ramble on: poems by madeleine lee

Location: Lakeside Field

Artist: Madeleine Lee

A profound correlation exists between the creation of poetry and the vastness of nature where contemplative observation in the midst of our natural surroundings can yield a stirring ramble of written expression.

ramble on is a selection of Madeleine Lee’s nature inspired poems installed within the natural surroundings of Jurong Lake Gardens. Her words conjure imagery of raintrees with pink crowns and red figs on rainforest trails, ferns of bird’s nest and maiden hair, seedlings and saplings, hornbills, dragonflies, dancing ants and the splendid egret.

To enhance this sensory experience, a specially curated audio track drawn from ramble on: poems by madeleine lee, will be read by veteran actress Karen Tan and composed by award-winning sound designer Philip Tan, and made available online for your listening pleasure.

Experience ramble on in varied ways. Visit Jurong Lake Gardens and take in the poetry installation on display from 26 February 2021 to 14 March 2021. Pick up a complimentary activity kit to accompany the poems during the weekends of 27 & 28 February, 6 & 7 March (9am to 6pm) whilst stock last! This specially designed kit will lead you on your own self-guided journey to discover the plants and creatures of Jurong Lake Gardens as featured in the poetry.

Start your year with words and art with nature at the very heart.

About the Artist

Madeleine Lee is an award-winning investment manager and poet. She has published 10 books of poetry. She has been Poet in Residence for Singapore Botanic Gardens for which flinging the triplets was published in 2013, and also for National Gallery of Singapore for which regarding was published in 2017.

She read at major literary festivals including the Indonesia International Poetry Festival 2008, the Ubud Writers Festival 2009, the Melbourne Writers Festival 2010, the Hanoi Poetry Festival 2013 and Leeds University Poetry Symposium 2019. She has also been a consistent writer featured in the Singapore Writers Festival since 2003. 4 of her books y grec, one point six one eight, square root of time and regarding were adapted for the stage by Cake from 2007 to 2020. In 2015, she was selected to represent Singapore writers in the Writing the City series of short films and interviews.

Lee’s work has also been adapted into other forms. The poem “blue” was interpreted into visual art/paint, while the poem “negative light” was interpreted in dance by a Canadian dance group. Other poems like “coffee,” “caesura,” and “ultraviolet” were also adapted into film by Arts Central (2005), the Paris Poetry Festival (2012) and by Writing the City (British Council, 2015) respectively. In 2005 she co-produced the play 2nd Link with W!LDRICE and in 2011 produced Moving Worlds, an anthology of Singapore poetry on the MRT.

Madeleine is currently Poet in Residence for The Nature Society and Bird Life International Singapore.

https://madeleineleepoetry.com/

About NAC Arts and Culture Nodes Network

The National Arts Council’s island-wide network of arts and culture nodes is developed for people to come together to participate in, enjoy, and experience the value of the arts in their neighbourhood. Jurong Lake Gardens is part of the National Arts Council’s Arts and Culture Nodes Network.