Kids' recorder works on the world stage

Footage of primary-school pupils playing the recorder is part of home-grown artist Song-Ming Ang's multimedia installation for next year's Venice Biennale

Singapore artist Song-Ming Ang during the filming of his multimedia installation, Recorder Rewrite.
Singapore artist Song-Ming Ang during the filming of his multimedia installation, Recorder Rewrite. PHOTO: DYLON GOH FOR THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
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When he was in primary school, Song-Ming Ang - like most pupils - had to play the recorder in music class and he was never a big fan.

"Everything about the recorder in our memory is so bad," says the 38-year-old artist of the instrument that has been ubiquitous in Singapore schools since the 1970s.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 25, 2018, with the headline Kids' recorder works on the world stage. Subscribe