As the sun sets and darkness claims the sky, Singapore transforms. The city hums with anticipation as Singapore’s largest nocturnal experience stirs. Lights burst to life, and buildings erupt into dynamic displays. Ladies and gentlemen, the Singapore Night Festival 2024 awakens! This year, the festival returns for its 15th edition, and it’s going bigger, brighter, and bolder than ever. From 23 August to 7 September, this festival epitomises nostalgia and heritage like never before. Are you ready to see an ordinary night turn into an extraordinary adventure?
For the first time ever, the festival will span three weekends instead of the usual two, which gives you more time to explore every bit of the offerings SNF brings us this year! Spoiler alert: you have over 50 electrifying programmes to choose from! From projection mapping artworks, performances, Festival Villages, Night Lights installations and partner programmes, expect a packed itinerary for the next three weeks!
The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) returns once again to the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, the part of Singapore that pulses with heart and art. This year’s theme is Art of Play, and it’s inspired by the historical significance of BBB as the birthplace of some of Singapore’s very first schools, including Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), St. Joseph’s Institution and Tao Nan School. This year, we’re unleashing our inner child, letting them run wild as these installations overflow with nostalgia, tugging at our hearts and bringing long-lost memories rushing back.
We got a glimpse into the festival’s brightest happenings, and we’d like to share some of our favourites with you. But be warned: Singapore Night Festival presents us with over 50 programmes, and what we share today is the very tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more awaiting your presence, so be sure to check them all out!
Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia
Let’s start with the main star of Singapore Night Festival 2024: Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia! It’s an amusement park that sits right next to Dhoby Gaut MRT Station at Cathay Green. But it’s not just any amusement park. It reimagines the alluring magic of “great world” amusement parks in Singapore back in the ‘50s, making the entire experience feel supremely captivating and retro.
At Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia, you’ll face a classic merry-go-round that makes you the merriest ever. You’ll also see a swing carousel that’ll make sure you feel the breeze kissing your face. And with these joy rides come the classic carnival game stalls like milk bottle toss, throwing balls to land in cups, and more!
When you ace these games, you’ll earn credits. When you earn enough of them, you’ll get to bring back something from the merch booth – from high-quality T-shirts and socks to little memorabilia that will bring you back to your younger days! If all else fails, if you don’t get enough points from the games, you can always buy points and bring home a T-shirt that we surely wish we could bring home, too.
You’ll also see a wrestling ring smack in the heart of Wonder World, where you can witness a unique fusion of wrestling and poetry featuring iconic characters from Singapore’s past, among other live performances that take you down memory lane!
But beyond that, it invites every one of its visitors to ponder upon the co-existence and balance between preserving heritage and embracing modernity. What is the place of nostalgia in today’s society?
As you stroll through the little amusement park’s vibrant, the neon lights flicker like memories from a time of your life stored in the innermost locker of your memories, and classic rides spin with the charm of the 50s. In this retro wonderland, nostalgia isn’t just a sentiment; it’s a celebration of the joy and innocence of yesteryears, reminding us that while we look ahead, there’s magic in looking back and cherishing the memories that shaped who we are today.
Night Lights Installations
Night Lights will once again transform the everyday spaces we merely pass through at the BBB precinct with ten luminous installations that change the narrative of each spot they take over. The concept of play inspires these installations. As you watch these ravishing pieces sit before your eyes, watch out for how they make you feel. Let the art speak to you.
Scents of Being by Aesop
Let’s start strong with my absolute favourite installation of the festival! This is a multi-sensory experience, with your olfactory sense getting the biggest treat of all. It hits your nose even before you enter the building: the marvellous scents of Aesop’s eleven mesmeric Eaux de Parfum.
As you step into the National Design Centre, the cool air-conditioning rests against your skin, giving you a pleasing welcome and engaging your sense of touch. Then, your eyes rest upon the tall tree-like structures standing all around you. In this scented grove, you’ll be greeted with the warm lighting coming off these structures, permeating the most pleasant smells your nose might have ever been met with. All this while, you hear the gentle hush of the release of smoke that adds to the drama of it all while lending another fragrance to this fragrant wilderness.
Approach these tall “trees,” stick your nose near the holes in these structures, and smell the fragrance that the “tree” holds within its core. Eleven of these structures hold eleven mesmerising scents, with one brand new scent to the line being unveiled for the first time ever here at the Singapore Night Festival. If I could, I’d stay here all night, feeling embraced by this sensory scape. Enchanting!
Opera in Motion: A Dynamic Tribute to Chinese Opera by Ezekiel Wong, Hoo Jian Li, Lim Jia Ren and Ron Tu
Step outside the room and feast your eyes upon this remarkable installation that needs your help to bring to life. You’ll see a tricycle that activates a light projection when you sit on the throne, which is the tricycle seat. Get to work pedalling, and the installation will come alive!
As part of this installation, you’ll see an illustrated Chinese opera scene on the centre’s walls illuminated by the projection from the bicycle. It’s so special that this artwork sits in the former home of the Chinese Opera Institute, and today, the building stands proud and tall as the National Design Centre. The installation draws inspiration from the lively Chinese street operas that have been bussin’ since 1842, making this piece a blend of tradition with modern innovation.
The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizman Putra
At Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) hides a beautiful and moving piece that will put you in a trance. As you walk into the room that holds this art piece, your jaw will be on the ground when you realise the neon paint all over the walls and floor, forming a stunning mural depicting scenes dating back to the ‘60s to ‘90s. The mural reimagines classic illustrations while giving us a glimpse into life back in the day.
SAC was formerly home to many educational institutions and continues to bring the same sense of creativity, curiosity, and playfulness it once brought to its students. As you marvel at this magnificent mural, you’ll notice the diverse nature of the depiction, with all of Singapore’s main races represented, as well as various shapes and forms of family. Bring your older family members here for a taste of nostalgia as this hand-drawn and hand-painted blacklight immersive mural brings them back to the happiest days of their lives.
Look Up, Sunbear! by Tobyato
Sitting snugly outside the YMCA building (okay, Google, play YMCA by Village People!) is an adorable, lit-up Sunbear! He looks up to the sky as he balances an apple on his nose. It’s a lovely sight but holds such deep meaning, from the symbolism of the apple to the location he sits at.
This apple’s balancing act represents the balance between play and education. In cartoons, an apple would often be found at a teacher’s desk in school. It’s also a fun and healthy snack and a representation of nature. The choice of apple is a profoundly thought-out one. It depicts the importance of letting youth grow as they were meant to, with the balance of play and study.
Being located at the YMCA represents its efforts to strengthen children and youth, teaching them to hold within themselves courage, wisdom, and appreciation for nature while also providing them with learning opportunities. It represents how the building is a sanctuary for youth, just like a bear needs its cave. The layers of meaning are so special, but what does this installation say to you?
First Flight by Aaron Lim and Quek Jia Qi
Do you remember making paper planes in class and throwing them when you thought the teacher wasn’t looking? Or maybe it’s having competitions in the school’s basketball court to see whose paper plane went the furthest? Or perhaps it’s teaching your friend how to make their first paper plane? Isn’t it so precious how this one piece of paper could make such an impact on our childhood memories?
This installation is an ode to that precious memory. It’s a celebration of the first time we learned we could fly. This immersive installation also honours the vibrant play history of BBB and its iconic schools while symbolising the imagination and dreams that once soared through the area’s former school grounds. This larger-than-life paper plane also has strobing light effects that represent the flight and landing of this plane, as well as our creativity and dreams taking flight.
Moreover, if you sneak into the installation itself, you’ll also spot some foolscap paper with a made-up school name and logo to bring you back to the days you made your paper planes in school! So much meaning and thought has been packed into this jaw-dropping installation. It truly reminds you of the good ol’ days. It brings out your inner child to play, sometimes without you even realising it. This installation has a special place in my heart.
Projection Mapping
Get ready to be dazzled because SNF 2024 is bringing back iconic projection mapping installations, a festival favourite that never fails to amaze! These stunning displays will light up two historic cultural buildings in the BBB precinct, both former schools, with an enchanting mix of nostalgia, imagination, and creativity. It’s an invitation for everyone to dive back into the pure joy of play and artistic expression, rediscovering the magic these cherished places once held and still do.
Between Threads by Clare Chong, Jennifer O’Connor and Taufiq Hidayat (The Peranakan Museum)
The first location is the Peranakan Museum. This stunning projection takes over the entire building, and the art you see projected is all at the tip of your fingers (literally!). Choose from any of the fourteen interactive buttons to decide the art that speaks to you the loudest, and let that be the backdrop for your mind to erupt in chaos or rest in serenity – whichever effect art brings to you.
Inspired by elements from the museum’s collection, including textiles and artefacts, the artwork dynamically transforms through these precious interactions. This offers multifaceted ways of viewing the work and illuminates an essential piece of Peranakan history and its archives in Singapore, the Peranakan Museum.
In front of the museum, two interactive installations stand. Watch out for the giant ‘dance here’ stickers on the floor and bust out your best dance moves. Through the embedded sensors, your friends on the other side of the installation will see your movements, creating waves and moving the threads. You’re literally creating art through art!
On top of that, the Peranakan Museum also holds within itself paid and free workshops and performances with A Date With Tradition, organised by Arts House Limited! While you’re here, engage in Chinese Opera, Malay classical dance Joget, Indian classical dance Kathakali, Korean Minhwa art and more! We checked out and tried our hand at hand-beading as well, something you can do during your visit as well on selected dates and times! Also, don’t miss their showcase of hand-beaded works that will leave your jaw on the ground!
A Whimsical Odyssey by Aaah House (CHIJMES)
Prepare to be enchanted as CHIJMES springs to life with four captivating works, all part of the SNF Projection Masterclass led by the incredible Shakir, also known as Grasshopper. This Malaysian multimedia digital artist and co-founder of Filamen, an art collective specialising in projection mapping, light installations, and interactive projects, is set to transform the iconic site into a visual masterpiece that will leave you in awe!
The work we saw was A Whimsical Odyssey by Aaah House, splashed out on the back of CHIJMES. This piece’s title is as self-explanatory as it can get—step into a world where imagination takes the lead, creating whimsical narratives that open up endless possibilities. Here, ordinary objects become gateways to unexpected adventures, guiding you beyond the familiar. As you navigate this landscape, you become the creator of your own adventure! It’s also a lovely piece to watch, painting CHIJMES in a new light this SNF!
Final Thoughts
But, you see, we’ve only scratched the mere surface of the avalanche of activities, showcases, and installations that Singapore Night Festival 2024 has in store for us. I promise you, there’s something for everyone this year. You’ll just have to do some exploration on your own before you embark on this adventure, which is the Singapore Night Festival!
As the biggest nocturnal experience of the year reopens its doors, it invites you to step into a world where nostalgia meets new adventures. Don’t miss this chance to explore Singapore through a vibrant new lens, where familiar sights are transformed into magical experiences. Whether it’s the mesmerising projection mapping, the enchanting installations, or the immersive performances, this festival is your gateway to an unforgettable adventure.
Let Singapore Night Festival 2024’s dazzling displays and creative installations guide you on an adventure filled with excitement and discovery. Embrace the magic, and let the night unfold in ways you never imagined! The country is yours to take on.
Singapore Night Festival 2024
🗓️Dates: 23 August to 7 September 2024
📍Location: Multiple locations around Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) Precinct
⏰Opening hours: Till 11pm
There’s so much more to uncover about Singapore Night Festival 2024! All it takes is a little clickity-click through Singapore Night Festival’s official website to check out all they have to offer. Also, stay tuned to their Instagram and TikTok pages for more updates!
Photos by Russell Loh of the DANAMIC Team.
