Life of Imitation celebrates and reflects on the context of the Golden Age of Singapore cinema in the 1950s and 60s: an era of nation-building, struggle, rapid modernization and cultural flux. This award-winning exhibition premiered at the Singapore Pavilion in the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009, organized by the National Arts Council (Singapore), curated by Tang Fu Kuen, and presenting artist Ming Wong who won Special Mention from the jury. This is the highest accolade ever received by Singapore at the most prestigious international art platform. The Singapore Art Museum is proud to re-stage the show on homeground – with a new design and additional exhibits – before bringing it on tour to other cities. Inspired by Singapore’s rich screen legacy, Ming Wong re-reads ‘national cinema’ as meditated by language, role playing and identity. He re-interprets films which engage with performative notions of mis-casting and parroting, and reflects on Singapore’s roots and hybridity, and the politics of becoming.