squircle line press
anthologies
EYE/FEEL/WRITE:
EXPERIMENTS IN EKPHRASIS
Edited by
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
[Squircle Line Press]
176 pages
What happens when art meets literature? How does a writer view an artwork, and render new writing that stands on its own as a work of art? A special commission by the National Arts Council for the Singapore Writers Festival, Eye|Feel|Write is an ekphrastic project that pairs twenty eminent writers in Singapore to pen texts inspired by artworks exhibited at The National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum. The twenty distinguished contributors include: Alfian Sa’at, Alvin Pang, Anne Lee Tzu Pheng, Chow Teck Seng, Divya Victor, Edwin Thumboo, Eric Tinsay Valles, Gwee Li Sui, Isa Kamari, Jerrold Yam, Tan, Joshua Ip, K. Kanagalatha (Latha), Leong Liew Geok, Ovidia Yu, Ramanathan Vairavan, Robin Hemley, Tan Chee Lay, Yeow Kai Chai, and Yong Shu Hoong. The selected artworks trek a bold and broad range, from the contemporary to heritage. Each text inhabits the artist’s material, yet frees itself from it: teasing, testing, extending, tasting, in beautiful acts of transference. From this relationship between two different kinds of is borne an articulation, an architecture/architectonic that celebrates the making of texts
ASINGBOL:
AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE SINGAPOREAN POETIC FORM
Edited by
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
[Glass Lyre Press / Squircle Line Press]
136 pages
Invented in 2010 during an online interview with Trapeze Magazine, the is an expedient form for an expedient society, an “impossible form” for the “improbable nation” that is Singapore, borne out of impossible means. In this anthology, more than 90 writers have engaged with the form, coming up with their own expressions of it. Some attempt close a structural reflection of the formal requirements, while others draw on the irony of the very same requirements to work in experimentation and innovation. The contributing writers include: Al Hafiz Sanusi, Al Lim, Alice Mendoza, Amber Lin, Andrea Yew, Angeline Sim, Beatrice Bowers, Benedict Yeo, Benzie Dio, Camillia Dass, Chelsey Chow, Chng Shao Kai, Christine Ruth Tan, Crispin Rodrigues, Daryl Qilim Yam, Dave Tai Wei Jie, Deborah Emmanuel, Eric Tinsay Valles, Eva Lim, Faith Christine Lai, Foo Rui Fen Benedicta, Fu Liren, Goh Kian Wee Kevin, Goh Tze Lit Jed, Hazel Lin, Iain Lim Jun Rui, Ian Chung, Irving Paul Pereira, Jared Ho, Jeremy Teo, Jerome Lim, Jerrold Yam, Jocelyn Lau, Jonathan B. Chan, Joses Ho, Joshua Ip, Joshua Lim, Karen Oh, Keane Lee Jun Wei, Kok Wei Liang, Kristie Ng Xinting, Lai Jia Shan Lauren, Lee Min Xue, Lee Seng Leong, Loh Guan Liang, Loh Jia Tyan, Low Kian Seh, Maia Jones, Marc Nair, Marylyn Tan, Max Pasakorn, Megan Cheah Shi Ying, Megan Chua, Min Lim, Morris Yang, Muslim Sahib, Natalie Wang, Ng Yi-Sheng, Ng Yong Zhin, Ng Yu Ci, Ouyang Yingzhao, Pallavi Narayan, Pamela Seong Koon, Patricia Karunungan, Paul Jerusalem, Qamar Firdaus Saini, Rachel Tan, Renata Dharma, Rodrigo Dela Peña Jr, Ruby Thiagarajan, Russ Hoe, S. Mickey Lin, Samuel Caleb Wee, Sarah Tan Shu Ling, Sean Francis Han, See Wern Hao, Serene Chew, Sheila Hong Kai En, Shilpa Dikshit Thapliyal, Stefanie Yeo, Stephanie Chan, Tan Xiang Yeow, Teh Su Ching, Teo Dawn, Thomas Ang, Timothy Wan Zhu-An, Tse Hao Guang, Vidhyashni Parimalan, Wong Si Jia, Yew Jen Khai, Yong Shu Hoong.
EYE/FEEL/WRITE:
BUILDING ARCHITECTONICS
Edited by
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
[Squircle Line Press]
152 pages
The building is but structure. Within its architecture is imbued its aesthetic character. What happens when a writer confronts such a created space, and what texts emerge, themselves rendered as works of art? Commissioned by the National Arts Council, the anthology, Eye|Feel|Write: Building Architectonics, features these twelve illustrious Singapore authors: Aaron Lee, Aaron Maniam, Amanda Chong, Clara Chow, Daryl Lim Wei Jie, Heng Siok Tian, Josephine Chia, Kirpal Singh, O Thiam Chin, Toh Hsien Min, and Tse Hao Guang. Each author was invited to pen three ekphrastic pieces inspired by the heritage architecture of the Supreme Court wing at National Gallery Singapore. Each text remains singular in its charm, adopting a particular way of seeing and saying. These are feats of artistry, exceptional in their craft and insight. From one construct melding into another, witness these exquisite articulations that celebrate the making of the text, the forging of its architectonics.
ANIMA :
THE POETICS OF MIRRORING
Edited by
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé & Eric Tinsay Valles
[Squircle Line Press]
184 pages
Invented in 2017, the anima methodi is a made-in-Singapore poetic form, comprising two stanzas of 16 lines, a volta, repetitions, and a meta sensibility. In this anthology, over 70 writers have engaged with the form, coming up with their own expressions of it. Some attempt as close a structural reflection of the formal requirements, while others create exciting variations through textual experimentation. Through its unique characteristics, the anima methodi allows great authorial introspection, while providing an open enough structure for authors to create intriguing innovations. Indeed, this anthology represents another rare collectible that pulls together poems of a distinctly unique poetic form. The contributing writers include: Aaric Tan Xiang Yeow, Al Lim, Alvin Tan, Alyssa Marie Loo, Andrea Yew, Andy Winter, Carissa Cheow, Cass Zheng Xiwen, Charlene Shepherdson, Cheyenne Chia Kai Ru, Chris Mooney-Singh, Crispin Rodrigues, Damon Chua, Daniel H. Dugas,
Darienne Sim, David Cheng, Denise Heng, Drima Chakraborty, Dylan Randall Wong, Eden Low, Edward Eng, Elancharan Gunasekaran, Elijah Wong Man Shun, Faith Christine Lai, Gwyneth Teo, Hedy Habra, Hidhir Razak, Ho Kin Yunn, Iain Lim Jun Rui, Ian Chung, Jack Xi, Jake Lai, Jared Ho Chit Yin, Jerome Lim Jit How, Jocelyn Suarez, Jonathan B. Chan, Joses Ho, Joshua Ip, Joshua Lim, Kendrick Loo, Kishore Kumar Kalai Chalvan, Kok Wei Liang, Lai Keng Yu, Lim Ray Zheng Valen, Lin Yanxiang, Low Kian Seh, Lune Loh, Margaret L. Devadason, Maroula Blades, Max Pasakorn, Migs Bravo Dutt, Min Lim, Morris Yang, Ng Yi-Sheng, Ng Yu Ci Faye, Nicholas Quek Wei Sheng, Nicole Emma Low, Nicole Fang Si Min, Ouyang Yingzhao, Ow Yeong Wai Kit, Qamar Firdaus Saini, Rodrigo Dela Peña Jr., Russ Hoe, Ryan Foo Mao Yao, Sarah Tan Shu Ling, Shikha Malaviya, Shilpa Dikshit Thapliyal, Sofia Amanda Bening, Tasreen Kaur, Valerie Leblanc, Vanessa Teo, Wahid Al Mamun, Wen Xianda, Yeo Jian Wei Benedict.
ARS MORIENDI:
WRITINGS ON THE ART OF DYING
Edited by
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
[Lien Foundation / Squircle Line Press]
208 pages
Limited Edition
Not For Sale
Death is a difficult thing. It speaks of morbid tragedy. Yet in understanding death as a phenomenon – a universal eventuality for all of us – we are moved to contemplate its presence. passing. importance. The very act of thinking about death becomes important, in and of itself. Beyond denial and taboo, there is a vast good that arrives with such coming to terms. There is great comfort in reflection, honesty, succour, and acceptance. This collection is to the original Ars Moriendi, commemorating the 600th year of the Latin work, the first of its kind in western literature to provide guidance towards dying well. Written in the late Middle Ages, after the scourge of the Black Death, Ars Moriendi was also among the first books printed with movable type. In this limited edition anthology, writers from around the world contribute their ruminations on the matter of the good death. And indeed, aspiring towards the good life a priori – to attend to living well before leaving well. In these pages, we witness the astonishing voices of 28 distinguished writers. These include: Amy Gerstler, Bill Yarrow, Cho Soo-Hyoung, Corey Mesler, Edwin Thumboo, Eric Tinsay Valles, Forrest Gander, Hedy Habra, Isa Kamari, Jane Munro, Jared Randall, John Barton, Karen An-Hwei Lee, Kent Shaw, Kevin Brophy, Kevin Prufer, Lily Hoang, Mandy Pannett, Marilyn Nelson, Michael Ryan, Rae Armantrout, Ryan Van Winkle, Steven Cramer, Susan Blackwell Ramsey, Susan M. Schultz, Tabish Khair, Timothy Liu, and Yeow Kai Chai.