Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In a landmark year celebrating Singapore's 60th birthday and National Gallery Singapore's 10th anniversary, Light to Night Singapore 2025 returns to transform the Civic District into an immersive canvas of light, art, and reflection. Running from January 17 to February 6, 2025, this marquee event of Singapore Art Week poses a thought-provoking question through its theme: "Do You See Me?"
The festival promises to illuminate the city with over 70 artworks and programmes, creating a vibrant tapestry that celebrates both established and emerging voices in Singapore's art scene.
Honoring Singapore's Artistic Legacy
For the first time in the festival's history, the iconic façade of National Gallery Singapore will showcase projection mappings featuring the works of three seminal local artists, including two posthumous tributes. The late printmaker and Cultural Medallion recipient Chng Seok Tin's "Spirit of Resilience" explores her artistic journey despite losing her vision, while "The Perception of Beauty" celebrates the revolutionary batik work of the late Jaafar Latiff. Completing the trio is Cultural Medallion recipient Goh Beng Kwan's "Imprinted Memory," which chronicles his monumental artistic journey.
At the Padang, renowned sculptor and Cultural Medallion recipient Han Sai Por presents "Travelling Through the Tropical Rainforest," featuring six colossal inflatable sculptures resembling tropical palms. This installation offers a powerful commentary on the delicate balance between urban development and nature in Singapore's evolving landscape.
New Perspectives on Identity and Inclusion
The festival makes significant strides in amplifying diverse voices through several groundbreaking installations. Claire Teo, a visually impaired artist from ART:DIS, presents "Through The Looking Glass," an immersive multi-sensory installation that challenges conventional perceptions of sight and visibility. The installation will be complemented by live performances featuring artists sharing deeply personal narratives about love, loss, identity, and the longing to be understood.
Street art gains prominence with TraseOne's "Now You See Us?" projection on The Arts House at the Old Parliament facade, tracing the evolution of Singapore's graffiti scene from underground movement to mainstream acceptance. Meanwhile, the festival collaborates with the Ministry of Manpower to present "Our Migrants' Leisure," a photo exhibition showcasing the vibrant lives of Singapore's migrant community beyond their daily work.
Interactive Spaces and Community Engagement
The festival introduces several new features designed to enhance community interaction. The Singapore Courtyard at the Gallery will be transformed into "The Living Room," a cozy communal space hosting artist talks, workshops, and DJ sets by EATMEPOPTART. The Art X Social: Festival Street will operate across all three festival weekends, offering food, beverages, and live performances along St Andrew's Road.
For those seeking more immersive experiences, Rainshadow Studios presents "Scarce City," an interactive installation combining art, technology, and gameplay to explore themes of resource management and sustainability. Theatre enthusiasts can participate in "Escaped the Art," an interactive performance where historical figures mysteriously escape from their paintings, challenging participants to uncover their stories and true identities.
Practical Information
The festival will run from January 17 to February 6, 2025, with extended hours until 11 PM during festival weekends (Friday to Sunday). While general admission is free, some programmes require pre-booking through the festival website. During the festival weekends, visitors can enjoy free entry to all Gallery exhibitions, including solo exhibitions featuring local trailblazers Kim Lim, Lim Tze Peng, and Teo Eng Seng.
As Executive Director Ms Ong Zhen Min notes, "Light to Night Singapore 2025 explores the complex identities that make up our communities to prompt new perspectives on self, others, diversity and belonging." In doing so, the festival not only illuminates the city's iconic buildings but also sheds light on the multifaceted stories that make up Singapore's cultural fabric.
For the latest updates and programme information, visitors can check the festival website at lighttonight.sg or follow National Gallery Singapore's social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
