Drawing inspiration from the thematic threads in the exhibitions “Continuity, Persistence, Line”: Thinking Through Clay – A Selection of Works by Delia Prvački, the hull and the rig, and Unfettered Brush: The Art and Writings of Tan Joo Jong at NUS Museum, Re-Worlding Through Cinema presents a series of short film screenings that invite audiences to reconsider the contours of identity, cultural belonging, and human connection.

Comprising three acts, the series embarks on a journey of re-worlding, situating us within fragmented, contested, and evolving narratives of the self and the collective. Exploring the fluidity of identities, the negotiation of cultural and familial roles, and the complexities of human connection, Re-Worlding Through Cinema encourages reflection on how personal and cultural histories persist, transform, and continue to shape the present through the lens of visual cultures. The films in this series offer an opportunity to reconsider how visual representations mediate the processes of self-formation and the re-imagining of social, political, and cultural landscapes.

Register for 12 Feb, 7pm – 8.30pm at NUS Museum

Register for 19 Feb, 7pm – 8pm at NUS Baba House

Dual-Site Screenings

The screening of Re-Worlding Through Cinema at both NUS Baba House and NUS Museum offers two distinct yet interconnected contexts. At NUS Museum, the films align with exhibitions exploring cultural negotiation, artistic practice, and transcultural exchange, reimagining identity as dynamic and interconnected. Meanwhile, NUS Baba House provides an intimate setting that highlights cultural hybridisation and negotiation as lived experiences, connecting the films to everyday practices of synthesis. Together, these venues frame the films through complementary lenses, inviting reflection on how space and context shape meaning.

Act 1 – Situating Identities

This screening examines the construction and negotiation of identities within overlapping personal, cultural, and geographical landscapes. Through intimate portrayals, the films explore how histories, relationships, and the fluidity of belonging shape identities. The lived experiences, familial bonds, and cultural memories featured in the films invite viewers to reflect on how individuals situate themselves within larger social and historical frameworks. From quiet moments of self-discovery to collective negotiations of heritage, this screening highlights the complexities and intersections that define identity in a constantly evolving world.

Featured Short Films

Mary, Mary So Contrary《马俐连梦录》(2018) | dir. Nelson Yeo | 15 mins | Mandarin with English Subtitles | PG

Repurposing and manipulating footage from two classic films and the filmmaker’s own personal footage, Mary, Mary So Contrary weaves together a phantasmagoric narrative about a Chinese woman named Ma Li who dreams that she is a Caucasian woman named Mary.

ឆ្ងាយដាច់អាល័យ (Further and Further Away) (2022) | dir. Polen Ly | 24 mins | Bunong, Khmer with English Subtitles | PG

Before their impending departure for the capital city, two siblings first must bid farewell to the place they called home, each in their own way.

Proximities (2021) | dir. Zulkhairi Zulkiflee | 10 mins | English | PG

Proximities focuses on the trope of the Malay Boy found in the works of Singaporean artist Cheong Soo Pieng (b. 1917-1983). It attempts to locate the Malay male in art history while unpacking underlying systems of power that have shaped and naturalised the understanding of difference.