Discover the highlights of Light to Night Singapore 2025, a visual arts festival held at National Gallery Singapore and the Civic District.
Light to Night Singapore 2025: Do You See Me?
The Light to Night festival returns to National Gallery Singapore and the Civic District from 17 Jan to 6 Feb 2025, with over 70 works and programmes to experience. With the theme, Do You See Me?, revolving around identity and connections, you are invited to “see and be seen”. Throughout the night, you will discover unique stories that make us who we are.
Highlights of Light to Night Singapore 2025
Art Skins on Monuments – Projection Artworks
A hallmark programme of Light to Night festivals: Art Skins on Monuments that bring a new light to iconic buildings across the Civic District. Note that for this year, not all the projection artworks will play continuously throughout the nights; as there are intervals where the works will “rest”.
This year, marvel at new works on the facades of the National Gallery’s Supreme Court Wing and City Hall Buildings, created by multimedia design studio ARAFURA. These new animations are created in collaboration with the late Cultural Medallion recipient Chng Seok Tin, painter and Cultural Medallion recipient Goh Beng Kwan, and the late batik artist Jaafar Latiff.
The works will be on rotation at the National Gallery at these timings: 8PM – 8:45PM, 9PM – 9:45PM, 10PM – 10:45PM, 11PM – 12AM.
Inside the National Gallery, uncover the kālacakra (a clock for progress) (by Kapilan Nadu) at the Rotunda Gallery in the Supreme Court Wing. This mesmerising work is also an interactive one – where you can contribute to the clock by answering a quiz via QR code. As it is titled, the work also tells the time – with two glowing rings and a sweeping line for hours, minutes and seconds.
Witness the harrowing Words (by Song-Ming Ang) as abstract terms flash haphazardly on the facade of the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall building, manifesting the tension of conflicts and anxiety.
Responding to the festival’s theme, Now You See Us? (by TraseOne) brings a fresh perspective on graffiti and its core idea of visibility – with colourful motifs and visuals splashed across the storied Old Parliament House (The Arts House).
Unsung Threads (by SOTA students) tells a story of workers that have contributed to the foundation for Singapore’s success. Humble patterns interlace, exploring the intersection of art and history, as it connects communities in Singapore’s past, and present.
Giant Installation at the Padang
Image Courtesy of Han Sai Por
Gigantic inflatables on the Padang form Travelling Through the Tropical Rainforest (Han Sai Por), a contrast from renowned sculptor and Cultural Medallion recipient Han Sai Por’s usual sculptures. There will also be a musical response to the installation, in the form of a live performance, at 8:45PM on select nights (17, 24, 31 Jan).
Due to inclement weather, this piece was not yet complete for the Media Preview, and will be launched on the first day of the Festival instead.
Interactive Immersive Experience: Scarce City Review
Venture inside Scarce City (by Rainshadow Studios, Elizabeth Mak), an immersive installation set in a 3D-printed world with mesmerising lights. This is a ticketed experience (from S$28) that takes about an hour.
Centered around a resource management game with a twist, you will explore a mysterious world filled with dazzling light orbs and invisible voices. The experience starts off walking in nearly total darkness (reminding me of Horror Nights, almost), but there are no jumpscares, just uncertainty and tension, which adds to the overall mystery.
After the experience, the game team will go through the results to fully explain the mechanics and intent of the game. You will learn how the game is designed, and how well you have performed along with the other participants.
It is overall, a rather engaging and profound experience. I particularly enjoyed the game environment, which reminded me of the synesthesia of music, gameplay, visuals of games such as Tetris Effect and Lumines. If you enjoyed those games, then you should really give this a try.
Book your tickets to experience Scarce City now on Pelago. Tickets start from S$28/pax for the group bundle price (minimum 4 to go), or $35/pax for standard tickets. Discounted tickets for students, NSmen and senior citizens, along with Parent and Child tickets bundles are available. Click the link above for more info.
Art Installations and Performances at Light to Night Singapore 2025
Ascend to colourful skies at We’ll Make Heaven a Place on Earth (by Arterly Obsessed), an installation channeling the design of pagodas and mirror mazes.
Location: Asian Civilisations Museum, ACM Green
The everyday sight of grass-cutting has been transformed into art at Blades, Shrapnel (by Ang Song Nian), with laser-emitting grass cutters simulating the overlooked landscaping efforts.
Installation display: National Gallery, Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 Foyer
Roving performances: Padang and Empress Lawn, 7:30PM on select nights (17, 18, 24, 25 Jan)
At Little Bead of Work (by Kray Chen), these illuminated planter beds offer opportunities explore themes of visibility, identity and connection through stringing word bracelets – with countless alphabet beads that glow-in-the-dark. Between 6PM to 10PM on Fridays to Sundays, you can enjoy a guided activation here.
Location: The Arts House at the Old Parliament, Outdoor Lawn
There are also other activities at The Arts House, as part of VERSE.
Through The Looking Glass (by Claire Teo) invites you to hear the voices of people with disabilities and the underserved through a multi-sensory installation.
Inspired by the artist’s own experiences as a visually impaired individual, the installation leaves viewers with (literally) new perspectives of seeing things – or not seeing.
Multiple cabinets offer just a narrow slot to see its contents – these are windows into the lives of the artists participating in the Through The Looking Glass (Performance) – and they would only be open during these shows:
17 Jan 2025: 6:30PM, 8PM
18 Jan 2025: 6PM, 8PM
1 Feb 2025: 6PM, 8PM
Location: National Gallery, City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Foyer
A grid of suspended wood pillars form Angin Cloud (by Art Labor) – streamlined shapes shadowing farming structures in the air, alluding to the rural industrialisation of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
Location: National Gallery Level 1, Padang Atrium (between two buildings)
As you make your way to the festival (or when leaving), don’t miss In Transit Reflections and Shadows (by Brandon Soo): transient encounters with light, reflecting on the fast-paced world of today, as you walk by these pillars alongside the covered walkway from City Hall MRT to the National Gallery.
Light to Night Singapore 2025: Do You See Me?
17 January – 6 February 2025
National Gallery Singapore and various locations around Civic District
Free Admission to all artworks (Outdoor projections begin from 8PM)
Free Admission to exhibitions inside National Gallery Singapore during Open House days (Fridays to Sundays):
17-19, 24-26, 31 Jan, 1-2 Feb 2025
For full festival line-up and programmes, visit the Light to Night Singapore 2025 website. Some experiences may require registration, or are separately charged.
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