This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 17, 2015.

IT is said that familiarity breeds contempt, but when it comes to our bilateral ties with neighbouring Singapore, the organisers of Titian Budaya — an art showcase celebrating Singapore-Malaysian friendship through creative talent — would strongly say otherwise. 

Presented by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) of Singapore and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia, the three-month long programme from Nov 21 to Jan 17, 2016 celebrates 50 years of ties between the two nations through the visual art, dance, theatre, music and film mediums. 

Playing host to over 400 participants from creative communities in Singapore and Malaysia, this will be the second edition of Titian Budaya, after Singapore’s hosting of Malaysian arts and culture in 2008. 

“We are now reciprocating,” says MCCY arts and heritage division senior director Yeo Whee Jim. “We took a bit of time, but 2015 has been a significant year for Singapore as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our independence. It is also taking place at a special time in our bilateral relationship,” he adds. 

At the launch recently, live it! sat down with both Yeo and current Singapore High Commissioner Vanu Gopala Menon to talk about the unique connection between the two countries. 

Commenting on the relationship Singapore and Malaysia have with one another, the high commissioner says: “We share so many things in common. And it’s not just the food.” He also downplays the love-hate relationship often depicted in the media. “It’s a relationship between two peoples who really know each other quite well, and I think we should try to emphasise the commonality rather than the differences.” 

He further adds that arts and culture help build those common ties. Echoing that sentiment, Yeo admits that working on Titian Budaya has shown him those commonalities first-hand. “While working with some of the Malaysian counterparts, [I found personally] that the language, the vocabulary, what we like — we shared common jokes — it’s amazing how similar we are,” he smiles in recollection. 

Titian Budaya — which means bridging cultures — centres on the arts, but Yeo points out that the arts are not just used as a tool to achieve its means, but rather it sees the end goals of communication, dialogue and collaboration that can be achieved naturally through the mediums. “Arts and culture have an ability to bring two communities together, even if it’s as large as two nations,” he says. 

Menon believes that through the art scene, the potential for bilateral cooperation is limitless. “We can build upon it. It shouldn’t just be rooted in economics, finance and trade figures, but people ties. There are so many more things happening between us; it’s a question of people-to-people interest in wanting to do things together.”

The infrastructure for Singapore arts has gained praises and recognition internationally, especially in recent years. Yeo says underscoring the growth is the government’s recognising of its need to build social capital. “We set up [the] MCCY three years ago, so it’s a very, very young ministry. And we see the different mediums [within the purview of the ministry] as means to achieve it.” 

On the increase of Malaysian performing artists working in Singapore, Yeo humbly says that the benefit runs both ways.  “We are also looking at our closest neighbour to build our social capital.” 

In this sense, both Menon and Yeo agreed that healthy rivalry is not only normal, but edifying. “The artists themselves know each other quite well,” observes Menon. “I hope through Titian Budaya, we can see higher levels of performance in the years to come.” 

“It’s not about Singapore versus Malaysia. If you put artistic people together, there will always be rivalry. I think the word is sharpening. When you take an artist out of his comfort zone, and he comes to a new place and surroundings, I think there’s a lot of capacity-building to be done,” adds Yeo on what the artists can gain from this event. A total of 150 Malaysian artists will be participating in Titian Budaya 2015. 

The high commissioner reiterates: “I hope they forge certain personal friendships that will take them to new levels of collaboration … to do something together not just as Singapore and Malaysia, but [individuals], who happen to be Singaporean and Malaysian.” 

For full schedule and other details, visit www.titianbudayasg.com.

Highlights of Titian Budaya

Next Door @ Publika Shopping Gallery

Nov 21 & 22

#1 Art Next Door: A contemporary art exhibition (until Dec 13) of both Malaysian and Singaporean artists that include photography, video art and installation works.

#2 Bazaar Next Door: A family-friendly arts, design and crafts market held at the Boulevard, Publika —organised in partnership with Art for Grabs and Singapore Makers Association — expects over 70 stalls of creative ventures. 

#3 Music Live Next Door: Held at The Square outdoor stage, performers include a mix of veteran and emerging musicians — Kailin Yong PLUS Trio, Rustic Vibes and SA, along with a collaboration between Singaporean and Malaysian songwriters Charlie Lim and Liyana Fizi. 

#4 Cinema Next Door: Apart from a selection of Singapore’s top short films, there will also be screenings of a live animation concert, animation films created from five stories written by Singapore writers and culminating in the outdoor showing of Jack Neo’s I Not Stupid. 

Titian Budaya Night @ DFP

Dec 8

A one-night only gala event that sees jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah join the 90-piece Singapore Chinese Orchestra to perform well-known works from composers across both borders. The multicultural extravaganza will include Kelantanese wayang kulit performers, performing a specially commissioned work by Malaysian composer Yii Kah Hoe. There will also be a tribute to Tan Sri P Ramlee in a medley of his songs. 

T.H.E Dance Company @ DPAC

Dec 19 & 20 

One of the best Singapore contemporary dance companies, T H E Dance Company, will present a double bill of works by artistic director Kuik Swee Boon and guest choreographer Jecko Siompo. 

Singapore Film Festival 

GSC Pavilion KL and GSC 1Utama

Jan 14 to 17, 2016

The first-ever Singapore Film Festival will open with 7 Letters, an omnibus of seven short films commissioned for the jubilee year celebrations. Other films include those with award-winning and established directors, alongside emerging filmmakers such as Jack Neo, Eric Khoo, Anthony Chen, Liao Jie Kai and Royston Tan.