Shawn Hoo

Shawn is a journalist on the arts beat at The Straits Times. He reviews books and reports on theatre and the visual arts as well as other cultural issues, for the Life desk. Prior to joining ST in 2022, he spent two years teaching writing and literature at higher education institutions in Shanghai and Singapore. He believes the arts, arts education and arts writing are essential.

Email

Latest articles

‘Parenting shouldn’t feel that way’: Teo You Yenn’s book Unease questions how pro-family Singapore really is

Associate Professor Teo You Yenn, whose book This Is What Inequality Looks Like became a national bestseller in 2018, is back with a new book, titled Unease: Life In Singapore Families (2026).

The Straits Times Weekly Bestsellers March 28

Acclaimed Singaporean watercolourist Ong Kim Seng exhibits personal collection

A favourite of Ong Kim Seng's paintings on show is Children Of The Third World (1993).

Macbeth is remade through Minangkabau randai folk theatre tradition

Randai Macbeth plays at the Esplanade Theatre Studio from April 16 to 19 as part of Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2026.

In a post-literate age, books are acting like chatbots. Can reading survive?

Readers who have no time or patience to slog through author Irene Ng’s 1352-page The Lion’s Roar had a chance to instead pose questions about to the National Library Board's generative AI-powered ChatBot in 2024.

Meet Gene Png, the Singaporean translating South Korean feminist bestsellers into English

Singaporean translator Gene Png translated South Korean bestsellers like The Legend Of Lady Byeoksa into English.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra plays Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and a suite inspired by Chinese cuisine

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Asia’s oldest orchestra, makes its Singapore debut under the baton of music director Long Yu on March 23.

Mooty The Mouse creator Jessie Wee, pioneer of S’pore children’s literature, dies at 88

Jessie Wee was best known as the creator of the beloved children’s books series The Adventures Of Mooty (1980).

Ong Keng Sen directs Jacintha and Dick Lee at Sifa 2026; plus Jeremy Tiang’s Obie Award-winning play

Veteran singer Jacintha Abisheganaden (left) will tell her life story and share a stage with long-time collaborator Dick Lee in Lush Life at the Singapore International Festival of Arts.

Artists worry as Goodman Arts Centre hikes short-term rentals by 60 per cent

Artists renting project studios at Goodman Arts Centre have been informed of a rent hike from mid-2026.

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Personal Data Protection Notice

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.