Singapore Night Festival returns this weekend, and this year marks a milestone in the Festival's history because it is TEN years old!
Held over two weeks from 18 to 26 August August 2017 (7.30pm - 12am) right in the heart of the heritage district of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, this year will see a slight tweak to the format. This weekend, visitors can go on a trail around the precinct and view the various light installations while the big performance shows will be happening on 24, 25 & 26 August.
As the Festival celebrates 10 magical years, expect plenty of dazzling night lights and exhilarating performances, with previous crowd favourites brought back in a refreshing retrospective complete with loads of other activities for the family. So yes, for the next 2 weekends, there is a perfect excuse for kids to stay up late!
Unfortunately, I was unable to head down for the media preview as Ash will be having his PSLE Oral Exams this week (oh, the stress!) so I had to stay home to drill him show him my support. But thanks to my good friend, Belinda, she managed to capture the most eye-catching light installations at Singapore Night Festival 2017 so here are the top picks that families with kids should never miss.
First things first, Singapore Night Festival is essentially divided into 5 zones:
Zone 1: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE + SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY (SMU) SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY
Zone 2: ARMENIAN STREET
Zone 3: CATHAY GREEN + SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Zone 4: SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY
Zone 5: SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM (SAM) + WATERLOO STREET + NATIONAL
DESIGN CENTRE + CHIJMES + BRAS BASAH COMPLEX
DESIGN CENTRE + CHIJMES + BRAS BASAH COMPLEX
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| Click to enlarge |
Zone 1: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE + SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT
Convolutions
by EZ3kiel (France)
National Museum of Singapore façade
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Designed as a visual poem, Convolutions links architecture, projection, lights, laser and music in a poetic and technological ballet completely transforming the facade of National Museum of Singapore into a contemporary show.
Check out a short snippet of the light projection show below:
by Karel Bata (United Kingdom)
Banyan Tree, outside the National Museum of Singapore
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
The Tree That Blinked is a series of portraits projected into a tree that toys with notions of identity, representation, and transformation. As the work moves and shifts with the wind, expressions seem to change, and the faces appear to undergo changes of age. The illusion can be compelling. Some folks think the leaves have been individually painted. Others that the tree must have been trimmed to the shape of a head!
by Aesop (Singapore)
National Museum of Singapore, Gallery 10
18 – 26 August 2017 | 10am – 12am
To mark Singapore Night Festival’s tenth anniversary, Aesop offers a scent experience for the occasion. Visitors can use their nose to navigate the space, imprinting the aroma to memory for future recollection. The title takes inspiration from the Greek word nostos, meaning homecoming. When paired with álgos, meaning ache, the words form ‘nostalgia’ – a feeling for which scent is an evocative trigger.
Tessellations of Time
by LiteWerkz x 3M (Singapore)
National Museum of Singapore, Main Ground
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Tessellations of Time is inspired by the precious bridges between people and time, in celebration of the 10 successful years of the Singapore Night Festival. Invoking the fluctuations of coded lights and digitally fabricated pods, the work strives to create a conversation as people enter and interact with their own interpretations of the past, present and future.
by Starlight Alchemy (Singapore)
Stamford Green
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
The Flower of Life and the Infinite Self consists of two symbiotic pieces: a geodesic bamboo dome with a tessellated fabric roof resembling the flower of life, and interior walls mounted with geometrically arranged convex mirrors that form dynamic reflections of visitors as they walk around the dome. Drawing inspiration from Buckminster Fuller and M.C. Escher, this installation will present a different persona during the day and night, providing visitors with a colourful meditative atmosphere under geometry and reflections.
Zone 2: ARMENIAN STREET
The bulk of the activities will take place on the weekend of 24-26 August, and will feature happening festivities like a street carnival, Peranakan Party, music performances and even Open Houses at both Peranakan Museum & Singapore Philatelic Museum!
Secrecy
by The Rat Pack (Singapore)
Armenian Church
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Secrecy brings cool light to the hallowed grounds, a nod to the patron saint of the Armenian Church: St Gregory the Illuminator. The garden is bathed in a spectrum of calm neon tones with an ambient soundscape in the background. Be ready to be transported to a quiet space of futuristic magic and serenity within the church grounds.
ZONE 3 – CATHAY GREEN + SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
No light installations in this zone, but there are performances lined up in the weekend of 24 - 26 August. So check back next week!
ZONE 4 – SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY (SMU)
*Note: Festival Village is only operational from 24 to 26 August 2017 (6pm - 12am).
Dream City Window
by Untitled Project (Singapore)
SMU School of Information Systems
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
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| Photo courtesy of SNF2017 |
Experience art and collaboration in an interactive projection. Dream City Window is inspired by the heart and soul of Singapore’s culture, with user-generated interactive visuals derived from abstractions of our evolving environment. Walk alongside the work, bring it to life, and watch your digital silhouette on screen interwoven with abstractions of Singapore’s culture.
ZONE 5 – SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM (SAM) + WATERLOO STREET + NATIONAL
DESIGN CENTRE + CHIJMES + BRAS BASAH COMPLEX
Personally, I think this is the most fun zone of the lot!
Les Hommes Debout (The Standing Men)
by AADN (France)
Singapore Art Museum
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Behind the interactive art installation of 16 human-sized figurines, The Standing Men call out
to those strolling by to initiate a dialogue with them. Flashes go off in an echo, colours
change… the statues come to life in an unpredictable way, transforming the entire installation
into a ballet of light. The installation presented at the Singapore Night Festival features voices
and emotions of inhabitants in Bras Basah.Bugis, who were recorded in August 2017.
Phosphene
by Praxis+ (Singapore)
National Design Centre, Design Gallery I
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Flock
by KMA (United Kingdom)
National Design Centre18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Step directly into the heart of Tchaikovsky’s 1876 ballet, Swan Lake, with Flock (2017). An immersive space, it combines light, sound and projections with live motion tracking technology. Visitors are placed within the corps de ballet, where they can explore the narrative from a unique perspective.
Light Up The Beat!
by Lighting Planners Associates in collaboration with Atsuhiro Ito (Singapore and Japan)
Waterloo Centre
18 – 26 August 2017 | 7.30pm – 12am
Performance: 25, 26 August 2017 | 9pm – 10pm
Old fluorescent tubes have been forced to retire in place of popular LED fixtures, and their search for a second life manifests as a band of musicians bringing wonder to adults and kids alike in a local town-place.
READY TO HEAD DOWN TO SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL 2017?
HANG ON... Here are a few tips for parents who are thinking of bringing the kiddos down:
- If you have limited time, stay at Zone 1 or Zone 5 where the bulk of kid-friendly activities are. There are some activities happening within National Museum of Singapore too, so pop in for some air-conditioned comfort should it get too hot outside.
- The Festival Village (Zone 4) is directly opposite National Museum, which makes it an ideal location to pick up some food and drinks. Musical performances happen regularly at the Festival Village stage too. But do note it will only be opened next weekend.
- The light installations and wall projection shows are happening throughout the week, including weekdays. If you wish to avoid the crowds, it makes sense to head down on weekday nights. Do check the schedule beforehand though - most of them start at 7.30pm and end at midnight.
- For past editions, we parked at the SMU car park which charges $3 per entry after 6pm. The location is pretty central to the main bulk of the activities happening at the Night Festival.
Next weekend will see loads of performances at the various zones so do head back and see which are the ones that you and the kids will not want to miss!
Useful Information
Singapore Night Festival 2017
Dates: 18 - 26 August 2017 | Performance nights on 24, 25, 26 Aug
Time: 7.30pm to 12 midnight
Venue: Bras Basah.Bugis
FREE Admission
Website: nightfest.sg
Programme Schedule: (Click to enlarge)
Stay updated at Bras Basah.Bugis' Facebook page.
*For an interactive map that showcases all of the above highlights and more, visit nightfest.sg/festival-map.
*All photos by Belinda Tan, unless stated otherwise.
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