i Light Singapore Returns To Inspire Sustainability With 14 Captivating Artworks by 22 Artist from 8 Countries

i Light Singapore returns from 1 to 25 June 2023 with 14 captivating light art installations, transforming Marina Bay into a visual playground where art, technology and sustainability converge.

For parent with young kids, this would be something fun for a family outing, while learning about sustainability at the same time.

Organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and presented by DBS, Asia’s leading sustainable light festival is also featuring an exciting line-up of programmes to delight the senses and spark conversations on sustainability.

Take a glimpse at the beauty and fragility of nature’s blue spaces

This edition of i Light brings together 22 artists from eight countries to put up a vibrant showcase curated to the Festival theme of A New Wave.

Also inspired by the colour blue, many of the artworks utilise sustainable materials and interactive approaches to spotlight nature’s blue spaces such as oceans and rivers, and invite visitors on a journey of discovery and reflection on our relationship with nature.

One example is Blumiwave by local artists from DP Design, featuring ‘crashing’ sculptural waves made with common building materials such as scaffolding and safety nets that were salvaged from construction sites. This artwork aims to raise awareness of blue energy – an alternative renewable energy source harnessed from the sea and river waters.

Over at the things left unsaid by student artist Brigette Teo from Nanyang Technological University’s School of Art, Design and Media, visitors can appreciate weaved sheets made with upcycled plastic bags that light up periodically. Teo drew inspiration from the phenomenon of bioluminescent algal bloom observed in Singapore last year, and hopes to convey both the comfort and unease arising from encounters with these beautiful and unusual occurrences in the waters around us.

Another interactive artwork is Aquatics by Berlin-based multidisciplinary artist Philipp Artus, where visitors can design our own sea creatures on a tablet and see them come to life in an animation projected before us. The artwork captures the beauty of biodiversity and reminds us of the importance of preserving marine ecosystems. 

Experience artworks that blend creative expression and sustainable design

Visitors can also immerse ourselves in a myriad of artworks that embody sustainable and innovative design to express pertinent social issues. One example is Tree Man by ENESS, an award-winning Australian art and technology studio, featuring a pair of whimsical light sculptures, with each encircling a sapling in his arm and switching colours. The artwork symbolises the balance that humans try to strike between connecting with the environment and our digital devices. On top of using energy-saving LED lights, the artist combined all technical elements of the artwork such as speakers and sensors into one physical unit, so that the artwork can be efficiently transported and assembled, thereby minimising carbon footprint. The inflatable fabric used will also be subsequently recycled and converted back to raw plastic and textiles for reuse.

Another unconventional artwork is Moooooootion by Thai design studio, XD49. This sustainable multi-functional piece makes use of easily reusable scaffolding and a vinyl projection screen and doubles as a stage at GastroBeats, i Light Singapore 2023’s Festival Village. Conceived as a playful counterpoint to the stillness and confinement resulting from past COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the installation celebrates social connections and interactions through colours and music.

Marvel at the ingenuity of local and international artists

Apart from talented local artists, i Light Singapore 2023 also feature the works of renowned international names. One example is Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol, who will present Glacier Dreams, a large-scale projection on the façade of ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Regarded as a pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence, Anadol’s artworks have been exhibited on six continents across 50 cities worldwide. His artificial intelligence data paintings were recently featured as part of the set design of the 65^th Grammy Awards, and impressed with visuals originating from 300 million photographs of nature and long-term research on the photographic history of space exploration.

Closer to home, award-nominated Malaysian artist Jun Ong, showcases his latest minimalistic yet impactful light sculpture, Prism at Millenia Walk. 

Immerse in exciting and experiential programmes 

Apart from feasting your eyes on the artworks, visitors are also in for a gastronomic and musical treat at GastroBeats, the Festival Village at Bayfront Event Space that offers the rich diversity of local culture. Here, you can fill their stomachs with cuisines served by 50 homegrown food and beverage vendors; groove to live performances by talented local musicians; or delight in carnival favourites and bouncy castles. The DBS zone also features interactive experiences and instagrammable visual installations designed around themes such as self-care, sustainable living and being future-ready.

While exploring the Marina Bay area, visitors can bask in the tranquil ambience contributed by blue hues that are emitted from key landmarks as part of Light Wash, a collective light-up that complements the light art installations. 

i Light Singapore 2023, presented by DBS, is held from 1 to 25 June 2023, 7.30pm to 11.00pm daily with extended hours to 12.00am on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free, while charges apply for certain programmes.