Light to Night is finally back!
Making its grand return from 19 January to 8 February 2024, Light to Night 2024 lights up the Civic District with 60 artworks along with exciting programmes.
This year, the iconic visual arts festival will deliver a multitude of sensorial experiences inspired from history, origin, and culture from the National Collection. The overarching theme for Light to Night 2024 is Reimagine, and most of the artwork and exhibition installations feature works by veteran and budding Southeast Asian artists.
These works come in unconventional artistic forms and present a challenge to normal perceptions of art. Aside from being visually pleasing and IG-worthy, these artworks also encourage audiences to tap into their creativity as well.
One of the more engaging exhibtions that really caught me in the feels is Wishful Thinking by Whisperlodge. Here, you’ll get to discover unexpected textures and sounds by taking part in an ASMR video held at the National Gallery Singapore.
If you’ve never experienced the wonders of ASMR, now’s your chance. From caressing different textures and hearing their sound amplified, to popping bubble wrap while listening to a chill audio tape, it’s time to let the beauty of ASMR calm your tired soul and rest your active mind.
I have to admit, at first it does feel kinda weird, but once you get into the zone, you’ll find yourself feeling at ease real quick.
If you can appreciate ASMR, then you might be interested in the live ASMR performance on and around the installation for just S$5 per pax. It’s definitely an interesting experience and if you need a quick escape from your busy life to reconnect with your inner peace, then you should give this one a go.
The Party Pavilion located outside the Asian Civilisations Museum is a must-visit. Apart from being a very pretty photo spot, it also doubles as a disco dance floor for you to show off your groovy moves. Put on your dancing shoes and dance the night away at the party pavilion!
Once you’re done dancing and snapping pics over at the party pavilion, head over to the The Arts House where an adorable projection awaits you. Titled Winter Sonata, Summer Mookata (love the quirky name), this installation will steal your heart with its adorable kittens and trippy imagery. You’ll feel like you’re watching a retro sci-fi cartoon. Also, look at those those eyes!
The facade of the Victoria Concert Hall comes alive with colour costumes, animated visuals and electronic music inspired by the costumes and music of traditional jie xi — a type of Chinese Opera. This projection is titled Embroided Landscapes by SISTRUM and it makes for a another pretty backdrop to pose for pics at, so make sure to get your poses ready!
If you’re a fan of lights and illumination, one of the signature installations by Kumari Nahappan, Wings of Change, is sure to take your breath away.
Standing at six metres tall, this installation features inflatable materials that lights up after sunset with the Padang serving as a pretty backdrop. You’re also encouraged to walk around the largest saga seed in a clockwise direction to encourage living in the present and going with the flow.
We all know it’s common courtesy not to touch artwork installations in general but Lee Wen’s Ping Pong Go Round is an interactive exhibition that actually invites audiences to be part of the artwork.
That’s not all, you’ll also be able to challenge your friends to a game of ping pong. Yes, you read that right. How often do you get the chance to play ping pong in the National Gallery?
Other exhibitions located inside the National Gallery include the Rapture by Victor Tan, and Symphony of Order by Sarah Choo Jing and Matthias Choo. The latter was giving “POV you’re the main course” kind of vibes and if I’m being completely honest, watching them eat made me a little hungry too.
Ooh! And during festival weekends — Friday through Sunday — National Gallery Singapore will extend its opening hours until 11pm and even have free admission to some of the exhibitions!
This installation was by far one of my favourites and certainly the one where I had the most fun. Located along the Underground Pedestrian Link at Funan, the Gachapon Complex is a more vibrant and colourful art installation that gives us a glimpse into the world where toys live a life much like ours — kinda like Toy Story of sorts.
Apart from being a great backdrop for fun and quirky pics for the gram, the installation also incorporates augmented reality component where you’ll be able to add filters to your pictures. The installation stretches the entire linkway with four different designs to pose with — feel free to be as wacky as possible.
Checking out cool art installations and projections isn’t all you’ll get to do at Light to Night 2024. There’ll be a line-up of exciting activities across the weekend too like the Canvas Collective: A Tour Reimagined. Dungeons and Dragons fans can look forward to participating in the Dungeons and Dragons: The Arts Quest for just S$20/45-minute session.
Once you’re done with the exhibitions, you should definitely stop by the Art x Social Festival Village to grab a bite and drink with its various F&B options. Along with additional live performances, conversations, and tours, Light to Night 2024 is sure to be a fun event for all!
Just a tip, Light to Night 2024 is free entry for all but there are some exhibitions that require ticketing which you can purchase from the official website.
Are you going to start 2024 with this lit exhibition?
Light to Night 2024
Facebook | Instagram | Website
📍 Civic District
🕒 6.30pm–11pm
🗓️ 19 Jan to 8 Feb 2024
For more lifestyle updates like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood.
Photos by Marcus Leong
I'm either mean or a meme, there's no in between.