One of the most anticipated events on Singapore’s annual calendar is Light to Night, best known for its stunning illumination of key cultural institutions in the Civic District. This year, Light to Night returns with the theme of Here and Now, featuring immersive installations, interactive artworks, and more well-loved programmes and performances to celebrate the present moment.
Beloved festival village Art X Social also returns with over 50 food and beverage stalls, new art and craft brands, as well as live performances and outdoor workshops. Light to Night also features a slew of programming meant to help you gain a better appreciation of the arts. Soak in the festival vibes at Gallery Gigs and Gallery Mix, which will feature live performances by the likes of Aisyah Aziz, Lalit Kumar and Anise x Sonia Kwek; speak to Gallery curators and artists at Artsplaining; or have a laugh at Funny Fridays, a free-for-all stand-up comedy series featuring talents like Patricia Mok and Siraj Aziz.
There's a lot to get excited about for Light to Night. Besides the iconic Art Skins on Monuments, which will be illuminating the facades of National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and more nightly (7.30pm to midnight) till January 26 – here are five other exhibits you should not miss.
1. Botanica by Studio McGuire
Located in the National Gallery Singapore's Rotunda Library & Archives, this stunning Art Skins on Monuments work features a canopy of flowers blooming and dancing on the arches of the dome above. Inspired by real plants and their significance in Southeast Asian art, Botanica alludes to the ephemerality of plants, inspiring viewers to appreciate their beauty and existence in the here and now. Don't forget to look down too – at the open books laid out under the dome – they contain visual projections of more flowers in motion.
Timings
Mon-Thu 5.30pm-7pm; Fri-Sun 5.40pm-11pm
2. Ephemeral by Atelier Sisu
What's more transient than a bubble? Ephemeral by Atelier Sisu is a larger-than-life installation on The Padang, a model of giant bubbles that evokes feelings of admiration and nostalgia. Conceived during the pandemic, when everything we took for granted became ephemeral, this piece hopes to inspire viewers to appreciate everything they have in the present. Ephemeral is worth a visit in both the day and night to catch its varying colours.
Timings
All day
3. Hearing Padang by Sai
The old Supreme Court building forms part of the current National Gallery Singapore. In homage to that bit of history, Hearing Padang by Sai is an interactive large-scale installation that plays with the idea of 'hearings' – through which the court resolves public disputes – through sound. Speak into one end of the giant curved structure and be surprised to find that your friend can hear you loud and clear on the other end.
Timings
All day
4. Glimpse by Access Path Productions and RJ Thomson
Glimpse is all about beauty in the margins. Peek into the lives of differently-abled people in Singapore, and see it for its richness and fullness. Presented through audio descriptions, creative captioning and live performances on Fridays and Saturdays, you will come to know a cosplayer, a movement artist, a theatre maker, and a musician – each of whom have different disabilities and who have decided to show aspects of their lives through this work.
Timings
January 6 to January 26: Fri-Sun 10am-11pm, Mon-Thu 10am-7pm
January 27 to February 5: Daily 10am-7pm
5. There Is A Window In My Eye If You Look In You Will See The Sky by Dawn Ng
Made from photographs of Singapore's sky at dawn and dusk, this vast aerial sculpture is a quiet meditation on the passing of time. Head to the National Gallery Singapore's Padang Atrium to view There Is A Window In My Eye If You Look In You Will See The Sky – you're encouraged to walk around it to see the colours change – and literally see time pass by.
Timings
January 6 to January 26: Fri-Sun 10am-11pm, Mon-Thu 10am-7pm
January 27 to March 26: Daily 10am-7pm
National Gallery Singapore will be offering free entry to all visitors on Fridays to Sundays during Light to Night. It is also extending its opening hours to 11pm on the same days – so don't miss out. For Light to Night's full programme, head to lighttonight.sg.