22 December 2010

If Oscar Wilde were to be reincarnated to live the life he deserved to live, he'd have come back as Professor K.K. Seet.

Dr. K.K. Seet -- child prodigy, distinguished and prolific author, theater director, media personality, and Singapore's "most glamorous academic" -- helped to establish NUS, National University of Singapore's Theater Studies program in 1992. And it is no wonder that Singapore today, has successfully taken up the mantle of a hub of experimental theater, and welcoming port, and a Center for the Arts in Asia.

It's hard to imagine Singapore's Arts Development without the involvement of talented insiders like Dr. Seet. K.K. is not only a practicing theater director and an academic with a strong, effective public persona; but he is also a member of The Establishment, thus allowing him the rare ability to dispense with the sort of formalities which often serves no other purpose than to ingratiate.

Dr. Seet's winning combination of having an innate understanding of the arts, and his insider's access meant that he could dispense with the need for self-promotion/consolidation of power, and instead focus fully on designing a solid Theater Arts Program at National University of Singapore, thereby building a foundation for the performing arts within the unique context of Singapore.

Thanks to his insiders-understanding and access, Dr. Seet could dispense with the sort of politicking rampant in academia, and instead focus his efforts entirely on structuring what was needed. Because of Dr. Seet's establishment credentials, there was less danger of his need to concede to unqualified, career academic types, or administrative bureaucrats, who might excel at political maneuvering, but have neither the necessary understanding of the Arts nor of the creative mindset, to be able to establish any proper working model of effective Arts Development.

Dr. Seet's work designing and serving on the panels of numerous Performing Arts and Literary Awards and Competitions, are proof that while he conveys an easy-going demeanor -- K.K.'s contribution to Singapore is the result of his hard-work. His purposeful dedication has paved the way for future generations of Singaporean youth both to better understand and apply the holistic self-awareness that is characteristic of the artistic temperament, as well as to enable them to pursue their passions for the performing arts without the need to leave the country.

iCUBED.us is honored to salute Dr. Seet for fulfilling his mission with a lifetime of work to expand the Singaporean psyche beyond 'basic necessities' to encompass an appreciation of Beauty and a taste for 'the finer things in life' that is embodied in culture and the performing arts. This is no small accomplishment... and, we look forward to following his life beyond academia, as it's sure to be something colorful and fun!

Please join us in our EXCLUSIVE iCUBED.us INTERVIEW WITH DR. KK SEET about his fairytale for all ages--A SINGLE TEAR, and how 'the Simple is Always Beautiful"