Virtual Storytelling

Kamini Ramachandran

SYNOPSIS

Cattle Tales: A Story of Serangoon Road & A Thaipusam Story

Stories can be found within walls, streets and celebrations, and are waiting to be shared. Master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran visits Little India and breathes life into artworks, temples and buildings. With the restrictions placed by the pandemic, Kamini will be presenting her popular storytelling sessions in a digital format. Through a series of two videos, she retells the tales attached deep within this area and connects audiences to the spirit of ARTWALK Little India.

Kamini’s images by Zane Motalif.

Cattle Tales: A Story of Serangoon Road
The story of Serangoon Road is full of cows and buffaloes that gave plenty of milk and worked hard pulling carts carrying loads. Kerbau Road and Buffalo Road are names that hark back to a time when these animals were a vital part of a bustling, vibrant and important area of Singapore. Listen to master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran regale you with a tale from long ago and discover the significance of cattle to the harvest festival of Pongal. Travel back in time and experience the world of milkmen, bullock carts and cow sheds told through miniature figurine sculptures.

A Thaipusam Story
Every year during Thaipusam, devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadis and walk as part of a procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road to the Murugan Temple in Tank Road. What is the story of Lord Murugan? Why do devotees chant Vel! Vel! and carry the kavadi? What is the significance of peacock feathers? Let master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran take you on a temple visit as she shares the myth behind Thaipusam and the procession route that starts in Little India. Experience the vibrancy of this festival through miniature figurine sculptures that pay homage to the different facets of Thaipusam.

ARTIST'S BIO

Kamini Ramachandran

Kamini Ramachandran is a master storyteller known for her Asian repertoire of stories from the oral tradition. Her storytelling celebrates culture and heritage through the telling of folktales and myths. She has performed in temples, rooftops, parks and castles, bringing ancient tales alive through her performances. Known for her interdisciplinary collaborations with musicians and visual artists, Kamini has been commissioned to create site-specific storytelling experiences, including presenting stories digitally.

Kamini founded The Storytelling Centre Ltd to advance the art of storytelling through her work in nurturing young storytellers as well as producing the annual festival, StoryFest Singapore. A respected teaching artist and mentor, she is much sought after to conduct training and develop storytelling programmes for museums, galleries and other educational institutions. Through her work in Moonshadow Stories, she has delighted audiences of all ages around the world breathing life into traditional tales from our region.