Singapore Art Week returns for its 12th edition from Jan 19 to 28. Here’s a quick look at some of the things you can expect.
LIGHT TO NIGHT FESTIVAL
Back for its eighth edition, this year’s Light To Night festival features over 60 artworks and programmes, including interactive art installations and mesmerising light projections. You can start at National Gallery Singapore which will have two sets of light projections illuminating its facade.
The first is Teo Eng Seng: Living The Life. This marks Cultural Medallion recipient Teo Eng Seng’s maiden light projection artwork, following an illustrious career in the art of paperdyesculp. Through vivid compositions and spontaneous arrangements, the projection aims to get festival-goers to embrace the sheer rawness of everyday life.
The second is Temple Of Love. Presented by Indonesian artist Arahmaiani, this light projection depicts the rejuvenating powers of Mother Nature.
Of course, festival-goers can also expect exciting things inside National Gallery Singapore.
After you’ve explored every inch of National Gallery Singapore, head to the Padang just across the museum to catch Wings Of Change by Singaporean artist Kumari Nahappan.
Those who want to marvel at even more light projections can head down the street to buildings such as The Arts House and Asian Civilisations Museum. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for Instagram-worthy installations.
National Gallery Singapore’s Deputy Director of Audience Engagement and Light To Night’s Festival Artistic Director Dee Chia explained the festival’s theme, Reimagine, and how organisers have innovated the festival which is now in its eighth iteration.
“We want (festival-goers) to understand art is not just what you see being hung on museum walls. You can interact with art in unconventional and interactive ways. For instance, (in the case of Ping Pong Go-Round), (festival-goers) would not have imagined that an artwork could take the form of play,” she told CNA Lifestyle.
“Essentially, we are looking at how we can bridge the gap between art and people by reimagining the ways of encountering art.
“For every edition of Light To Night, we try to outdo ourselves. How do we do that? We ask ourselves: ‘What can we do differently?’ In this case, we look at how we can work with artists to push their artistic practice… We also work with our partners in the Civic District and think about how we can collectively provide more immersive and interactive works for the members of public.”
Light To Night Singapore 2024 will run from Jan 19 to Feb 8.
This year, music fans can also look forward to a plethora of live performances by indie, electronic, and alternative acts, including Sobs, Blush, Taledrops, Iman’s League, and Kiat, at the Sonic Sessions at Tanjong Pagar Distripark and Art After Dark at Gillman Barracks.
In collaboration with the Singapore Art Museum and support from the Singapore Tourism Board, SAW presents a series of performances that will be held at two locations within Tanjong Pagar Distripark – The Spine and Container Bay (behind Block 39) – across two weekends.
Kicking off the weekend at The Spine on 19 January will be I AM DAVID SPARKLE, The Observatory, NADA + Raja Kirik, and Tinggi Layang. Next, Kiat, Intriguant, deførmed, and bani haykal will take over the stage on 20 January.
The following weekend will see performances at Container Bay by Taledrops, Iman’s League, George Chua, Fool’s Decade, and Closing Time on 26 January. Thereafter, attendees will be able to catch sets from NUS Electronic Music Lab, sl_owtalk, Mervin Wong, and Bongomann on 27 January.
