Shawn Hoo

Shawn is a journalist on the arts beat at The Straits Times. He reviews books and reports on theatre and the visual arts as well as other cultural issues, for the Life desk. Prior to joining ST in 2022, he spent two years teaching writing and literature at higher education institutions in Shanghai and Singapore. He believes the arts, arts education and arts writing are essential.

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The Straits Times Weekly Bestsellers Feb 14

(From left) After The Fall/Despues de la Caida by Eric Tinsay Valles, Policy, Fairness And Compassion by K. Shanmugam, The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.

Books connect Banyan Group director Ho Ren Chun to friends and family

Mr Ho Ren Chun, director of corporate development at Banyan Group, fits in short stories and poetry into his travel time.

Pesta Raya 2026 brings film La Luna to the stage and Zainalabidin’s 50th anniversary concert

The Esplanade has commissioned Malay-language theatre company Teater Ekamatra to adapt director M. Raihan’s La Luna (2024) – Singapore’s entry to the Oscars in 2025 – for the stage.

Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel partners SG Culture Pass on perks for singles to go on artsy dates

As at Jan 1, 2026, over $10 million in credits have been used, with young people aged between 18 and 35 accounting for half of the credit usage.

National Gallery Singapore to close South-east Asian art exhibition till Oct 2027 for renewal

National Gallery Singapore will revamp its permanent modern South-east Asian art history exhibition from April 2026 to Oct 2027.

Absurd Taiwanese and South-east Asian folktales of metamorphosis in Tall Tales: Bananas & Ang Ku Kuehs

Taiwanese theatremaker Wang Chia-ming (left) and Singaporean theatremaker Oliver Chong's Tall Tales: Bananas & Ang Ku Kuehs premiere at the Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026.

Veteran actress Tian Shui, who co-stars with King Shih-chieh in Le Pere, teared up in rehearsals

Chinese national first-class actress Tian Shui (left) and Taiwanese actor King Shih-chieh (right) star in the Mandarin adaptation of award-winning play Le Pere (The Father) as part of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026.

The Straits Times Weekly Bestsellers Jan 31

Ex-restaurateur Lim Tse Wei on the labour and pleasures behind the Little Perfections of S’pore food

US-based Singaporean writer and ex-restaurateur Lim Tse Wei's debut book of essays Little Perfections: Eating In Singapore (2025) brings economics to the centre of the hawker conversation.

Curator Syed Muhammad Hafiz starts the day with reading to set the tone

Independent curator Syed Muhammad Hafiz curated the ongoing show Metamorphosis, featurng Singaporean batik modernist Jaafar Latiff, at Cuturi Gallery.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.