Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts returns in February 2014 for the celebration of Chinese New Year. Launched in 2003, Huayi showcases the works of outstanding Chinese artists of all genres, be they traditional or contemporary. Singapore being a multi-racial country, this festival acts as a platform on which artists can present their works to international audiences in Singapore as well as celebrate Singapore’s multicultural heritage.

Today, Huayi has grown into one of the most warmly embraced arts festivals in Singapore and one that strongly represents the Chinese diaspora. Spread over two weekends, Huayi provides audiences with diverse showcases such as theatre, dance, music and visual arts of the Chinese artistic expression.

One of the acts in Huayi 2014 will be Chejiang Xiaobaihua Opera Troupe’s Good Soul of South Yangtze. This modern Yue Opera adaptation of German playwright Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan is directed by renowned director Guo Xiaonan. The female troupe includes opera doyen Mao Weitao who will be playing both male and female roles in the same production for the first time in her 33 year stage career.

The Art of Tim Yip, an exhibition by Tim Yip, will also be showcased during the festival. Tim Yip is best known for his production and costume for Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The exhibition will feature photographic prints of his film costumes, interview footage and raw sketches.

The festival will also have music with international bands and singer-songwriters from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Esplanade celebrates the Chinese New Year with the 12^th edition of Huayi in 2014 from 6 to 16 February 2014.