Look forward to new Night Lights, Projection Mapping installations, a rollerskating highlight act and more at Singapore Night Festival 2023: Singapore, the Great Port City.
Singapore Night Festival 2023
From 18 – 26 August 2023, Singapore Night Festival returns to the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, offering 12 new Night Lights, 4 Projection Mapping installations, an interactive Highlight Act and other experiences, along with a trio of Festival Villages in the area. Come along for a tour of this year’s Night Fest highlights!
Highlight Act: Time is a Black Circle (Dawn Ng)
This year’s Highlight Act reimagines dance floors of the 60s and 70s into a new interactive light installation in the Gallery Theatre at National Museum of Singapore.
Taking the form of an indoor roller skating rink, Time is a Black Circle will bring you back to the nostalgic nightlife scene of Singapore’s past with a dazzling and immersive experience. With people skating by constantly, the circular rink also takes the form of a giant vinyl record when viewed from above.
Whether you’re ready to strap on a pair of roller skates (or not), tickets are required for this Highlight Act during the SG Night Fest event hours. However, visitors can also enjoy this work for free during the day from 10AM to 4PM – but the day version leaves out the skating experience.
Available daily 18 to 26 Aug, from 7:30PM to 11:30PM. Last Entry at 11PM. Roller skates (limited sizes from EU35 to EU46) are provided at the experience, but visitors are required to bring along a pair of crew length socks or purchase on-site. You can get your tickets, as well as more event details from Klook.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Time is a Black Circle (Early Bird) For purchases till 17 Aug Choose from Skating and Non-Skating Tickets |
$22 Buy now» |
| Time is a Black Circle For purchases from 18 Aug onwards Choose from Skating and Non-Skating Tickets |
$27 Buy now» |
Projection Mapping installations
Enjoy large-scale projection mapping art and see building facades transform at this year’s Night Fest.
700 Years (Muhammad Izdi, Zizi Majid and Jérémie Bellot (AV Extended))
Drawing from works from our local museum collections, 700 Years is a highly-stylised tale of Singapore’s story from the 14th Century to present – in the form of a visual epic.
Said to be Singapore’s first-ever ‘theatrical projection mapping’, the festival’s largest projection installation was jointly created by two locals – a playwright, and an illustrator – with a French agency specialising in digital arts.
Be prepared for large crowds during peak periods on weekends.
CHIJMES projections
Three artists will showcase new works at CHIJMES, with works in rotation. CHIJMES is also one of the festival villages at this year’s Night Fest.
Port(al) City by Chris Chai (Cosmicchai) – Water paves the way through time, tracing Singapore’s past and present.
Evolution of Bras Basah Entertainment Scene by Sadiq Mansor (249.png) – the transformation of the neighbourhood showcased through vibrant animations.
Birth in Bloom by Ashley YK Yeo – a dazzling fusion of myths with local flora retells Singapore’s rise in maritime trade amid waves of turbulence.
Night Lights installations
12 artworks around the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct retell the story of Singapore, The Great Port City, this year’s festival theme. The works in this article are ordered based on my preferred walking itinerary starting from the National Museum of Singapore (after viewing the 700 Years projection mapping installation).
#SGNIGHTFEST (Pan-United)
The Lawn, National Museum of Singapore
Returning to SG Night Fest are these colourful letters made using 3D printed concrete, originally commissioned for the 2022 festival.
A Stone’s Throw (Away) (WY-TO Group)
Banyan Tree, National Museum of Singapore
The Singapore Stone and its mythic story comes to life through interconnected light panels at this installation.
Rimbun (Shakir/ Grasshopper)
Farquhar Garden, Canning Rise
Motifs inspired by Singapore’s cultural heritage are projected around this garden, giving the plants an all-new look at night.
This work is sited at Farquhar Garden behind the National Museum of Singapore, so you’ll need to take the escalators beside the Museum building to get there.
The Island at the End (Wong Lip Chin)
In front of Yong Pung How School of Law, SMU
Step inside this multi-sensory installation and be transported into a 14th-century medicine hall and apothecary, filled with materials used in incense-making. Find out more about the project here: @chito.qiansui on Instagram
This is quite unlike the other light installations, as visitors could participate in the process of lighting the resin and be immersed in the scent produced. Only one kind of material would be available every night.
Preserving Paradise (Teo Huey Ling)
Near The Bible House, Armenian Street
Visit an experimental garden of the future – a nod to Singapore’s first botanical garden built in 1822 by Sir Stamford Raffles.
SeaScape Symphony (27June Studio)
Kinetic Wall, Funan Mall
Go on a journey underwater as you marvel on this display on the side of Funan Mall, and become part of the symphony by surrounding yourself with bubbles at the interactives below the display.
“Flowing Water Road” Shrine (Mindflyer)
Outside Raffles City Singapore
The origins of the name ‘Bras Basah’ (derived from beras basah) is told through a tale of flowing waters and the spirit within, aptly placed at the former site of the Stamford Bridge.
GIFFEST (EYEYAH!)
National Design Centre
With a theme, IMPERFECT, this interactive exhibition showcases the beauty of imperfections using GIFs, the internet’s beloved animated graphic format.
During the media preview, we were led to watch the main presentation at the front of the installation, which showcases generative art created from some of the iconic buildings and spaces in the area.
Step inside the installation to experience the full GIFFEST experience.
GIFFEST III: IMPERFECT COMPILATION (EYEYAH!)
You can also view a collection of GIFs curated to this year’s festival theme at the National Museum of Singapore. It is presented at the LED Wall outside of Supermama store.
A Global Bugis Phinisi (Tay Swee Siong)
Inside Stamford Arts Centre
Resembling a deconstructed Buginese boat, the interlaced sails and detailing in this work symbolises the seven seas and Singapore’s maritime journey.
Go closer and take in the details, and even the scents of the spices.
Florescence (Kristal Melson)
Multi-storey Carpark, Bugis Street
A giant inflatable periwinkle flower is blooming out of a carpark in Bugis.
X O X (two kisses and a hug) (Critical Craft Collective)
Stamford Arts Centre
Be drawn by the lights of this playful sculpture, which has been restaged from an original commission from 2022.
Partner Programmes at Singapore Night Festival 2023
Extend your festival experience with experiential programmes presented by SG Night Fest partners.
SMU Arts Fest 2023: POST (Singapore Management University)
From 18 Aug to 24 Sept, SMU will be holding its Arts Fest, launching alongside the Singapore Night Festival. Drawing inspiration from the Night Fest theme, this year’s Arts Fest will feature a strong line-up of acts across genres over several weekends. More details at the SMU Arts Fest website.
A Date with Tradition (Arts House Limited)
A Date with Tradition is back at Stamford Arts Centre, presenting visitors with a medley of traditional art and performances, such as traditional Indian dance (pictured above) and Minhwa Art (below). Bookings may be required for some experiences. Find out more here.
Waterloo Street Stories (Objectifs Centre and Partners)
A series of programmes can be found at Waterloo Street presented by the #WaterlooStreetKakis collective.
During the preview, we gathered at Objectifs Centre and were treated to Alicia DC’s vocals while P7:1SMA dancers moved along – all in an artistic response to a story about a cobbler at Waterloo.
Step inside Objectifs Centre to view more works derived from the area.
Visit this page for a full listing of Waterloo Street Stories programmes at SG Night Fest.
Extended Hours at the Museums
Some museums in the area will have extended hours on select dates during the Night Festival (weekends), such as the National Museum of Singapore opening till midnight. The Peranakan Museum will also have extended hours and special programmes, being part of the bustling Festival Village along Armenian Street. Children’s Museum Singapore is also be part of the Night Festival with its ‘After Dark’ programme on select nights.
Singapore Night Festival 2023
18 – 26 August 2023
7:30PM ~ 12:00AM
Bras Basah.Bugis Precinct
Free Admission to Night Lights and Projection Mapping installations
Check out the Festival Map and plan your route before heading down.
For full festival line-up, including performances and experiential programmes, visit the Singapore Night Festival website. Some experiences may require registration, or are separately charged.
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