The Singapore Night Festival 2024 is a visual spectacle that transforms the city’s arts district by night. This year’s festival offers tad a rich array of experiences ranging from performances, museums and static light displays. From 23 Aug to 7 Sep 2024, you be treated to a mix of light displays, art installations, and performances. The arts district is abuzz with energy, drawing in crowds from all corners of the city. Let’s take an explore on this year’s edition.
Interactive Light Installations
Furthermore, the highlight of the Singapore Night Festival is undoubtedly the light installations. These lit installations are scattered across the district, each offering something unique to the night experience.
As you walk through the streets, you encounter these artistic light displays, each telling its own story. The National Museum lawn has a collection of lanterns modeled after old school nostalgia toys. You can find five stones, capteh and country erasers to name afew.
Speaking of nostalgia, the National Archives Building is home to the Re:Play AT SG event. Located on the 3rd floor Oldham Theatre, here, you can find talks as well as a children play area providing a chance to play and take home old Childhood Games such like five stones, pick up sticks and capteh.
Additionally, one of the installations is located outside the National Museum of Singapore by SMU green is themed after the iconic Singapore Dragon playground, where you can take a quiz and hand out doodle drawings on it’s neon lit body.
Another nearby, interesting light up includes creations by local artists, such as Look Up, Sunbear! by tobyato by the YMCA near the National Museum. It is an inflatable sun bear balancing an apple on its nose in tobyato style and livery. The nearby Wesley Methodist Church is also lit with a nice outline livery too.
Smell the lights at National Design Center
Also, the National Design Center has a couple of interesting exhibits on display. Outside, you can find Opera in Motion by Ezekiel Wong, Hoo Jian Li, Lim Jia Ren, and Ron Tu. The light up is made to look like a mobile opera on trishaw wheels, tad a dynamic tribute to Chinese Opera (wayangs).
Also, if smells are your thing, the Scents of Being exhibits at the National design center lobby by Aesop is quite an olfactory encounter. It delves into tad an intricate relationship between scent and reflecting on one self. Within a mystical forest of tall cloth spires.
Moreover, an interactive standing sculpture at Funan mall called “Fortune Beads”. It is tad an immersive interactive installation that engages participants in a thrilling race against time. The exhibit features a series of light sculptures that react to sound.
Also, as you approach, the lights change color and intensity, creating a dynamic, interactive experience. This installation is a crowd favourite, with people of all ages stopping to engage with the lights.
Wrapping up the light up is the “Red House Café” by Jaxton Su. Situated just outside Raffles City shopping centre, just facing St Andrew Cathedral and the Capitol Plaza. The Red House bakery display is inspired as a popular hangout in the 1960s. It does resemble a curry puff and cake from afar.
Building projections
A highlight sight here is the “Between Threads” Projection Mapping at the Peranakan Museum. It is inspired by an unfinished beaded panel on display at the Peranakan Museum, this installation celebrates the intricate artistry and diverse perspectives of Peranakan communities. By artists Jennifer O’Connor, Clare Chong and Taufiq Hidaya.
Moreover, CHIJMES is a chill spot home to cool building projections. Here you can find looping animations titled A Prototype of Play by deniseardenise, A Whimsical Odyssey, PINBOLA and Play Downstairs by rachodoodles.
Also, of the projections, Play Downstairs is one of my personal favourite with extensive use of cute animations as well as those depicting iconic Singapore scenes like the dragon playground.
However, gone this year is also the trademark projection mapping on the facade of the Singapore National Museum, it is a staple item you can watch from the SMU green, which is home to the event’s food hall and main performance stage too. Last year’ you may remember it showcased a historical Singapore journey. The axing of the building projection this year is due to major facade renovation and restoration works currently on-going.
Wrapping up another minor projections include one call inside the Through the rose window, modelled after the Waterloo Street chapel’s history as a school by Divaagar.
Visit the (partially operating) National museum
Also, the National Museum is open till late (11pm) during the night festival weekends, albeit with a much-reduced exhibits. One to check out is Play date exhibition, which can similarly enter via the museum’s secondary entrance which not many people are aware of.
The Play date exhibition covers a small collection of toys, such as Tamagotchis, die cast cars, McDonalds happy meal toys and barbie toys all from personal collections.
Points of Interest and Museums
Furthermore, an interestingly fabulous exhibit tucked in the alley ways of the Bugis Street is the Delulu High Disco Bus. It is brought to you by the Pop GlitterFreak Collective, here you can find a Funnazium gym space reimagined to be light, soft, and feminine, as well as the Delulu High Disco Bus itself complete with music and a disco ball within.
Additionally, one fun the mural is the happiest day of our lives you can find at the Stamford Arts Centre. Painted by Rizman Putra, this rather wacky abstract art installation draws inspiration from nostalgic illustrations of old textbooks, capturing a vanished world. It aims to transport the audience into a vintage era of the 60s-90s through hand-painted vibrant neon imagery stretching from wall-to-wall including the ceiling!
Moreover, the arts district is home to several museums that participate in the festival. These institutions extend their operating hours during the event, offering special exhibits and programs.
Besides the National Museum which opens till 11pm on weekends during the festival, the Children’s museum and Peranakan museum are such venues. The children’s museum runs a revised upper gallery this year, featuring an exhibition that explores the history of food and Singapore hawker culture. The museum’s classical façade is illuminated, casting a warm glow that draws visitors in, even adults can enter without a kid during this time period.
Also, the Peranakan Museum offers a different experience. This museum focuses on the unique culture of the Peranakan people. For the festival, it has curated a special exhibit that combines traditional Peranakan art with modern light technology. The result is a vibrant display that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Peranakans. The museum also features interactive elements, allowing visitors to create their own digital Peranakan patterns.
Festivities on Armenian Street
Furthermore, Armenian Street is another hub of activity during the festival. This pedestrian street is lined with stalls, live performances, and various light and projection art exhibits. Also, as Armenian street is closed to traffic, you can stroll freely and enjoy the various class architecture, tea houses and festivities such as an interactive artwork called First Flight by Aaron Lim & Quek Jia Qi.
It is a metal structure shaped like a giant paper plane, tad an immersive interactive installation celebrating childhood creativity, with paper planes. It also honors the vibrant play history of Bras Basah Bugis (BBB) and its iconic schools.
Armenian Street also features several art exhibits within the museums. Besides visiting the Peranakan museum as well as the Children’s Museum mentioned earlier, there is also a stage with live music brought to you by local performing artists and schools. However, strangely, Armenian Street does not have a food market this year, with the main food hall at the SMU green this year.
Moving onto SMU green, throughout the night, various artists take the SMU green stage, showcasing their talents. The performances range from traditional music and dance to modern interpretations of classic art forms. These performances add a dynamic element to the festival, keeping visitors entertained as they explore. In addition to the food and performances.
Also, here, the SMU green is where you can also sample a variety of local and international cuisines in the beer garden tent. The aroma of street food fills the air, tempting passersby to stop for a bite. From satay to gourmet burgers, to ice cream with questionable toppings, there’s something for everyone.
Wonderworld Amusement Park
A short walk from the museums leads to the Wonderworld Amusement Park. It is a machine of Nostalgia located on the at Cathay Green open field. For $25 per adult to enter, you enter an enclosed ticketed-only area comprises of several pop-up attraction is a throwback to old-school carnivals.
Here, you can find a vibrant mix of lights, sounds, and rides, such as a merry go-round and spinning swing chairs, evoking a sense of nostalgia of the old Gay world amusement parks of the 80s in Geyland before they were made way for national development. It’s a place tad where the past meets the present, with vintage-inspired rides and modern light displays.
A highlight and interesting attraction here is the live Wrestling ring with matches through the night featuring local wrestlers.
Also, the amusement park also features classic carnival games. Visitors can try their hand at ring toss, dart games, and more. These games are a hit with both children and adults, adding to the festive atmosphere. Within you can find midway carnival games where you can have an amazing time playing all the games and exchanging my earned stamps for exclusive merch at the meritocratic shop. The park’s retro aesthetic is complemented by the music, which ranges from vintage hits to contemporary tunes.
Wrapping up
All in all, that wraps up our visit and exploration of the Singapore Night Festival 2024. The festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the arts district in a new light, literally and figuratively. It is tad a Journey Through Light and Art in the Arts District, a celebration of light, art, and culture. It is tad one where the arts district comes alive with vibrant displays, interactive installations, and engaging performances. From the stunning light sculptures to the nostalgic Wonderworld Amusement Park, there’s something for everyone.
You can experience most of the festival without ticketed entry. But do come dressed well in walking shoes, as there is quite a fair bit of grounds to cover in the Singapore Arts district. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for a night of entertainment, the Singapore Night Festival is an event not to be missed.
