The Great Observer

Established poet, translator, and critic Theophilus Kwek shares his disarmingly pragmatic views on writing.

- LU YAWEN

"I write to be read. That sounds incredibly narcissistic, but I think, for me, what that says is that writing is primarily a form of communication," Theophilus Kwek shares, with a relatively deadpan expression achingly Sharp-witted yet so self-aware, the 30-year-old is one of Singapore's decorated poets. Also a translator and editor, he has four volumes of published poetry. Making it into the news for being the first Singaporean and youngest writer to win the Swedish Cikada Prize 2023, he also made the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list this year.

It's a rather pragmatic way of looking at writing. One that I don't quite expect from someone who has authored multiple books on poetry.

His view on writing is more people centric, celebrating and documenting the mundane, overlooked, and forgotten quite the opposite of the tortured poets trope.

He explains, "I write to engage with ideas out there in the world, to engage with stories that have been handed down to me or conversations that are taking place in society."

IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY

Driven by this desire for community, Kwek actively participates in the literary scene here and abroad. At Oxford University, where he graduated with a Master in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, he was the president of the Oxford University Poetry Society, co-founded the online journal The Kindling, and is still a member of the editorial team behind peer-reviewed and open-access journal, PR&TA.