Visual artist, Kray Chen, presents a new project that turns a playful eye on the rituals of an average Singaporean Chinese wedding, in a quest to understand the anxieties and behaviours associated with weddings today. Commonly viewed as a rite of passage, weddings are bound up in cultural, social, and collective expectations. But what happens when the conditions surrounding a traditional wedding are given a twist? 

This tongue-in-cheek look at wedding rituals upends tradition and cultural clichés in its ‘rehearsal’ for the actual event. In the process of examining this familiar and commonplace ceremony, the work challenges the ways we imbue social practices in our culture, enabling us to reflect on, poke fun of, and appreciate our own habits and behaviour.

Kray Chen (b. 1987, Singapore) is a visual artist based in Singapore. He finished his Masters of Arts in Fine Arts in 2014 and has since practised locally and internationally. His participation includes solo exhibitions 1st Prize in 2013 (SG) and It's A Set Situation in 2016 (SG), group shows such as Art Stage Singapore 2014, Prudential Eye Awards Exhibition (SG), The Pleasure of Improbable Placements (Spain), Paradis Sans Promesse (France) and so on. He has also resided in Hangar (Spain), FRAC Des Pay De La Loire (France) and NTU-CCA Singapore. Kray's practice deals largely with lived experience and corporeality. Bringing to attention movements, gestures, and his behaviours—as well as those around him, Kray taps on their peculiar characteristics to discuss the value of progress in Singapore, reflecting on the psyche of a place caught between traditions and modernisation.  27 January, 3pm–4.30pm
Workshop Space, Objectifs

Kray Chen will share the process of developing and refining his own voice in the making of Five Rehearsals Of A Wedding, from scripting to the final cut. He will also speak about the notion of 'rehearsal', visiting various examples in his personal history to illustrate how it has shaped his outlook of the future. Accompanying Kray in this talk is the show’s curator Kimberly Shen, who will also moderate the session’s Q&A. Admission is free. RVSP here.