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Bright Ong

@bright.ong

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My life as an Actor, Puppetry Creative, Performance-Maker.
Southeast Asian in heart and soul!
Represented by @infinity_artist_management

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Special time, special suit. Yes, I dress up when called for. Thank you @danielboey for the styling, and @maisonthomaswee for the lovely suit.Photo from the 2023 gala night of My Neighbour Totoro.#Brightong#actorslife #asianactors #actor #myneighbourtotoro #barbican #royalshakespearecompany #brightdoeslondon by @bright.ong

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a year ago

Final movement stress tests done today before The Beast makes its appearance at SIFA X: Oneirism, at Goodman Arts Center.Finding the flow and balance, but also the power and drive in big puppets like these have always been something I've worked towards improving. I cannot wait for a live audience!Shout out to @imaginator_studios for having my back. #thebeast #sifax #oneirism #giantpuppet #puppet #puppets #bigpuppet #puppetry #puppeteers #puppetrycreative #theatre #festival #sgcultureanywhere #brightong #actorslife #director #bigboi #monster #cantbelievemyfivetenshoesarestillholdingup by @bright.ong

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4 years ago

Hello world wide web! As I complete another revolution around the sun, I've been looking back on this journey called life, and being super grateful for all the wonderful experiences and memories. A lot of it is tied to my work, and that is a blessing and a half. To everyone I have had the pleasure of working with, thank you for your kindess, love, and creativity!Depending on when and where you've met me, your brain has probably slotted me into a specific box. So this post is really just to clarify what I do for a living, in the most concise way I can think of. Granted, it's a lot, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Between the crazy schedules and the travelling, I find so much joy and meaning in what my portfolio of work has evolved into.So here's me, where I am right now. There's more adventures ahead, and with it, more stories to come I'm sure. But for now, have a swipe through, and see you around! Big love, Bright.#BrightOng #Actor #PerformanceMaker #PuppetryCreative #Director #humanbeing #artist #SEAsian #internationalartist Headshots by @samuelblackphotography by @bright.ong

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a year ago

Throwback to rehearsals with the Beruk Kentoi.It was probably the first time I allowed myself, in all my capabilities, to be an artist. Making, creating, performing for the sake of making art. Not chasing a deadline, or strangling myself trying to explain budgets. Just making, because I felt empowered and inspired. Simple as she may be, this puppet will always be something I look back upon with great fondness and humility. Not only for the lessons it has taught me, and the fact that the late Dr Jane Goodall kissed it on stage (yes, that truly happened), but also for being the gateway to finally allowing myself to be an artist, and not just an arts worker. Void of any nonsense politics or unreasonable and uninformed demands. It was when I finally felt the ability to express and grow as a person.Seeing these beautiful macaques in the wild was also a major treat! And really, it has been the catalyst to my journey in melding art, environmental conservation, and wildlife awareness. Here's to many more beautiful projects to come. And may you, the viewer, find your peace in your work. #berukkentoi #stumptailedmacaque #puppetsofinstagram #Brightong #puppetrycreative by @bright.ong

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a day ago

A few snippets of the Irrawaddy Dolphins from Project Riwayat: Katha 1, Voices of the Vanishing. Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to witness how art reflects life, and in this case, the severity of the situation with our wildlife. I still remember everyone who came up to us after the performances to tell us your heartfelt thoughts and feelings, and of course, the surprise that these animals exist in the very waters not too far from Hin Bus Depot! Do follow @marecet for the amazing work that they do with marine mammals, and contribute in any way that you can. Puppeteers:@alfredlohactor @maisyarah_m @lim_yunxin @m.marcus_lim Made at by @bright.ong and @mascots.and.puppets with the help of @craftsmanjono Music collaborators: @bihzhu and @vicklowcelloProject Riwayat: Katha 1 was made possible with the ArtsFAS programme by @yayasan_hasanah #ProjectRiwayat #irrawaddydolphin #wildlifeconservation #Brightong #PuppetryCreative by @bright.ong

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13 days ago

Irrawaddy Dolphins: Movement reference archival, from Project Riwayat: Katha 1. Puppeteers:@alfredlohactor @maisyarah_m @lim_yunxin @m.marcus_lim #projectriwayat#BrightOng #puppetrycreative #irrawaddydolphin #southeastasianart by @bright.ong

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24 days ago

Here's the making of the Irrawaddy Dolphins for Project Riwayat: Katha 1! Here's a quick summary of how these puppets were made, and the work that goes into bringing it all to fruition. They really were a hit amongst the audiences during the exhibition, and the smiles on everyone's faces was the pay off that I was looking for. It was amazing to see how people connected to the puppets, and all the curious questions that came after. The best one being: "We have these in Penang, Malaysia?!?!"Yes we do! These guys exist in Malaysian waters, and even more excitingly, have been recently spotted on the coastal shorelines in Perlis. (Follow @perlisnaturexplorer for more videos on the sightings and research)As I dive, pun intended, deeper into the waters that is wildlife conservation with my art, it has become more apparent to me how important it is to represent the essence and soul of these creatures more than anything else. The connections that our audiences gain to the subject matter seems to be tied to how these puppets represent the real thing not in aesthetics, but in the way the performance is derived from the core of the nature of the animal. Lots to discover as I go deeper, so do follow along!Special thanks to @mascots.and.puppets as well as @craftsmanjono for the support.#ProjectRiwayat #brightong #PuppetryCreative #southeastasianart #irrawaddydolphin by @bright.ong

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a month ago

Throwback to the shadow puppet sequencerehearsals for Lao Jiu The Musical by @thetheatrepractice.Absolute joy working with actors who are so giving and willing to play and experiment!Shadow heads made at @imaginator_studios. #shadowpuppets#puppetsofinstagram#brightong #puppetrycreative #laojiuthemusical by @bright.ong

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5 days ago

Big shout out to this amazing team who has bagged 2 nominations at the Wildscreen Panda Awards 2026! "I'll Need to Leave for a Little While" is a short nature documentary that touches upon the plight of the critically endangered Tonkin Snub Nosed Monkey.Super proud of this Vietnam + Malaysia team, that came together to create this meaningful piece. The documentary crew and the live performance team, on 2 separate projects housed under one grant by @studiobluegreenhq.Personally, ever so grateful to be able to lend my art to wildlife conservation work, and to push the boundaries of what can be done in the great outdoors. Such a special project with immensely special meaning, not just for its messaging, but also for a Southeast Asian cross-border team to have full reign in creating something as special as this. Full on wild, real environments, and with so much artistic flair and expression. Love you guys to the mountains and back!#wildscreenpandaawards#wildlifefilms #Brightong #puppetrycreative #puppetry Also. Big big love to our director @mylespstorey for going with all the crazy ideas and getting this whole project rolling! Well done mate, you rock!A quiet moment in the village. #puppets Sảo Há Còi, taking a breather from his heavy shooting schedule. Shot by @peterthedragon The documentary dream team:@mylespstorey @l.am.ha @ndtuanhwild @_gudfellas_ @peterthedragon @bright.ong Siblings in arms. 10/10 would do this all over againAnything for the shot. My lovely ladies who put together the live show in a few weeks. It was such an honour to have met you guys and learn so much from you all!Well done for your debut performances in puppetry!@yenkim5 @dededdemon @dnguyett.haa TutuNot pictured, but fully felt: @tolopuppettheatre Thank you for being so wonderful! And showing the world that Southeast Asia has so much to offer! by @bright.ong

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9 days ago

With @bright.ong and about so many things. Life struggles, regulating tempo, chasing dolphins, puppetry, diving, climbing, Vietnam, Taiwan, Orang Laut, his car, my bike, Jay Bee, Jogjakarta, Kelantan, Perlis, Penang, work, artist, industry standards, write, write, write. Last but not least, Coconut Matcha, Blue Bird and DIRTY SHOT! All within 2 hours and a nice, cool and cozy @88db.cafe. Great catching up with Dato Ong. Next one in Yogyakarta! by @bright.ong

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4 days ago

New puppet coming soon for a wonderful TYA show directed by a fabulous team. Didn't have the time to document the process for this one. But here's a box. Also, it is very humid. Everything is sticky. #puppetrycreative #BrightOng #makersgonnamake #theatreforyoungaudiences #midnightthoughts by @bright.ong

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10 days ago

Test shots from an ad for Singapore, eons ago.Every ad needs a puppet.Made by @mascots.and.puppets #BrightOng #puppets #toilethumour #PuppetryCreative #advertisement by @bright.ong

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15 days ago