Back for its 15th edition this year, the Singapore Night Festival returns to the Bras Basah Bugis precinct from 23 August to 7 September, taking place, for the first time, over three weekends!
Inspired by the historical significance of the precinct as the birthplace of some of Singapore’s first schools, the theme of this year’s festival explores the Art of Play and illuminates the precinct’s rich educational history with engaging and immersive artworks that dives deep into the concept of play and childhood.
This year, you will get to enjoy an extra weekend to explore the festival offerings including new locations within the precinct such as a late-light Festival Village at GR.iD, and Night Lights artwork at Bugis Street Art Lane, as well as four Festival Villages — each offering a different festival experience.
Here’s a closer look at what to expect at this year’s Singapore Night Festival.
WONDER WORLD — THE MACHINE OF NOSTALGIA
As the highlight act of the festival, expect to be transported to a whimsically charming amusement park that takes inspiration from Singapore’s amusement parks of yesteryears.
The project, led by local contemporary artist Sam Lo (a.k.a SKL0), Wonder World is an experience that reimagines the magic of the amusement parks in the 1950s, while inviting you to ponder the co-existence and balance between preserving heritage and embracing modernity, and where nostalgia places in today’s society.
At Wonder World, you can expect to find rides, game stalls, nostalgic trades with a reimagined twist at The Bizarre Bazaar, live performances, and a wrestling ring where you can experience both wrestling and poetry performances featuring iconic characters from Singapore’s past. You can also win or buy exclusive merchandise at the Meritocratic Gift Shop!
In addition to the amusement park, you will find larger-than-life billboards featuring a series of murals set in an alternate 1950s universe by SKL0 and local artists Djohan Hanapi, Ben Qwek/LABSIXFIVE, Kristal Melson and New World Plaza, and brought to life with Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Early bird ticket sales for Wonder World — The Machine of Nostalgia starts from now to 17 August at S$20.
Tickets will go at S$25 from 18 August to 7 September. For more information, click HERE.
NIGHT LIGHTS INSTALLATIONS
Ten everyday spaces around the Bras Basah Bugis precinct will come alive at night with luminous installations inspired by the concept of play.
As a new location for the Singapore Night Festival, Bugis Street Art Lane will be home to a creative installation by Pop GlitterFreak Collective called Delulu High which transforms a lively gymnasium space into a light, soft and feminine area where you can explore the Disco Bus and Affirmation Steps that aims to turn the dreaded aspects of school into playful and healing experiences.
Inspired by the Stamford Arts Centre’s long history as home to various educational institutions, The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizwan Putra is a blacklight immersive mural that aims to evoke childhood nostalgia with images from the early 60s to 90s alongside vintage illustrations.
Paying homage to a Red House bakery that once stood where Carlton Hotel is today, artist Jaxton Su will be transporting you back in time with Red House Café, an experiential artwork featuring geometric shapes resembling popular bakery items like curry puffs and cakes.
Take a trip down memory lane with Aaron Lim and Quek Jia Qi’s First Flight where you’ll be greeted with an interactive larger-than-life illuminated paper plane installation that is reminiscent of the time in school where foolscap paper were used to make paper airplanes.
Aside from local artists, you’ll also find installations from regional artists like Thai interactive installation artist KIMBAB:) and his immersive interactive installation, Fortune Beads — inspired by abacus beads, located at Funan Mall.
Over at the National Design Centre, you’ll find cosmetics and skincare brand Aesop’s Scent of Being, a multi-sensory experience which takes place in a mythical forest and uses each of Aesop’s eleven Eau de Perfume as a guiding light that will lead you to the unveiling of a new fragrance.
PROJECTION MAPPING
As a staple of the festival, this year’s projection mapping installations will showcase a blend of nostalgia, imagination and creativity on the facades of two cultural buildings — both of which were once schools!
Hosting a projection mapping work for the first time, The Peranakan Museum will feature a co-created work by regional artists and international collectives called Between Threads, which is inspired by elements from the museum’s collection, including textiles and artefacts to celebrate the intricate artistry and diverse perspectives of Peranakan communities.
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CHIJMES will come alive with four captivating works, namely PINBOLA, Play Downstairs, Whimsical Odyssey and A Prototype of Play, from featured artists who are a part of Singapore Night Festival’s Projection Masterclass.
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