HEIRLOOM STORIES

Facilitated by Kamini Ramachandran & Benjamin Chee

‘Heirloom Stories’ reconnects us with our natural heritage. Forage for botanicals and natural objects to inspire conversations to be shared as communal stories. Listen to heirloom stories shared by Kamini and recollect precious memories of your own. Take a walk on the mild side with Ben and hand-pick botanicals to create your own infusions – mocktails or tisanes! Sip and share personal stories as you contribute to a mandala inspired by objects from nature.
 
In the event of wet weather, the programme will be adapted accordingly.

A Programme of Singapore Heritage Fest
Supported by National Heritage Board

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Wildest Dreams: Stories Adapted from Singa-Pura-Pura

Commissioned by Arts House Limited for TEXTURES 2022

Arrive at a make-believe world that’s so real it might be true.

The shadow takes on a life of its own; a tiger leaves bloody breadcrumbs; the old man obsesses over digits; seven seeds are packed for another planet. Listen to short stories set in Singapore where the truth is wilder than fiction.

Storyteller Kamini Ramachandran retells extracts of published stories that glimpse into the might-be, unleashed by your imagination. Each retelling invites audiences to experience and savour the spec-fic text through the spoken word.

Presented as a series of four storytelling videos, adapted from the Malay speculative fiction collection Singa-Pura-Pura edited by Nazry Bahrawi (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2021).

Featured short stories:

“Transgression” by Diana Rahim

“Tujuh” by Nazry Bahrawi

“Gold, Paper and Bare Bones” by Farihan Bahron

“The End” by nor

Adapted and Performed by Kamini Ramachandran

Filmed and Edited by Zane Lee

Original Artwork by Muhammad Izdi

Design by Zane Lee

Production Assistance by Oscar Larrea Guija

Related Programme: Make Your Own Gunungan Workshop by Muhammad Izdi

Commissioned by Arts House Limited for TEXTURES 2022

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Storytelling Skills for Effective Communication

Online workshop for Reflections Arts Festival organized by Republic Polytechnic

Ever wanted to share a tale to the world but… it’s just not compelling enough?
Fret not, because we’ve got Singapore’s most mesmerising storyteller to teach you on what it takes to share a captivating story!
Under the guidance of Kamini Ramachandran in this workshop, you’ll learn on an array of tips and tricks that will equip you to be a confident storyteller and leave your audience enthralled.
For adult participants aged 16-years and above
 

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Storytelling Today: ‘Animated & Interactive Storytelling’

Storytelling Today:
‘Animated & Interactive Storytelling’
Using story prompts, learn how to find your unique voice, develop ideas, and breathe life into story characters.
Join the professional storytellers as they share their crafts.
About Storytelling Today:
Storytelling is an inseparable part of human history. From cave painting in prehistoric dwellings to modern-day entertainment, such as books and plays, humans use stories to convey information to each other and connect communities.
Authors and professional storytellers will share their crafts this February. Feature speakers include Neil Humphreys & Kamini Ramachandran; Annaliza Bakri & Nazry Bahrawi; Eva Nava Wong & Sa'eda Buang; Suffian Hakim & Tunku Halim.
 

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Food Lore: Tales from an Indian Kitchen

Part of Goodman Grows

Indian folklore is peppered with stories set in steamy kitchens where almost anything and everything
can happen! Meet women who are the keeper of seeds and those who impart wisdom through the
food they cook. Listen to characters who reveal the ingredients to their family recipes. Sip on freshly
brewed chai, sample homemade aviyal, and get up close with murungakkai, unripe plantains, gourds
, and more.
Storyteller Kamini Ramachandran shares short stories from her repertoire of South Indian folktales
inspired by food and eating. Nova Nelson shares insights on ingredients and condiments used in
Indian food preparation.
Join Kamini and Nova for an evening stroll through the garden and explore different plants and
produce. Be seated within the garden setting as you partake in hot tea and vegetarian dishes while
you immerse yourself in the stories told.

Take home a bag of seeds to start your farm-to-table journey.

This programme is suitable for adult audiences 16 years and above.

Aviyal – a mixed vegetable dish prepared with fresh coconut, yoghurt, and curry leaves.
Murungakkai – Indian drumstick or moringa pods

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Storytelling Language of Peranakan Symbolism

Part of ARTWALK 2022: Looking Back, Going Forward
Virtual storytelling performance.

Take a trip through one of the oldest Peranakan houses in Katong and discover the stories behind the various motifs and symbols of their unique heritage. Explore surname lanterns, kasut manek beaded shoes, wall tiles, kuih moulds and tingkat tiffin carriers together with a storyteller. Step into a treasure trove of antiques dating back to the 1800’s.

Listen to the tales of significance that lay within the designs, embroidery and patterns here.

This video was filmed while following prevailing COVID-19 Safe Management Measures.

Special thanks to Katong Antique House for sponsoring the venue.

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A Storyteller’s Tour of Little India

Part of ARTWALK 2022: Looking Back, Going Forward
Virtual storytelling performance.

Experience Little India together with a storyteller. Walk down alleyways and hidden streets as you discover some of her favourite wall murals. Follow her as she visits her favourite museum and be introduced to some treasured artefacts. Listen to short stories along the way. Stop for a traditional banana leaf meal and stock up on some local snacks. Accompany her as she buys some flower garlands and completes her day at a temple here.

This video was filmed while following prevailing COVID-19 Safe Management Measures.

Special thanks to the Indian Heritage Centre and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple for being venue sponsors, as well as all other Little India vendors featured in this video!

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The Tree’s Lesson

Gallery Children's Biennale 2021: Why Art Matters
Digital storytelling for children.

In response to SUPERSTAR by Singaporean artist Jeremy Sharma, storyteller Kamini Ramachandran tells the tale of a boy’s journey through a forest of trees, his encounters with magic and the lessons he learns along the way!

Enjoy the story here.

You can also come down to National Gallery Singapore to check out this installation, among others, as part of Children’s Biennale 2021: Why Art Matters.

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Why is Deepavali Celebrated?

Deepavali Celebrations 2021 - Indian Heritage Centre
Two digital storytelling performances featuring stories behind why Deepavali is celebrated.

Experience two stories behind why Deepavali is celebrated with master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran. Enjoy an abridged retelling of the familiar tale from the great epic, The Ramayana, and discover a lesser known myth behind the festival of lights.   

The Ramayana

Master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran retells the origin story of Deepavali that most are familiar with. Relating to The Ramayana, the timeless tale of love, adventure, and friendship tracks Rama’s return to the palace of Ayodhya. Here, people of the kingdom light oil lamps, illuminating a brightly lit path at night, guiding Rama home.

Originally presented as 'Ramayana Retold’ for Indian Heritage Centre as part of Culture Fest 2020 Digital Edition.

Narakasura & Krishna

Another Deepavali story stems from the myth of Narakasura and Krishna. Narakasura was born from the divine union between Vishnu (in the form of Varaaha the boar) and Bhoomi Devi (Mother Earth). He was gifted a tusk that made him invincible, and he soon forgot that it was to be used for good deeds and to help others. 

In this version, he battles Krishna’s wife Satyabhama and Krishna himself, and only realises his folly – that he had not honoured the tusk’s true intentions – in his final minutes. Narakasura then asks the divine couple for one wish – that his death be remembered with colours and lights. As he breathed his last, night turned to day. With his death, Krishna and his wife emerge victorious, bringing light and coming out from the darkness wrought by Narakasura. 

The video is filmed with thanks to: Cosmic Ultima Pictures, S S Vikneshwaran Subramaniam, Manju Balakrishnan, Kavitha Rajoo and team.

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A Tale of Two Shores

Presented at Asia-Europe Meeting - ASEM Cultural Festival 2021
Storytelling video with narration, music and visual art illustrations presented with the support of the Cultural Diplomacy Fund.

A timeless tale exists in the deep jungles of Borneo and in the dark woods of Germany. The folktale of 'Umpong-Umpong & Babakud' is part of the Borneo oral literature, and its analogue 'Jorinde & Joringel' is part of Germanic fairytales.

'A Tale of Two Shores' breathes life into a lesser-known Grimm’s fairytale and Asian folktale while celebrating the existence of almost identical stories that exist in completely different geographies, rooted in totally diverse cultures and told in unrelated languages. It is in this perceived separation, and distance that we find resemblance, similarities and connectedness. Oral literature sheds light on our shared experiences and reveals our commonalities, as people of this world. The theme of love is the one language the whole world speaks, with or without words.

Presented as a storytelling video with narration, music and visual art illustrations, 'A Tale of Two Shores' aims to raise awareness of the oral tradition as intangible cultural heritage while honouring our shared similarities despite distance, language and place.

Watch 'A Tale of Two Shores' storytelling video here. 

This video was presented with the support of the Cultural Diplomacy Fund from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth - MCCY, and National Arts Council Singapore
Presented at Asia-Europe Meeting - ASEM Cultural Festival 2021

Storyteller & Producer: Kamini Ramachandran 
Illustrator: Annalisa Salis
Musician: Raghavendran Rajasekaran
Video Production: Zeetrope Productions
Key Visual: Zane Lee 
Trailer Filmed & Edited by: Zane Lee

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