With a history dating back to the late 19th century, moving image gatherings have taken place in and around Singapore's civic district for almost 130 years, where an active ecology of film production, distribution, and exhibition have existed in varying forms and scales all within a 2-kilometre radius.
Far from being a sedentary and passive activity, cinema can be a deeply engaging and physical one. The ritual of walking/moving to and from the cinema is a tangible bodily act that we engage in. And whether we arrive alone or not, we sit in dark rooms with other people, breathing and experiencing something together. And if we allow it, these experiences can change us.
During this two-hour guided stroll, we will trace and draw psycho-geographic lines of remembrance through screening spaces, both lost and present. Weaving through personal and cultural memories, we will witness, imagine, and speculate on how we congregate, socialise, think and feel when we watch films in these places that hold us and our collective imaginations.
The walk will take about 2 hours, and will end at Objectifs. The walk is followed by a short film programme, which will take about 20 - 30minutes. There will be short breaks and post-walk discussions included.
Venue
Around City Hall area. Meeting point and route will be shared with participants closer to the start of the workshop. The walk will end at Objectifs.
Instructor
Viknesh Kobinathan
About Viknesh Kobinathan
Viknesh Kobinathan (he/they) is a cultural worker, whose practice explores the gathering around sound and image as an act of care, healing, rest and refusal. An MA graduate of film studies from the National Film and Television School in England, they are based in Singapore where they were Programmer at the Asian Film Archive (2019-2024). In 2024, they were named as one of Screen International's Future Leaders in programming and curation. They currently convene screenings and listening parties with This Where Film Club, an independent and itinerant initiative they co-founded.
Requirements
As the session entails walking outdoors, please dress suitably and bring along an umbrella/hat and sufficient hydration. There will be stairs involved, so do let us know in advance if you have mobility issues. This is a rain or shine event.
