Sound of Silence
Singaporean artist Dawn Ng recently wrapped up her first solo UK exhibition at St Cyprian’s Church in London. Titled Into Air, it explored memory and the passage of time through photography, film and painting. Ng’s work, which includes sculpture and large-scale outdoor installations, has also been exhibited in Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Singapore. Here, Ng tells us about the nostalgic track she’s listening to and buying persimmons in Singapore.
Coffee, tea or something pressed to go with the headlines?
A soy cappuccino.
Do you have a favourite weekend market?
Tiong Bahru Market in Singapore. It has really fresh fruit and you can call some of the sellers a few days in advance and reserve things. I love persimmons when they’re in season. Also, Cheng’s 27 food hall sells the most amazing organic gula melaka chiffon cake.
And a favourite bookshop?
Books Actually. Staff members write little notes on certain books – for example, a one-liner telling you a bit about the character or the adventure that unfolds. It’s that human touch, that little scribble, that provides the nostalgia and romance that the big boys don’t have the time or capacity for.
Any podcast recommendations?
I’m not really a podcast person but I do listen to Krista Tippett’s On Being. I enjoy some of her talks with physicists and the larger questions that she tackles. It’s nice to tune into that when I’m working in the studio or doing ceramics.
What are you currently humming in the shower?
I don’t hum in the shower. But right now I’m in a nostalgic LCD Soundsystem phase, listening to “Oh Baby” quite a bit.
Seen any good films recently?
Everything Everywhere All at Once. Everyone needs to watch it and not on a laptop. You have to go to a cinema. It’s a great disservice to yourself and the movie if you watch it on a device or the plane.
What about books?
I haven’t started it yet but I just bought Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. It’s about AI and love.
What do you listen to before drifting off?
Sometimes I listen to music on my phone but mostly it’s silence. I like to end the day by clearing out my mind with white noise or no noise.
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Dawn Ng