Aliwal Urban Art Festival 2019: A Celebration of Urban Art and Youth Subcultures

Deepa d/o Chevi Vadivelu

Aliwal Urban Art Festival is back for its sixth edition as part of Singapore Art Week 2019! Held at Aliwal Arts Centre on 19 January 2019 from till late, the urban art festival will feature graffiti and graphic art, dance battles, live performances and more.

The festival also offers opportunities for all to explore, enjoy, and experience various facets of urban art and youth subcultures showcased during the festival.

Dance: Radikal Forze Jam

Curated by Darren ‘‘ Toh, this year’s festival features special showcases by the hip-hop community. Audiences will also get to witness the Radikal Forze Jam 2019 SG Qualifiers, where some of the best street dancers in the country dance-battle it out in a knockout competition format; the winning team will represent Singapore in the main event happening on March 2019.

Kids aged 7 to 15 who have a passion for street dance can test out their skills at the Kids Dance Audition organized by Recognize! Studios. Selected participants from the auditions will be part of the Recognize! Studios’ Kids crews – Rocketeer and Revolt – where they will get to perform, and be trained under world-class dance teachers and choreographers.

Urban Art: Live Graffiti Painting

Spearheaded by RSCLS, festival-goers can check out live graffiti painting in multiple areas of Aliwal Street. RSCLS will also be supporting the Art In The Streets Pop-Up Exhibition happening at BlackBook Studios, located at the Sultan Gate Arts Village.

In addition, the exhibition titled ‘A Sign of Times’ will debut at the Aliwal Urban Art Festival. Curated by Kult Studio and Gallery, the exhibition will see 30 to 40 creatives from the Singapore urban creative community showcase their re-interpretation of instructional metal street signs in celebration of the spirit of rebellion.

Music: Live Music Showcases

Enjoy a series of Live Music Showcases, featuring independent bands across a variety of genres. Move your body to the smooth R&B tunes of Ibrahim, indulge in the uplifting math-rock of , let loose to the hard-hitting music of Sun Eater, or groove to R&B/Soul band Astronauts.

, a Malaysian whose style of music blends folk-pop, electronica, and other whimsical influences, will also be joining the music line-up for the festival.

Lifestyle and Workshops: Skateboarding and Public Drone Tryouts

Aliwal Urban Art Festival will host a number of Singapore’s independent artists who will be selling various merchandise. From clothes to handcrafted products, there is something for everyone! The festival’s specially-curated food vendors will be sure to keep your hunger pangs at bay as well.

In addition to public drone tryouts and skateboarding, this year’s Aliwal Urban Art Festival will also include a silversmithing workshop by RSCLS and Sweda, a silversmith from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Participants will be guided through the traditional process of silver pendant making, an artisan skill on the edge of losing its place in Singapore. In addition, RSCLS will design special edition pendants for these workshops as part of their collaboration with Sweda.