Wow, I just got back from the media preview of Singapore Night Festival 2024, and I’m still buzzing with excitement! This year’s festival is shaping up to be the biggest and most impressive yet. Running for three whole weekends from August 23 to September 7, it’s clear that the organizers have pulled out all the stops for the 15th anniversary.
As soon as I stepped into the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, I was transported into a world where art meets play. The theme, “The Art of Play,” is brilliantly woven throughout every installation and performance. It’s fascinating how they’ve managed to tap into the area’s history as the birthplace of Singapore’s first schools to create this nostalgic wonderland.
The highlight for me was definitely “Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia” by Sam Lo “SKL0”. It’s like stepping into a 1950s amusement park, complete with old-school rides and game stalls.
There are also food stalls but I suppose they are still getting everything ready for the actual launch on Friday.
The organisers have prepared some food for us. Yum yum!
In case you are wondering where this is located, the venue is at Cathay Green. The amusement arena will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. This is a paid experience where each person is required to purchase minimum 1 set of tokens. The tokens can then be used for purchasing food or rides or games.
Our dear friend Willie got to try some of the fun first hand.
The immersive experience is taken to another level with actors in period-accurate costumes from the 1950s mingling with the crowd. These performers breathe life into the festival’s nostalgic theme, engaging visitors with playful banter and improvised interactions that transport you back in time.
There is also a wrestling ring in the middle of the arena. I understand that there will be some wrestling performances by Grapplemax Pro Wresting, Singapore’s premier pro wresting promotion, academy and community. They weren’t here but be sure to catch them when you visit!
Instead of wrestling, we were treated to a performance by Spoke & Bird, Singapore’s longest running poetry open mic night.
As twilight descends, the precinct undergoes a mesmerizing transformation. The warm glow of the setting sun gives way to a dazzling array of neon lights, bathing the arena in an electric tapestry of colours.
This was a guided tour. The attendees are split into groups and due to time constraint, we are only visiting a select few experiences. Each group will have a slightly different route.
If you want to plan your visit, remember to visit the official website of the Singapore Night Festival 2024.
https://www.nightfestival.gov.sg/
“Look Up, Sunbear!” by tobyato
“Look up, Sunbear!” is a captivating sculpture that graces YMCA @ One Orchard, a social enterprise accommodation. Created by artist tobyato during a week-long residency in 2023, this piece celebrates YMCA Education’s 120th anniversary.
The sculpture depicts a playful Sunbear, an animal native to Southeast Asia, balancing an apple on its nose. This whimsical pose serves as a metaphor for the delicate balance between play and education, a core principle in YMCA’s approach to youth development.
“Opera in Motion” by Ezekiel Wong, Hoo Jian Li, Lim Jia Ren and Ron Tu
“Opera in Motion: A Dynamic Tribute to Chinese Opera《剧里箱》” transforms the National Design Centre into a vibrant celebration of Chinese opera heritage. This interactive installation, housed in the former premises of The Chinese Opera Institute, offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation.
At its heart is a tricycle adorned with tarpaulin-covered boxes, inviting visitors to engage with a zoetrope that brings opera performers’ movements to life. As you pedal the tricycle, a captivating light projection unfurls across the centre’s walls, depicting an illustrated Chinese opera scene. The experience is further enhanced by ambient melodies and festive lighting, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.
The National Library Board, co-presenter of this experience, aims to uncover hidden narratives from Singapore’s history through their extensive collections. Their collaboration with The Chinese Opera Institute has resulted in a wealth of knowledge and authentic props that add depth and authenticity to the installation.
For those eager to peek behind the curtain, the artists will be hosting a talk on August 24th at the National Library Building’s Possibility Room. This “Opera in Motion: Artist Talk” promises insights into the inspiration and creative process that brought this unique installation to life.
“Scents of Being” by Aesop
I’m sure a lot of us know about the brand Aesop.
Aesop invites visitors on an enchanting sensory journey with “Scents of Being,” an immersive olfactory experience that explores the profound connection between fragrance and identity. Set in a dreamlike forest, this installation showcases Aesop’s collection of eleven captivating Eaux de Parfum. Each scent, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as mythology, poetry, artistry, and the natural world, serves as a luminous beacon guiding participants through the mystical darkness.
As you navigate this aromatic landscape, you’ll find yourself on a path of self-discovery and reflection. The carefully crafted fragrances act as keys, unlocking memories and evoking emotions, while simultaneously revealing the intricate layers of human nature. This multisensory adventure offers a unique opportunity to pause and contemplate, as each distinct aroma resonates with personal experiences and highlights the complexity of individual identity.
“Scents of Being” transforms the act of experiencing fragrance into a profound exploration of the self, inviting participants to delve deeper into their own essence through the evocative power of scent.
“The Happiest Days of Our Lives” by Rizman Putra
“The Happiest Days of Our Lives” transforms Stamford Arts Centre into a luminous tribute to nostalgia. This vibrant installation draws inspiration from the venue’s storied past, creating an immersive experience that transports visitors back to their childhood days.
The heart of the artwork is a striking neon mural that reimagines vintage illustrations reminiscent of old textbooks and beloved hardcover storybooks. These familiar images, now glowing with electric brilliance, evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia while simultaneously offering a fresh, contemporary perspective.
As you walk through the space, you’re enveloped in a kaleidoscope of vivid colors and familiar shapes, each element carefully chosen to resonate with shared memories of school days and story times. The neon treatment adds a dreamlike quality to these childhood relics, blurring the lines between past and present.
This installation not only celebrates the history of Stamford Arts Centre but also invites viewers to reconnect with their own personal histories. It’s a playful yet poignant reminder of the joy and wonder that filled our earliest days of learning and imagination, now reawakened through the magic of light and art.
“Through the Rose Window” by Diva Agar
Drawing from the Waterloo Street chapel’s school history, this video installation finds inspiration in ‘In and out of cherry window,’ a singing game often played by schoolgirls in the past. These games encouraged creativity and imagination, fostering strong bonds.
“A Date with Tradition” by Arts House Limited
These interactive programs aim to showcase our rich and diverse culture. The lineup includes performances such as Chinese Opera, Malay classical dance, and the unique Indian dance form Kathakali.
Additionally, participants can engage in craft activities, encouraging greater awareness of our cultural heritage.
“First Flight” by Aaron Lim and Quek Jia Qi
This artwork celebrates the boundless creativity of childhood, where paper planes symbolize the imagination and dreams that once soared across the former school grounds.
Take a nostalgic journey through the past while envisioning the future of play in this immersive installation.
“Projection Mapping at Chijmes”
Our last stop for the night was at Chijmes where it showcases a variety of motifs as a single animated visual. This will work in conjunction with another art installation located at the entrance of the Peranakan Museum.
It was all the places we could cover in a little less than 3 hours for the evening. And I think we only managed to cover a small part of the entire night festival.
There are a lot more experiences I am looking forward to and will want to spend the rest of the 3 weeks exploring all the various points of interests.
