Twin Cinema Poetry: Singapore’s Literary Innovation
What Is Twin Cinema Poetry?
Twin Cinema Poetry stands as a groundbreaking poetic form pioneered in Singapore—a testament to the nation’s literary creativity. Written in two parallel columns, each can be read vertically as independent narratives, often presenting correlating or contrasting perspectives. The true magic emerges when read horizontally across both columns, revealing an entirely new narrative that transcends the individual parts.
This architectural approach to poetry creates a three-dimensional reading experience, inviting audiences to traverse multiple narrative pathways through a single work. The form embodies Singapore’s multicultural ethos: diverse perspectives harmoniously coexisting while creating something greater than their individual parts.
“Twin Cinema doesn’t just present multiple viewpoints—it creates a dialogue between them, reflecting the complexity of human experience.”
First crafted by Singaporean poet Yeow Kai Chai in his pioneering work “Begone Dull Care,” and “Couplets II” Twin Cinema has evolved into a distinctive contribution to global poetic traditions. Other notable works include “For the End Comes Reaching” by David Wong Hsien Ming and “Singaporean Son” by visual storyteller Low Kian Seh, and other twin cinema poems including within the anthology, Twin Cities.
Featured Work: My Twin Cinema poem published in LOR Journal: Hungry Dreams
Notable Works & Innovations in Twin Cinema Poetry
Twin Cinema Poetry continues to evolve through experimental approaches
- A meta-twin cinema by Marc Nair – Arguments With Myself – assembled from lines from multiple poets during SingPoWriMo 16.
- A meta-twin cinema by Ang Shuang, assembled from lines from Janice Heng and Ruth Tang, two notable poets during SingPoWriMo 16.
- A twin cinema by Janice Heng on a brother and sister from a famous political family, which went viral on facebook with more than a hundred shares and five hundred likes.
- A triple cinema by See Wern Hao referencing the same family with a third member.
- A quad cinema by Janice Heng on a robot who wants to learn poetry.
The Twin Cinema Poetry TwitterBot: Digital Evolution
From Concept to Creation
When approached by Romy and Mia from LOR Journal to offer a unique offering for the Emerging Writer’s Festival 2019, I embraced the opportunity to translate Singapore’s Twin Cinema tradition into the digital realm by co-developing a poetry bot with developer, published author and A.I. specialist Luca Dell’Anna. As a storyteller working at the intersection of visual art and text, traditional craftsmanship and digital innovation, I found Twin Cinema the perfect vehicle for exploration.
Crafting Digital Poetry
The development process married literary tradition with computational creativity:
Vocabulary Foundation
I meticulously selected words across categories:
- Actors: I, you, my, your, theirs, his/hers
- Actions: Concrete (kneeling) and abstract (accept)
- Concepts/Things: Tangible (green, write) and intangible (love, acceptance)
- Descriptors: Physical (pale, bronze) and conceptual (imperfect, ignorant)
- Propositions/Adverbs: Do, Don’t, Please
- Spaces: Physical (office) and temporal (morning, future)
Structural Architecture
Using Google Sheets, I designed a framework accounting for:
- Word placement and pairing
- Syllable count (maintaining the 5-7-5 Haiku structure)
- Visual alignment to preserve the distinctive Twin Cinema format
Technical Implementation
With developer and publish author Luca DellAnna, we:
- Developed code to generate image-based poems
- Preserved the visual integrity of the form’s characteristic vertical aisle
- Used Integromat to schedule automated publications throughout the festival
The Digital Exhibition
The Twin Cinema Poetry Bot generated unexpected poetic combinations that sometimes achieve a remarkably human quality—demonstrating how algorithmic creation can produce moments of genuine emotional resonance.
Selected Permutations:
Artistic Reflections on the Twin Cinema Poetry Bot Creation Process
The most profound challenge was philosophical: surrendering artistic control. Traditional poetic creation relies on deliberate choices, but generative art requires establishing thoughtful parameters within which randomness can create unexpected beauty. This balance between structure and spontaneity mirrors Singapore’s own journey of planned development and organic cultural evolution.
Future Projects: Hybrid Human + AI Twin Cinema Poetry
With my collaborator Luca Dell’Anna, we have proposed an extension of our original Poetry bot: A human-A.I. hybrid project for Singapore Writer’s Festival 2025 (theme Shape of Things to Come). A sample teaser and demo of what we have proposed can be found below:
Twin Cinema Poetry: Tradition Meets Technology
A collaborative workshop by Singaporean artists exploring our literary heritage through AI collaboration
The Art of Twin Cinema
Twin Cinema poetry—pioneered by Singaporean poet Yeow Kai Chai in his work "Begone Dull Care"—represents one of Singapore's distinctive contributions to world literature. This innovative form consists of two columns that can be read vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, creating multiple layers of meaning that reflect our multicultural heritage.
Workshop Vision
Our Singapore Writers Festival workshop extends this tradition by teaching participants the craft of Twin Cinema poetry while exploring how technology can expand our creative possibilities. Guided by our expertise in both traditional forms and digital innovation, participants will:
- Learn the structural principles of Twin Cinema from Singaporean practitioners
- Study notable works from Singapore's literary canon
- Craft their own Twin Cinema poems with guidance from AI collaboration
- Contribute to a growing installation that will be displayed throughout the festival
Interactive Experience Preview
Craft Your Twin Cinema
- Select a theme connected to Singapore's identity or write your own
- Write 3-5 lines for the left column (follow the suggested structure for best results)
- The AI will craft a complementary right column that works both vertically and horizontally
- Explore multiple readings: vertical, horizontal, and as a unified whole
Notable Twin Cinema Works
These examples from Singapore's literary tradition demonstrate the form's versatility and depth:
Workshop Journey
Our three-hour interactive workshop creates a structured learning experience:
Historical context of Twin Cinema in Singapore's literary tradition
Exploring the technical elements with examples from Singaporean poets
Hands-on practice with traditional approaches
Introduction to technology-assisted creation
Editing and improving collaboratively created poems
Contributing to festival-wide Twin Cinema display
Educational Outcomes
Participants will gain:
- Understanding of Twin Cinema's place in Singapore's literary heritage
- Technical skill in crafting multi-dimensional poetry
- Experience with collaborative creative processes
- A completed Twin Cinema poem for the festival installation
- Reflection on the relationship between traditional forms and technological innovation
Cultural Significance
This workshop celebrates a uniquely Singaporean poetic innovation while exploring how our literary traditions can evolve in dialogue with new technologies. By honoring Twin Cinema's origins while exploring its future possibilities, we create space for meaningful reflection on Singapore's ongoing cultural development.
The installation component ensures that festival attendees beyond workshop participants can experience the richness of Twin Cinema poetry and appreciate this distinctive contribution to world literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Twin Cinema Poetry different from other poetic forms?
Unlike traditional poetry forms, Twin Cinema creates three distinct reading experiences in a single poem—vertical readings of each column and a horizontal reading across both.
Can Twin Cinema Poetry be written in languages other than English?
Absolutely! Twin Cinema thrives in multilingual expressions and has been written in all of Singapore’s official languages, often incorporating multiple languages in a single poem.
What makes a successful Twin Cinema poem?
The best Twin Cinema poems create three coherent narratives—two vertical and one horizontal—with each offering a different but related perspective on the central theme.
How can beginners start writing Twin Cinema poetry?
Start with two related themes or perspectives. Write each column separately, ensuring they make sense independently, then revise to create meaningful horizontal connections between the lines.
ns emerge.”
CONNECT & COLLABORATE
Interested in exploring Twin Cinema poetry or developing your own digital poetry project?
[Contact Us] to discuss workshops, collaborations, or artistic partnerships.
“Twin Cinema doesn’t just present two perspectives—it creates a third space where unexpected connections emerge.”