Surrounded by calligraphy and painting in her childhood, later stepping onto the screen as an actress and delivering words as an announcer—
Art has always been a quiet companion in the life of Tsuyumi Miwa.
Japan, Italy, Australia, and now Singapore, where she is currently based.
Having lived among diverse cultures, she has once again picked up her brush as an artist. Through light and color, she depicts scenes where personal memories intersect with the collective memories of Singapore, a land shaped by many cultures and ethnicities.
In this ongoing “Story of Art” series for Voyage, we turn our attention to her recent body of work, the “Singapore Cultural Series,” which honors the countless “everyday heroes” who sustain the city’s multicultural identity.
Let us trace her artistic journey and the thoughts woven into each of her works.
【Story of Art.10】Hokkien Opera Troupe 新燕玲 (Sin Yen Lin)
10. Hokkien Opera Troupe — 新燕玲 (Sin Yen Lin)
“Opera is more than performance—it is the voice of a people, the rhythm of their history, and the heartbeat of tradition passed down through generations.”
In Singapore, Hokkien opera continues to echo this truth. Also known as gezai opera, it traces its origins to Fujian province in China. In the nineteenth century, early Fujian immigrants brought with them various opera traditions—min opera, liyuan opera, gaojia opera, and gezai. Over time, these forms took root in their new home. The term “Hokkien opera” emerged through this process of localisation, gradually reflecting the cultural identity of Singapore’s Hokkien-speaking community.
Hokkien opera is performed in rich, expressive tones that carry both emotion and history. Dramatic storytelling unfolds through elaborate costumes, traditional music, and stylised gestures. The narratives often draw from historical events, folklore, and moral teachings. Each movement is deliberate; each vocal phrase is shaped to give life to characters who exist between memory and myth. On stage, the art form reveals not only stories, but a way of understanding heritage itself.
A vital sanctuary for this tradition is 韮菜芭城隍庙 (Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple Association), a Taoist temple whose origins trace back to the arrival of the City God’s statue from Anxi, Fujian. For generations, it has stood alongside the faith of the local community while supporting traditional Chinese performances, including Hokkien opera. Although the temple underwent redevelopment in response to urban restructuring, its commitment to sustaining these ritual offerings has endured. Within its grounds, performance is not merely entertainment—it is devotion, memory, and cultural continuity.
At the heart of the troupe Sin Yen Lin stands its lead performer, an eighty-year-old veteran whose presence commands immediate attention. She steps onto the stage with confidence and grace, her movements precise and assured. Age has not dimmed her energy; rather, it has deepened her authority. Each gesture carries decades of discipline, each note reflects a lifetime devoted to her craft.
Her passion extends beyond her own performance. It flows through the entire troupe, creating a shared vitality that animates rehearsals and live shows alike. In their collective spirit, tradition is not treated as a relic of the past, but as something living—renewed with every performance.
In an era defined by speed and constant change, troupes like Sin Yen Lin remain steadfast. Their commitment ensures that Hokkien opera continues not as a fading memory, but as a living legacy. Each production becomes more than a show; it becomes a reminder that culture endures when it is practiced, protected, and performed with conviction.
🌕 Next Chapter
This series is updated on every full moon.
The next article is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026.
