From poetry and art to comedy, see the Little Red Dot like never before when Singapore’s Light to Night Festival returns Saturday.
For two weeks, visitors can experience the best of talents domestic and imported, including artists from Canada and Portugal, through performances and exhibitions at the annual, citywide event taking place at dozens of venues.
Festival highlights include 10 unique installations scattered throughout the Civic District, as well as a slew of programs including outdoor concerts.
“Invisible Cities,” is the theme, and most events are free at venues including the National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisation Museum, The Arts House, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and Victoria Theatre.
Though there are dozens of events large and small to consider, we’ve curated a selection of 11 highlights to look forward to. All photos by Nafi Wernsing.
Between Two Worlds by Quarters Architects
Prepare to be disoriented by oddly shaped mirrors engraved with phrases such as “You knew where I would be all this time” placed atop the grass at Esplanade Park. The installation is created by the guys from local architecture firm Quarters Architects.
Esplanade Park
Jan. 10 – 19
Sun-Thu 10am-10pm
Fri-Sat 10am-midnight
Free
Clement Space by Dawn-Joy Leong
Autistic artist-researcher Dawn-Joy Leong gives visitors a peek at the type of environment people with autism feel safe in.
The Clement Space, decked out with wardrobes, old televisions, and colorful lights; creates a hip yet relaxing and peaceful sanctuary from the outside world — like something from a movie.
Anteroom at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium
National Gallery Singapore, City Hall Wing, Level B1
Jan. 10 – March 1
10am-7pm & 10am-9pm (Fridays)
Free
Optical Maze by Ottotto
Head to the Padang for Optical Maze, a light structure that will more than confuse when it comes to life at night. Try navigating its maze of multi-colored, triangular lights.
The triangles will change shape as visitors pass through. Search diligently and find the glowing labyrinth’s hidden message – a line from a sonnet composed by local poet Marc Nair.
Padang
Jan. 10 – 19
Sun-Thu 10am-10pm
Fri-Sat 10am-midnight
Free
Art Skins on Monuments – City States of Mind
If getting lost lacks appeal, sprawl out on the Padang and just take in more art at one of the event’s most colorful spectacles. Art Skins on Monuments – City States of Mind is bringing vibrant light-mapped projections onto monuments along St Andrew’s Road, including the National Gallery. The projections depict national icons such as the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands, among others.
St Andrew’s Road, National Gallery Singapore
6-11pm, Jan. 10-11 & Jan. 17-18
Free
Open Books: The Worlds of Haruki Murakami
Explore two colorful dioramas inspired by novels by internationally beloved Japanese author Haruki Murakami — Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle – when the popular Open Books installation returns this year. Allow Murakami’s fiction to open your mind as you wander through dreamy and fantastical landscapes.
The Arts House Lawn
Jan. 6 – Feb. 3
All-day
Free
Light Lane
“I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like.”
Now is the opportunity to (sort of) relive Queen’s iconic Bicycle Race. Those strolling through the Esplanade Park can enjoy music and light projections when they mount and pedal several stationary bicycles by the Singapore River. The installation is by Canadian artists Felix Marzell and Dix au Carré.
Esplanade Park
Jan. 10 – 19
Sun-Thu 10am-10pm
Fri-Sat 10am-midnight
Free
Shadows of Dust and Clouds
It looks like a giant smartphone with a fingerprint on it — but it’s not.
A public art installation shows a “melted” two-way mirror that reveals hidden messages after dark, encouraging visitors to inspect the piece created by local art collective Vertical Submarine. The longer one looks at it, the more there is to see.
Asian Civilisation Museum Green
Jan.10 – 19
10am-12 midnight
Free
Five Stones
Unlike the six stones in the Avengers, there are only five scattered around the Civic District. The job is, of course, to find them all. Created by Singaporean artist Twardzik-Ching Chor Leng, this scavenger-hunt style experience tempts people to go out and find all five bean-bag looking pyramids. The large-scale inflatables and playful artwork are meant to conjure the traditional game played by Singaporean children. It will give visitors a view of how art can be incorporated into everyday spaces.
Various locations
Jan. 10 – 19
All-day
Free
Floating City
One of this festival’s headlining installations is located inside the National Gallery. The ethereal towers of the Floating City are suspended from various heights and lit from within, creating a dream-like space. This artwork is done by artists under the name Nipek and Knots.
National Gallery Singapore
Padang Atrium
Jan. 10- March 1
10am-7pm & 10am-9pm (Fridays)
Free
Note For Note: Stop, Look, & Listen
More than 10 poets will describe, define and decipher Singapore in a series of diverse poems performed against a backdrop of ambient sounds and music. Divided into three portions, the play touches on themes such as speed and sound. It is curated by local poet Marc Nair and directed by Cherilyn Woo.
Play Den, The Arts House
Jan. 10
8pm-9pm; 10pm-11pm,
Free, S$5 to secure a seat
SNYO Percussion: Sonic Journeys
Percussionists in SNYO Percussion: Sonic Journeys will show audiences how music can be performed using objects like stools instead of traditional instruments. Young talents from the Singapore National Youth Orchestra will blow your mind with their unique sounds and special effects.
Victoria Concert Hall
Jan. 18
8pm – 8.30pm; 9.15pm – 9.45pm,
Free admission (register at Eventbrite)
Related:
Singapore Art Week: Our picks for the best of the best to see
Singapore Biennale opens today, here are our picks for what to see
