university literature courses in Australia, Canada and the USA, and her works has been read over the BBC. One of the country’s most accessible poets for her clarity and understated humour, she has given numerous poetry readings in public, and is known for her mentorship of younger writers and promotion of creative writing among the young. Madeleine Lee is an investment manager who also writes poetry. She has published 11 books of poetry in English to date, as well as one bilingual title with poems translated into Chinese. Four of her books have also been adapted into full-length theatre performances. Active on the literary scene, Madeleine has read in literary festivals and symposiums in Singapore, Malaysia, Melbourne, Adelaide and the UK. In addition to her residency at National Gallery Singapore (the first Poet in Residence), she has also been Poet-in-Residence with Singapore Botanic Gardens as well as The Nature Society Singapore and Bird Life International. Catch up on other talks and lectures with “The Padang Sessions”: https://bit.ly/ThePadangSessions Go to www.nationalgallery.sg for more content and to plan your visit today! Disclaimer This video has been edited for clarity and concision. The opinions expressed in this video may not represent the views of National Gallery Singapore. Every effort has been made to obtain permission for the material in this video. Copyright within this video belongs to its respective owners and shall not be reproduced without permission. #NationalGallerySingapore #LetArtSurpriseYou #ChuaMiaTee #DirectingtheReal #IsaKamari #KohBuckSong #MadeleineLee #LeeTzuPheng #EdwinThumboo #YongShuHoong #Poetry