The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) 2024 kicked off last Friday night, transforming the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct into a vibrant hub of light and art. Now in its fifteenth edition, the festival, organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and supported by Lead Sponsor Samsung Singapore, will run until 7 September 2024, offering three weekends of immersive experiences, a first for Singapore’s largest nocturnal event.
We were invited to check out the media preview last Thursday and it was a whole load of artsy, quirky fun:
This year’s theme, “The Art of Play,” draws inspiration from the historical significance of the BBB area, known for being home to some of Singapore’s earliest educational institutions. The festival features over 50 programmes, including projection mappings, Night Lights installations, and various performances that invite visitors to reconnect with their childhood and explore the rich heritage of the precinct.
A highlight of SNF 2024 is “Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia” by renowned artist Sam Lo, also known as “SKL0″, who became famous because of his parody artwork on our late Founding Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew as “Limbeh” stickers.
This event is ticketed. We would highly recommend visiting this for a walk down memory lane for the older folks and for the young ones to experience what people used to indulge in for entertainment before smart phones and video games.
Located at Cathay Green, this installation takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through Singapore’s iconic amusement parks of the past. With hand-painted carnival rides, game stalls, and unique performances, “Wonder World” encourages festival-goers to reflect on the role of nostalgia in shaping our identity and sense of belonging. Entry to “Wonder World” requires tokens, which can be purchased in advance via Klook or on-site.
At the Stamford Arts Centre, “A Date With Tradition” organised by Arts House Limited, invites everyone to immerse yourself in multicultural experiences featuring hands-on craft activities, traditional and contemporary art showcases and participative performances.
Explore diverse cultural expressions with selected workshops priced at $5 or $9 per person and free admission to other programmes. Engage in Chinese Opera, Malay classical dance Joget, Indian classical dance Kathakali, Korean Minhwa art and more.
While you at the Stamford Arts Centre, do also check out “The Happiest Days of Our Lives” mural by local artist, Rizman Putra, which is one of our favourites for this year’s SNF for its creative interpretation of play and nostalgia.
For the first time, the facade of the Peranakan Museum will be illuminated during SNF with Between Threads, a projection mapping artwork and Night Lights installation. This multi-medium piece, co-created by Singaporean film director Clare Chong, Jennifer O’Connor, and Taufiq Hidayat, celebrates the intricate artistry and diverse perspectives of Peranakan communities, offering an interactive experience for festival-goers.
Another notable installation is Delulu High by Pop Glitterfreak Collective at Bugis Street Art Lane, a new location for the festival. This interactive display reimagines a school complex with features like The Funnazium, a playful twist on the traditional gymnasium, and the Disco Bus, a life-sized school bus transformed into a vibrant dance space.
The Funnazium A gym space reimagined to be light, soft, and feminine.
Disco Bus A life-size bus that becomes a portal to fun, celebrating individuality and transforming the dreaded school bus experience.
Affirmation Steps Colourful steps resembling those into a classroom, designed to affirm you with each step.
Over at the National Design Centre, check out two Night Lights installations, Opera in Motion: A Dynamic Tribute to Chinese Opera《剧里箱》 by local art collective Opera in Motion and Scents of Being by Aesop.
Opera in Motion: A Dynamic Tribute to Chinese Opera《剧里箱》brings festival-goers on a journey through the history of Chinese Opera, as they pedal a tricycle that activates a mesmerising light projection of an illustrated Chinese opera scene on the centre’s walls.
Scents of Being engages the olfactory with Aesop’s 11 mesmeric Eaux de Parfum, evoking childlike wonder and curiosity while offering moments of introspection into the intricate relationship between scent and self.
The former engages visitors in the history of Chinese Opera through a tricycle-activated light projection, while the latter offers an immersive olfactory experience that explores the relationship between scent and identity.
Festival-goers can also visit the Festival Village at CHIJMES, where artworks by first-time projection mapping artists and a lively mix of food, drinks, and music await.
After visiting CHIJMES, you can walk over to the nearby City Hall MRT Station or Raffles City Singapore shopping mall to check out another Night Lights work by Jaxton Su, Red House Cafe.
A tribute to the bygone days of the iconic Red House bakery, the Red House Cafe emerges as a dazzling public light art installation, located where the bakery once thrived, now the site of the Carlton Hotel. This engaging experience merges the rich history of the beloved bakery with the vibrancy of contemporary cafe culture.
SNF 2024 runs from 23 August to 7 September 2024, with an additional weekend this year to allow more time for visitors to experience the diverse offerings.
A TikTok Rising music showcase on 29 August, featuring local talents such as Haven, Jean Seizure, Josh Makazo, Nathan Hartono, Sezairi, and Shazza, is among the festival’s many highlights.
Ticketing
Most of the attractions are free, with selected ticketed programmes available for purchase at http://go.gov.sg/sgnightfest.
Festival-goers can enjoy a 20% discount on Wonder World tickets when using Samsung Wallet for payment.
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