CNA Lifestyle recently got a sneak peek at some of the exciting activities at the upcoming Singapore Art Week (SAW). From unique exhibitions – such as a bioart project that incorporates capsule vending machines – to dazzling installations at the Light To Night festival, here's what you can expect at SAW 2024.
1. LIGHT TO NIGHT FESTIVAL
There will be two different sets of light projections at National Gallery Singapore’s facade. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Attendees admiring the light projections on National Gallery Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Located in the museum's Padang Atrium, Rapture by Victor Tan depicts seven human figure sculptures "floating" mid-air. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
One figure is seated on a pedestal within the atrium. All in all, the eight sculptures represent the transition from the earthly to spiritual realm. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Symphony Of Order by Sarah Choo Jing features a 360-degree dining scene, with 12 characters, that explores the interplay between order and unspoken laws. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Ping Pong Go-Round is an interactive installation by Cultural Medallion recipient Lee Wen where attendees play a multi-directional game of table tennis around a circular table, symbolising the exchange of power, ideas and dialogue. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Wishful Thinking is a ticketed multi-room installation (S$5/person) that's inspired by ASMR. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
The six-metre installation depicts a saga seed, addressing the vanishing saga trees in Singapore. It calls on festival-goers to engage in climate activism and urges action for sustainability and preservation. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Projected onto The Arts House, Winter Sonata, Summer Mookata by studio Knuckles & Notch features trippy visual imagery that draws inspiration from pop culture and the artists' cats. It explores the intricacies of human existence and spiritual consciousness. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Also located within the vicinity of The Arts House is 8-Bit Word Cloud by Justin Loke. Inspired by the pixelated graphics of video games, the artwork requires festival-goers to hunt for hidden letters scattered throughout the Civic District to complete the poem. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Developed by students from School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA), Passage at Asian Civilisations Museum reimagines Singapore’s history as a port city through the perspective of ceramic bowls. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Projected onto Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Embroidered Landscapes by Sistrum draws inspiration from the costumes and music of jie xi, a type of Chinese opera that is disappearing in Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Located near the projection is the Wayang Spaceship installation. During the day, the installation is seemingly dormant, save for occasional radio transmissions from "another dimension". At night, Wayang Spaceship activates with light, sound and film. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Located at Asian Civilisations Museum Green, Party Pavilion by Howie Kim is inspired by theme parks and calls on festival-goers to rediscover their youthfulness. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
2. ACKNOWLEDGING INTUITION (AI) EXHIBITION
Acknowledging Intuition (AI) by Huijun Lu and Joscelin Chew started as a creative brief produced by a generative AI (ChatGPT) from the prompt “an art exhibition that re-evaluates the intersection of text and image against the growing pervasiveness of text-to-image generative artificial intelligence”. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
ChatGPT ended up proposing a series of paired text and image pieces: One created by a human artist and the other by a text-to-image generative AI model. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to 28
Venue: 42 Waterloo Street, Centre 42 Level 1, Singapore 187951
Ticket: Free
3. IMMORTAL WORDS
This bioart project by artist Boedi Widjaja presents collectible DNA-spiked objects through capsule vending machines. The artist writes ultraconserved words in the DNA language and materialises them into DNA molecular structures. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to Feb 20
Venue: 42 Waterloo Street, Centre 42 Black Box, Singapore 187951
Ticket: Free
4. A RESERVOIR OF TIME
This exhibition is a study on our relationship with time through an artistic lens. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
The exhibition comprises works by five artists working across a range of disciplines. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 20 to Mar 2
Venue: 155 Middle Road, Objectifs, Singapore 188977
Ticket: Free
5. THE PIERRE LORINET COLLECTION PRESENTS ROUGH
The art pieces here are from the private collection of Pierre Lorinet. The exhibition challenges conventions and offers a raw perspective on contemporary art. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 12 to 28
Venue: 22 Lock Road, #01-33, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933
Ticket: Free
6. OUR CHILDREN
This performance installation by artist Tang Da Wu speaks to the values of filial piety and the importance of nurturing future generations. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
A curated selection of artworks that explore the bonds between parents and their children will be also displayed. Pictured is Another Woman by Amanda Heng. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to 28
Venue: 5 Lock Road, #01-06, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933
Ticket: Free
In a press statement, National Arts Council's Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts) Tay Tong said: "Singapore Art Week is the moment in our annual calendar when the visual arts ecosystem comes together to present its best. Into its 12th edition, SAW 2024 brings together artists, curators, cultural institutions, galleries and industry partners from Singapore and the region to present a wide range of art experiences to diverse audiences, across the city centre and heartlands.
"From art fairs and exhibitions to innovative projects, we hope to provide a platform for our visual arts ecosystem to thrive while encouraging the curious public to join us on a journey of discovery as art takes over."
Find out more about Singapore Art Week 2024.
Continue reading...
1. LIGHT TO NIGHT FESTIVAL
There will be two different sets of light projections at National Gallery Singapore’s facade. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Attendees admiring the light projections on National Gallery Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Located in the museum's Padang Atrium, Rapture by Victor Tan depicts seven human figure sculptures "floating" mid-air. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
One figure is seated on a pedestal within the atrium. All in all, the eight sculptures represent the transition from the earthly to spiritual realm. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Symphony Of Order by Sarah Choo Jing features a 360-degree dining scene, with 12 characters, that explores the interplay between order and unspoken laws. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Ping Pong Go-Round is an interactive installation by Cultural Medallion recipient Lee Wen where attendees play a multi-directional game of table tennis around a circular table, symbolising the exchange of power, ideas and dialogue. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Wishful Thinking is a ticketed multi-room installation (S$5/person) that's inspired by ASMR. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
The six-metre installation depicts a saga seed, addressing the vanishing saga trees in Singapore. It calls on festival-goers to engage in climate activism and urges action for sustainability and preservation. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
Projected onto The Arts House, Winter Sonata, Summer Mookata by studio Knuckles & Notch features trippy visual imagery that draws inspiration from pop culture and the artists' cats. It explores the intricacies of human existence and spiritual consciousness. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Also located within the vicinity of The Arts House is 8-Bit Word Cloud by Justin Loke. Inspired by the pixelated graphics of video games, the artwork requires festival-goers to hunt for hidden letters scattered throughout the Civic District to complete the poem. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Developed by students from School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA), Passage at Asian Civilisations Museum reimagines Singapore’s history as a port city through the perspective of ceramic bowls. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Projected onto Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, Embroidered Landscapes by Sistrum draws inspiration from the costumes and music of jie xi, a type of Chinese opera that is disappearing in Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Located near the projection is the Wayang Spaceship installation. During the day, the installation is seemingly dormant, save for occasional radio transmissions from "another dimension". At night, Wayang Spaceship activates with light, sound and film. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Located at Asian Civilisations Museum Green, Party Pavilion by Howie Kim is inspired by theme parks and calls on festival-goers to rediscover their youthfulness. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
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.
2. ACKNOWLEDGING INTUITION (AI) EXHIBITION
Acknowledging Intuition (AI) by Huijun Lu and Joscelin Chew started as a creative brief produced by a generative AI (ChatGPT) from the prompt “an art exhibition that re-evaluates the intersection of text and image against the growing pervasiveness of text-to-image generative artificial intelligence”. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
ChatGPT ended up proposing a series of paired text and image pieces: One created by a human artist and the other by a text-to-image generative AI model. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to 28
Venue: 42 Waterloo Street, Centre 42 Level 1, Singapore 187951
Ticket: Free
3. IMMORTAL WORDS
This bioart project by artist Boedi Widjaja presents collectible DNA-spiked objects through capsule vending machines. The artist writes ultraconserved words in the DNA language and materialises them into DNA molecular structures. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to Feb 20
Venue: 42 Waterloo Street, Centre 42 Black Box, Singapore 187951
Ticket: Free
4. A RESERVOIR OF TIME
This exhibition is a study on our relationship with time through an artistic lens. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
The exhibition comprises works by five artists working across a range of disciplines. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 20 to Mar 2
Venue: 155 Middle Road, Objectifs, Singapore 188977
Ticket: Free
5. THE PIERRE LORINET COLLECTION PRESENTS ROUGH
The art pieces here are from the private collection of Pierre Lorinet. The exhibition challenges conventions and offers a raw perspective on contemporary art. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 12 to 28
Venue: 22 Lock Road, #01-33, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933
Ticket: Free
6. OUR CHILDREN
This performance installation by artist Tang Da Wu speaks to the values of filial piety and the importance of nurturing future generations. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
A curated selection of artworks that explore the bonds between parents and their children will be also displayed. Pictured is Another Woman by Amanda Heng. (Photo: CNA/Hazeeq Sukri, shot on an Oppo Find N3)
Date: Jan 19 to 28
Venue: 5 Lock Road, #01-06, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933
Ticket: Free
In a press statement, National Arts Council's Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts) Tay Tong said: "Singapore Art Week is the moment in our annual calendar when the visual arts ecosystem comes together to present its best. Into its 12th edition, SAW 2024 brings together artists, curators, cultural institutions, galleries and industry partners from Singapore and the region to present a wide range of art experiences to diverse audiences, across the city centre and heartlands.
"From art fairs and exhibitions to innovative projects, we hope to provide a platform for our visual arts ecosystem to thrive while encouraging the curious public to join us on a journey of discovery as art takes over."
Find out more about Singapore Art Week 2024.
Continue reading...