Written by Deepagcharan Chandran
Have you heard of Phunk, Stomping Ground, or Zircon lounge? These art collectives and artists are pioneers of the underground art scene in Singapore. Chris Ho, lead singer of Zircon Lounge, recollects how one even labels alternative scenes when we did not have a mainstream scene to parallel with. This highlights how enigmatic and groundbreaking the creative movement was.
Class Acts does not follow a single artiste; which may have led to a more parochial view of the art movement in the 90s. Instead, it charts the birth and trajectory of the alternative art scene. It adopts a more holistic approach and collates an entire group of highly influential pioneers in various fields ranging from graphic design, music, graffiti to event spaces for alternative art such as Zouk and The Substation. This highlights how the intention of the documentary is to showcase with wide brevity how Singapore did have such a unique creative scene that may not be very visible to the common eye.
Thesus Tan, touted as the godfather of graphic design, mentions Singaporeans shouldn’t be very critical of themselves. The sense of self-agency and wanting to be able to create an avenue to express and communicate ideas led to independent design studios, self-published zines and the aforementioned venues such as Zouk and The Substation were supportive of such endeavors.
Class Acts, like Tan Pin Pin’s Singapore Gaga, evokes deeper recollection of individuals’ crucial moments of each foundational element of movements by employing a flashback narrative and recollecting prior memories. It stands out because audiences are left in awe of the interviewees’ memories. These interviews are accompanied by visuals such as videos and photos from the particular era, akin to a time capsule; it is not only a form of nostalgia, but also an act of rediscovery of the illustrious past. This also emphasises the amount of research done to obtain the materials for the documentary.
The narrative structure of Class Acts is effective in providing the mechanics of the elements that serve as enablers for cultural movements to thrive. By engaging with critical moments – restrictions such as imposing fines when people begin to mosh/stage dive proved to be critical because event organizers could not afford to risk paying fines – and also investigating ideas of gentrification, how legal constraints hamper certain aspects of the movement, and how it managed to work around such measures.
For example, when Comme des Garçons opened a guerilla fashion shop in Bugis, it was a revelation because, while it may seem counterintuitive to open a shop away from the city, it is such a radical concept that led to fashion boutiques wanting to open their shops in such heritage rich spots, causing an upheaval in gentrification.
It’s fascinating and intriguing to be exposed to unexplored territory as an individual. Is it necessary to generate art with the goal of nation-building, or may art exist for the sake of art? In this day and age, how can we foster such a distinct creative scene that enriches culture and identity? More people must see the value of alternative perspectives and act as enablers to support such projects.
The documentary portrays an optimistic vision, and alongside technological developments and the zeal of pioneers, the artistic endeavours of current and future art practitioners will undoubtedly stand out with the Singaporean insignia.
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This review is published as an extension of *SCAPE’s Film Critics Lab: A Writing Mentorship Programme organised by The Filmic Eye, with support from the Singapore Film Society.
About the Author: Deepag is highly interested in adding films with innovative voices and historical significance to his Letterboxd watchlist.
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About the Movie:
Director: Deon Phua and Hwee En Tan
Cast: Abdul Nasser s/o Basheer, Alvin Tan, Anthony Ho, Bobby Luo, Chooee Hwang, Chris Lee, Douglas Khee, Eddino Abdul Hadi, Elim Chew, Esmond Wee, Foo Say Keong, Ginette Chittick, Jebson Tan, Jonathan Kiat, Justin Zhuang, Larry Peh, Little Ong, Mark Ong, Michele Blow, Najip Ali, Pann Lim, Ridhwan Ghany ‘Wan Vegan’, Rizal Ahyar, Shaiful Risan, Sheikh Haikel, SLACSATU, Steve Lawler, Suhaimi Subandie, Theseus Chan, Tracy Phillips, Trase One, William Chan, X’Ho
Year: 2022
Country: Singapore
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 14min
Synopsis: Class Acts is a feature-length documentary tracing the genesis of Singapore’s creative scene in the ’90s through intimate conversations with its pioneering personalities.
Class Acts is currently screening at The Projector on 11 March 2023: https://theprojector.sg/films-and-events/class-acts/
