The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) returns to the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct for its 15th edition this year, bigger than ever! Happening from 23 August – 7 September 2024, the festival will take place over three weekends for the first time.
Organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and supported by Lead Sponsor Samsung Singapore, Singapore’s largest nocturnal experience takes festival-goers on a journey to explore and learn about the rich history of the precinct, with over 50 programmes including projection mapping artworks, performances, Festival Villages, Night Lightsinstallations and partner programmes.
Inspired by 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, the theme of this year’s festival explores the Art of Play.
Illuminating the precinct’s rich educational history are engaging and immersive artworks that deep dive into the concept of play and childhood, bringing BBB’s heritage to life through participative experiences.
Since its inception, SNF has been a key platform in inspiring the growth of Singapore’s arts and heritage scene while working with diverse stakeholders such as artists, both local and regional, and BBB partners.
This year, festival-goers will have an extra weekend to explore offerings throughout the precinct, coupled with the activation of new spots within BBB, such as GR.iD, for the new late-night Festival Village and Bugis Street Art Lane, which is a new site hosting a Night Lights artwork.
Additionally, SNF will be presenting four Festival Villages this year, each featuring a different identity, offering festival-goers lively communal hubs as part of their festival experience. The festival’s expansion is made possible with the strong support of SNF partners, which are more than 60 this year.
Festival Director David Chew said, “The team is excited to bring back Singapore’s largest nocturnal experience to the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct once again. We are grateful for our partners who have worked with us across the many editions of SNF, enabling us to expand the festival into three weekends, for the first time, for its 15th edition. Centered around the Art of Play, SNF 2024 explores the concept of play, childhood, and nostalgia, which the BBB precinct lends the perfect backdrop to with its rich educational history – as the site of a number of Singapore’s first schools, and even now continues to be home to newer educational institutions. With more Festival Villages, new artwork locations, and interactive art installations this round, we hope that festival-goers can fully immerse themselves in the festival experience while ruminating on the place of nostalgia and heritage in today’s world.”
Prepare to be transported to the whimsically charming amusement parks of Singapore’s yesteryears as local contemporary artist Sam Lo (a.k.a SKL0) presents Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia.
This captivating experience reimagines the entrancing magic of the 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.
What is an amusement park without amusements? Wonder World invites all to immerse themselves in a nostalgic wonderland, complete with rides, game stalls, nostalgic trades, and even a wrestling ring where festival-goers can witness a unique fusion between wrestling and poetry, featuring iconic characters from Singapore’s past, among other live performances on the Wonder World grounds.
Festival-goers can also win (or if all else fails, buy!) something to commemorate their visit at the Meritocratic Gift Shop, which features game stalls that challenge achievement-focused culture, before jumping into a quirky experience at The Bizarre Bazaar, where trades of the past are reimagined for modern consumers.
Festival-goers can also check out larger-than-life billboards featuring a series of murals 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, inviting festival-goers to reimagine a divergent path and consider the possibilities and implications of a world shaped by innovative technologies during our growing years.
Early bird ticket sales for Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia will run from 17 July to 17 August 2024, at $20. Tickets will go at $25 from 18 August to 7 September 2024. Please refer to http://go.gov.sg/sgnightfest for ticketing details.
Night Lights will once again transform everyday spaces around the BBB precinct with 10 site-specific luminous installations, inspired by the concept of play.
At Stamford Arts Centre (SAC), The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizman Putra evokes childhood nostalgia as it showcases images from the early ’60s-90s with vintage illustrations.
Inspired by SAC’s long history as home to various educational institutions, this blacklight immersive mural aims to transport festival-goers into a vibrant neon realm that pays homage to the bygone eras.
At Bugis Street Art Lane, a new location for SNF, Delulu High by Pop Glitterfreak Collective reimagines tough school memories into a vibrant, safe, and reflective haven for all to enjoy.
Inspired by the inner child in all of us, along with our shared hopes and dreams, this creative installation transforms a lively gymnasium space – often perceived as a tough and heavy environment – into a place that is light, soft, and feminine.
Right after, festival-goers can explore the Disco Bus and Affirmation Steps, both designed to reimagine the dreaded aspects of school into playful and healing experiences.
Regional artists have also come on board SNF, including Thai interactive installation artist KIMBAB:) who specialises in lighting projects that explore human behaviour, 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 designed to engage audiences in a thrilling race against time with its vibrant visual display and captivating gameplay.
The structure of the installation 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.
Cosmetics and skincare brand Aesop presents Scents of Being at the National Design Centre, promising an exploration of the deep connection between scent and self.
This multi-sensory experience takes place in a mythical forest where each of Aesop’s eleven Eau de Parfum will serve as a guiding light, inviting festival-goers on a journey of aromatic discovery, evoking childlike wonder and curiosity. Among these, a new fragrance awaits to be unveiled.
Did you know that there was once a Red House bakery that graced the site of the Carlton Hotel in Singapore? Artist Jaxton Su will be paying homage and transporting festival-goers back in time with Red House Café, an experiential public artwork adorned with geometric shapes reminiscent of popular bakery items like curry puffs and cakes.
Festival-goers at Armenian Street will be greeted by a larger-than-life illuminated paper plane, offering a major throwback to childhood and nostalgia.
Taking inspiration from BBB’s history and in honour of the former schools in the precinct, First Flight by Aaron Lim and Quek Jia Qi also reflects the imaginative spirit of students.The interactive installation will be accompanied by an activity that hopes to encourage contemplation and imagination.
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 in the BBB precinct, both of which were once schools, inviting everyone to rediscover the joy of play and artistic expression.
The Peranakan Museum will host a projection mapping work for SNF for the first time. Featuring a co-created work by regional artists and international collectives, Between Threads by Singaporean film director Clare Chong, Jennifer O’Connor, and Taufiq Hidyat celebrates intricate artistry and diverse perspectives of Peranakan communities.
Inspired by elements from the museum’s collection, including textiles and artifacts, the artwork dynamically transforms through audience interactions, offering multifaceted ways of viewing the work.
CHIJMES will come alive with four captivating works that are part of the SNF Projection Masterclass led by Shakir (a.k.a Grasshopper), a Malaysian multimedia digital artist and a co-founder of Filamen, an art collective specialising in projection mapping, light installations and interactive projects.
Annually, as part of SNF’s capability building initiatives, SNF selects up to four artists with limited projection mapping experience to join the Projection Masterclass Series. This series includes multiple training sessions designed to introduce and equip participants with fundamental projection mapping techniques. This year’s four featured artists are Yanyun Chen and Alex Scollay, Rachaodoodles, Aaah House and deniseardenise.
Embracing the festival’s theme, the Art of Play, artists Yanyun Chen and Alex Scollay present PINBOLA, their fourth collaboration. The artwork is a multi-level pinball machine brimming with childhood toys and artefacts, offering a playful escape from our mundane daily routines to show that the only way forward is up!
Like their previous works, PINBOLAexplores social themes in Singapore, blending digital and analogue elements to offer a respite from everyday life and inspire dreams.
Other artworks stemming from the masterclass include Play Downstairs by Rachel which captures the magic of children’s imagination, turning something mundane into the extraordinary instruments and wonderlands, demonstrating that while times change the creative spirit of childhood remains constant.
On the topic of retaining the beautiful ability to create imaginative fantasies with no boundaries, festival-goers can become the architect of their own adventure with Whimsical Odyssey by Aaah, where ordinary objects transform into gateways of extraordinary journeys.
A Prototype of Play by deniseardenise also reminds us that, regardless of age, our minds retain the ability to create games and find joy in what we make.
SNF 2024 introduces four Festival Villages, each with its own identity and character. This includes the debut of 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, beer garden among other culinary experiences.
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; and PIXEL PARADISE at Armenian Street: Singapore Night Festival at Armenian Street, inspired by the Peranakan Museum’s beaded objects and retro video games. All four Festival Villages will feature Night Lights, performances and a diverse array of food experiences.
SNF 2024 will feature a line-up of performances across the festival’s weekends, celebrating creativity, heritage and the community. These include various “mini-festivals” and programmes by BBB stakeholders which will be happening alongside SNF 2024.
Among the highlights is a Xinyao Singalong @ Bras Basah Complex, hosted by 96.3 Hao FM DJs including Jing Yun (Carine Ang) and co-organised with the Bras Basah Merchants Association.
Inspired by the xinyao singalong held at Bras Basah Complex a decade ago as part of The Songs We Sang, a 2015 Singaporean documentary directed by Eva Tang, the singalong will be making its return as part of SNF 2024.
Festival-goers are invited to immerse themselves in the nostalgic tunes of xinyao, a genre of homegrown Singaporean music that holds a special place in the hearts of many.
The Voices of Singapore Festival, Singapore’s largest non-competitive choral event, will be taking place alongside SNF for the first time.
Organised by Voices of Singapore, the festival will feature a diverse range of activities including concerts, singalongs, as well as solo and a cappella performances within BBB.
#WaterlooStKakis, a collective comprising Centre 42, Objectifs, P7:1SMA, SMU-Arts and Culture Management and The Theatre Practice, returns to SNF for the second year with Waterloo Street Stories 2024: Interplay.
Festival-goers can celebrate the dynamic cultures of Waterloo Street through movement performances, getai shows, an outdoor photography exhibition and interactive experiences like culinary pop-ups, personalised insta-letters, tarot reading and photo collage-making.
Capitol Singapore will once again host a series of jazz performances, celebrating the heritage and traditions of BBB while weaving in the untold stories of the precinct.
SNF is presented with the support of Lead Sponsor Samsung, which introduces its Galaxy AI and latest Galaxy Z Series to elevate the festival experience.
Festival-goers can fully unleash their creativity with the help of Galaxy AI and Samsung’s flagship camera experiences at this year’s highlight act Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia and selected Night Lights installations.
In addition, 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 subject to terms and conditions. Samsung will also join hands with TikTok Music to present music performances by local artists on 29 August 2024.
Ronnie Ng, Head of Mobile eXperiences, Samsung Electronics Singapore, said: “Following our successful collaboration last year, we are excited to be working with Singapore Night Festival once again to bring a larger and more immersive experience for festival goers. With AI influencing modern day creativity and interactions, we are pleased to be working with SNF and participating artists to explore the idea of play with AI, with the hope of instilling a sense of wonder and breaking down barriers when it comes to appreciating art and culture.”
SNF 2024 is organised by NHB, with the support of BBB partners and stakeholders, Official Partners – Aesop, Bugis Street, Capitol (Perennial Holdings), CHIJMES (Perennial Holdings) and Funan, and Supporters – Raffles City Singapore and Toast Box. Running from 23 August to 7 September 2024, the festival has free admission with selected ticketed programmes which are available for purchase at http://go.gov.sg/sgnightfest.
