The 15th edition of Singapore Night Festival 2024 will span over three weekends for the first time and is centred around the theme “Art of Play”.
Singapore gets buzzy after dark from August to September 2024 with the Singapore Night Festival 2024 (SNF 2024) at the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct. It’s a rare opportunity to experience culture via immersive illuminated artworks in nocturnal at this popular recurring event attraction. SNF 2024 will happen over three weekends from 23 August to 7 September 2024.
The three-weekend multi-medium arts festival, organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and supported by Lead Sponsor Samsung Singapore, will feature over 50 programmes – including projection mapping artworks, performances, Festival Villages, Night Lights installations and partner programmes.
This year’s 15th edition is themed “Art of Play”, taking a deep dive into the concept of play and childhood. Furthermore, the theme also obtains inspiration from the historical significance of BBB as the birthplace of some of Singapore’s first schools, including Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), St. Joseph’s Institution and Tao Nan School.
Singapore Night Festival 2024 will also see the activation of new spots within BBB like GR.iD, for the new late-night Festival Village, and Bugis Street Art Lane, a new site hosting a Night Lights artwork. Expect thought-provoking works by veteran and budding artists from Singapore, including local contemporary artist Sam Lo (a.k.a SKL0), Rizman Putra, Pop Glitterfreak Collective, and more.
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Highlights at Singapore Night Festival 2024 – “Art of Play”
Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia by Sam Lo (a.k.a SKL0)
Travel back in time to the whimsy amusement parks from Singapore’s past via Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia. This captivating experience reimagines the analogue-driven 1950s “great world” amusement parks in Singapore, inviting visitors to ponder the co-existence and balance between preserving heritage and embracing modernity, and the place of nostalgia in today’s society.
Mirroring the format of amusement parks, Wonder World will feature rides, game stalls, nostalgic trades, live performances, and even a wrestling ring. But this is no ordinary wrestling ring, as it’s a stage for a unique fusion performance between wrestling and poetry. Festival-goers can also try their luck to win (or buy) curios at the Meritocratic Gift Shop, which features game stalls that challenge achievement-focused culture. Furthermore, a quirky experience awaits at The Bizarre Bazaar, where trades of the past are reimagined for modern consumers.
Wonder World will be decked out in a larger-than-life series of murals designed by SKL0 and local artists Djohan Hanapi, Ben Qwek/LABSIXFIVE, Kristal Melson and New World Plaza. Presenting artworks are set in an alternate 1950s universe and inspired by Samsung’s Galaxy AI, festival-goers can reimagine a divergent path and consider the possibilities of multiverses shaped by innovative technologies.
Early bird ticket sales for Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia happen from 17 July to 17 August 2024, at $20. Tickets will go at $25 from 18 August to 7 September 2024.
Samsung Galaxy users can enjoy a 20% discount for Wonder World tickets when they use their Samsung Wallet for payment. This promotion is only valid for on-site ticket purchases at Wonder World, on a while-stocks-last basis and is subject to terms and conditions.
Night Light Installations
Scattering all over the BBB precinct are the outstanding night light installations for the public to marvel at. This edition will feature 10 site-specific luminous installations, inspired by the concept of play.
The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizman Putra at Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) seeks to evoke memories of childhood with vintage illustrations from the early 1960s to the 1990s. This immersive blacklight painting, which was inspired by SAC’s long history as the address to numerous past educational institutions, intends to immerse festival attendees in a vivid neon world that honours bygone ages.
Pop Glitterfreak Collective’s Delulu High at Bugis Street Art Lane, a new SNF venue, reimagines difficult school experiences into a lively, secure, and contemplative haven for everyone to enjoy. This imaginative installation, inspired by shared ambitions and dreams from our inner child, turns the lively gymnasium room—often seen as a harsh and heavy environment—into a light, soft, and feminine environment.
Regional artists also contribute to SNF 2024, including Thai interactive installation artist KIMBAB:) who specialises in lighting projects that explore human behaviour by blending art and technology into each creation to provoke genuine smiles and moments of joy. Located at Funan Mall, Fortune Beads is an immersive interactive installation for participants to race against time with captivating gameplay on its vibrant visual display. The installation structure is inspired by the beads of the abacus, which was a tool of commerce, and references Funan Mall’s links to both commerce and a place of play across generations.
Festival Villages
There will be four Festival Villages for SNF 2024, each with its own identity and character. Making its debut is a late-night Festival Village (beyond midnight!), Twilight Playground @ GR.iD, inspired by GR.iD’s youth-orientated offerings and edgy vibes. The Festival Village will transform into an interactive playground with an escape room experience, and beer garden among other culinary experiences. All four Festival Villages will feature Night Lights, performances and food offerings.
The other three returning festival villages are:
- SMU Arts Fest 2024: PLAY at SMU Campus Green – Held in conjunction with Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Arts Fest, which will feature a whimsical mix of nostalgic elements and lively cross-disciplinary collaborations
- Festival Village @ CHIJMES – An oasis set in a historical landmark amid restaurants.
- PIXEL PARADISE at Armenian Street – The Singapore Night Festival at Armenian Street is inspired by the Peranakan Museum’s beaded objects and retro video games.
Projection Mapping
SNF 2024 will see the return of projection mapping installations, a festival staple, showcasing a blend of nostalgia, imagination and creativity. These installations will illuminate the facades of two cultural buildings – The Peranakan Museum and CHIJMES – in the BBB precinct, both of which were once schools, inviting everyone to rediscover the joy of play and artistic expression.
Singapore Night Festival 2024 (SNF 2024) will happen within the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct over three weekends from 23 August to 7 September 2024. Admission to the festival is free, with selected ticketed programmes.
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(Feature and hero image credit: Peranakan Museum)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore
