The best things to do in Singapore this January

There's a plethora of art exhibitions in the city that are vying for your attention right now, but if you’re looking for a standout starting point, make your way to Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Here, you'll find two showcases where art bends reality and breaks rules. From December 20 to March 2, Alternate Reality at New Art Museum flips your POV with unconventional pieces – from art made with human hair to the unconventional use of film and sound – created by eight Southeast Asian artists. Then, from January 11 to March 2, head next door to Whitestone Gallery Singapore for Gutai: Beyond the Canvas, and celebrate Japan’s post-war avant-garde art rebel with paint-splattered chaos, torn canvases, and bold installations from icons like Tsuyoshi Maekawa and Yuko Nasaka. Find out more here.

Step out of your comfort zone and into new worlds at the iconic ArtScience Museum. Start by immersing yourself in the refreshed Future World, the museum’s popular mainstay, featuring interactive installations never before seen in Singapore. The World of Studio Ghibli offers fans the chance to step right into the enchanting scenes of its 11 beloved films, including My Neighbour Totoro, and Spirited Away, complete with life-sized recreations and original soundtracks. Feeling bold? Let Altered States: Experiments in Moving Image challenge your perceptions with works by international and local artists that push the boundaries of film as an art form.

Pro tip: with ArtScience After Hours, you can explore all three exhibitions and more until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Grab The Museum Ticket here to enjoy them altogether at special rates. But hurry – The World of Studio Ghibli and Altered States only run until February 2. Find out more here.

We’ll be holding on to our wallets when lifestyle marketplace Artbox returns in January 2025 for its largest edition yet. Shop till you drop from over 90 F&B stalls and 196 retail booths, a 40 percent increase in vendors from its 2024 edition. 2025’s theme, titled ‘Artbox Everyday’, means you’ll be seeing plenty of familiar heartland sights within its 108,000 sq feet of space – such as a stacked shipping container installation resembling HDB flats, complete with a ‘void deck’ with fun activities. There’ll be a new mobile bus service that provides round-trips from *Scape to Singapore Expo for a small top-up, so there’s no reason to  miss out on the fun.

If you’ve missed Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience previously, worry not. You’ve got a second chance to witness the artist’s works at the Van Gogh Inside: Love, Vincent exhibition, arriving at our shores for a seven-month run starting from January 24, 2025. This multi-sensory art exhibition will feature Van Gogh’s famed pieces, such as the beautiful The Starry Night, the haunting Wheatfield with Crows that’s regarded as one of his last paintings, and his self-portraits which depict his striking personality. There’ll be 11 original orchestral soundtracks playing in the background too. 

The event will run till August 17, 2025 and early bird tickets are already available. Prices start from $12.50 for locals and more information can be found on the Van Gogh Inside: Love, Vincent website. 

Celebrate the life and work of iconic American neo-expressionism artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who rose to success in the 80s at the movement’s peak. As the first of the Behind the Canvas series, the experience runs until March 6, 2025 and features his captivating sketches and illustrations interspersed with innovative elements of art, fashion, literature, and technology. Get a deeper understanding of Basquiat's life and journey through pages from his personal notebooks, never-before-seen artworks, and interactive experiences including wall graffiti stations. Glimpse into his early years as a budding artist and discover the events that led to his rise as one of the world's most recognised street art icons. Get your tickets here.

The sun goes down and the lights come up – brighter than ever – at the city’s annual light art festival, Light To Night, returning with over 70 artworks and programmes. You’ll have three weeks starting January 17, 2025, to visit several arts venues and malls in the Civic District to admire the large-scale, illuminated works by various local artists. We’re keeping an eye out for Han Sai Por’s inflatable tropical ferns that glow in eye-catching hues come sundown, and the colourful projections set to light up the National Gallery’s facade.

Singapore’s largest Hello Kitty collection, world-famous tattooists and viral street artists are just some of the things you can expect at Culture Cartel, the city’s premier street culture convention that’s happening from January 17 to 19, 2025. It’ll be three days of pure hype with over 80 brands unveiling fresh collaborations, several artists making their Singapore debut, and rare vintage collectibles available for viewing. Not just a feast for the eyes, this street culture showcase also features plenty of interactive exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses, and lucky draws, so come ready for a full day of fun and excitement.

You know what they say: the bigger, the better. And that’s exactly what you can expect at Sentosa’s two-month long free immersive experience, A Big, Big World. The island’s newest takeover spans Sentosa Sensoryscape and Palawan Beach and is split into two zones. Each zone offers a unique experience, including an interactive cloud swing installation and a magical beachside experience at nightfall with giant floating, marine-inspired inflatables.

Wrap up Singapore Art Week at Aliwal Arts Festival with its high-octane mix of art, skateboarding, live music, and everything in between. A major attraction to look forward to is the debut of Tailored: Bore & Stroke, an exhibition curated by The Block A Collective that explores the world of automotive customisation and its influences on pop culture. The festival is essentially a playground for creatives, so get ready to be impressed.

*Scape’s annual month-long youth arts festival is set to be jam packed with exciting music performances, thrilling dance battles and experimental art installations. Centered around the theme ‘Past x Present = Future;, the festival dives into how heritage and modern influences have shaped our local art scene. Spoiler: there’ll be a cool live-action theatrical experience, where interactive storytelling and gamified elements bring history to life.

Set to return for its third edition in Singapore from January 17 to 19, 2025, Art Sg brings together over 100 top galleries from 30 countries, spotlighting the best of contemporary art from Singapore, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Look forward to an exhilarating program designed by top cultural collaborators, featuring a wide range of art, including pieces created using technology. The art showcase is complemented by a dynamic array of large-scale, site-specific installations, performances, engaging panel discussions, and a film program co-presented by ArtScience Museum.