At the Straits Times’ Life! Theatre Awards 2020, Faith was nominated for Best Lighting Design for the play Dear Elena (above). (Photo by: The Pond Photography)

Meet NUS alumna and former NUS Dance Ensemble member Liu Yong Huay Faith.

We managed to snag faith for a quick catch-up and hear more about her proud #myheartiswiththearts story, her journey of discovery in the arts, and her involvement in the upcoming M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. While she had first joined the arts onstage, she has now found her true calling – putting others in the limelight – and is widely known as the co-founder of the Wei Collective and a lighting designer by practice.

Q: Where did your passion for the performing arts come from? 

A:  My passion for the performing arts came through the form of dance; I enjoy the combination of music and movement. I have watched many dance performances and have always appreciated how space changes in dance through lighting – its colours, angles and direction tell of different space dynamics with the body. I fell deeper in love with the craft of designing spaces with light since I pursued lighting design as a career option. It is inevitably both challenging and fun to better understand the performance, space and technicalities. Along the way, the results help determine what art means to me as a lighting designer. 

Q:  What fuels your passion and commitment as a theatre practitioner/ lighting designer in Singapore? 

A:  The desire to create and collaborate. This can manifest in many forms, be it opening a café or managing a business. I happen to fall in love with the medium of light in theatre and dance productions, and I enjoy watching spaces and bodies come alive in a space that is custom designed for that purpose. It is enjoyable to talk and work with other practitioners and find creative ways to express our thoughts and impulses. 

Q: What are some of your upcoming works we can look forward to? 

A: Being: 息在 by 微 Wei Collective, which is part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. I am also proud to announce that I am the co-founder of the collective, and a space collaborator for the production, which allows me to oversee set and lighting design. 

Other upcoming lighting design works of mine include, Catch A Breath by Regina Foo, which is part of the Esplanade PLAYtime! series and Blackout by NUS Stage, which will be presented as part of NUS Arts Festival 2022, directed by Chong Tze Chien.  

Q: How does your work address or affect societal issues? 

A:  While my work does not directly address or affect societal issues, I believe that there are valuable lessons to be learnt through stories told, along with ideals, conflicts and resolutions portrayed in plays. I believe in the choreography of a dance piece and its intentions to create poetic sequences that evoke imagination.  

In this context, light creates space within individual sets and bodies to help tell a story. The story is then a driving force that may address or affect societal issues and light is a tool to help tell the story, enhancing the mise-en-scène and providing direction to where the audience should be looking on stage.  

I also believe in the power of space. Space is made up of the physical space and how light is in the space to allow for interpretation. I am inspired by Teshima Art Museum where the architect worked with the artist to create breathing space; which reminds visitors to breathe upon entering the museum.  

Both the power of space and light can inspire us to look within ourselves; and that could effect change.  

Q: How did your involvement with NUS Centre for the Arts – during your time as a student – play a role in your pursuit of the arts? Had it been useful in encouraging your passion and pursuit of the arts? 

A:  I started with NUS Dance Ensemble and that formed my appreciation of dance as an art form, and the importance of backstage work to produce a performance. Both the performers and backstage crew are just as important. I danced and took on production roles during my time at NUS Dance Ensemble. It was inspiring, then, for me to observe how freelancers and professionals such as the lighting designer, sound designer and technical crew do what they do best with accuracy and precision to help with the delivery of performances. 

The myriad of programmes at NUS Centre for The Arts, which brought together both amateur and professional artists, allowed me to see the possibilities of starting a career in the arts. The friendships formed and skills attained from working on performances certainly gave me a deeper insight to how much hard work must be put in to make a performance happen. To pursue the arts requires hard work, perseverance and can-do attitude.  

Q: How has your craft evolved since you left NUS as a student? 

A: After graduation, I realised that I prefer watching people onstage performing than being a performer myself. I delved behind-the-scenes and engaged in arts programming, production managing, and stage managing for a few years to learn from other freelance professionals on lighting design and production work. I wanted to specialise in a craft and recognised lighting design as the medium I wanted to pursue as I believe in the power of space and how various elements come together to create a space in the context of a performance. I wanted to be part of the team that worked on space. 

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? 

A: To continue to create and collaborate with other arts practitioners regardless of form. This can turn out to be a performance, an art installation, a piece of architecture or a film. The scale of the show is secondary for me; to have like-minded individuals to come together and do a thing, that is what is precious.  

Check out my portfolio here: https://liuyonghuay.tumblr.com. Let’s see where it goes in 10 years! 

Q: What’s advice do you have for NUS’ student artists aspiring to continue in this field of work beyond university life? 

A:  My advice would be to get to know yourself and know what makes you tick and what doesn’t. Watch as many shows as you can, and note what leaves an impression with you. Every individual is unique in taste and approach, so form your own and read the bigger context.