The second edition of Artbox Singapore is finally here, and it’s three times bigger. While some might rejoice at the thought of more choice, we sneer at the the potential human sardine can it could become. But if you’re planning to give that a miss, there are plenty of other markets, parties, film screenings and performances to check out anyway.
Friday, May 25
Artbox Singapore 2017
MARKET
Rejoice or recoil—Bangkok’s legendary Artbox Singapore is back, with a self-proclaimed line-up that’s “three times bigger than last year”. Head down to the Bayfront event space to shop the 400 regional vendors selling everything from food to trinkets to Instagrammable moments. We can’t promise that crowd control will be any better than last year, but 400 booths at the island’s largest creative market does sound enticing. May 25-27, Jun 1-3
FILM
The Open Air Cinema Club returns to the Hive this month with the screening of 2009 cult film 500 Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. May 25
PARTY
Can’t get enough of Britpop, indie and everything in between from last week’s Poptart at Tuff Club? Head over to The Great Escape as Misshapes takes over everyone’s favorite gritty rooftop carpark for an unabashed night of screaming, jumping, dancing and boozing. May 25
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ARTS/FESTIVAL
Flipside is Esplanade’s 10-day festival that showcases a very different side to art and performances, spotlighting artists who flip conventional ideas to present a more refreshing and current iteration. Highlights include Sensing The Dark, a one-of-a-kind musical and sonic experience in the dark that takes place in an intimate space with subtle lighting effects and live music; Dans l’Atelier & Chantier Frigolite, a kooky performance that lifts the veil on puppet creation, with the puppet coming to life to complete its own construction, only to be met with more struggles; and Urashima Taro, a contemporary take on the Japanese myth about a fisherman who abandons his duty at home for a life of eternal pleasure, told through a talented performer and her animated co-star, video projection and shadow play. May 25-Jun 3
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FESTIVAL
Downtown East is reving up for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations with a special KB Raya Fest taking place this weekend, where close to 140 booths will be offering all your favorite festive eats, apparels, fashion accessories and more. May 25-27
TOUR
It’s one thing to take a walk through hell at Haw Par Villa during the day, and a whole other experience if you go at night. The twilight tour of Haw Par Villa is back—check out the infamous 10 Courts of Hell, King of Ghosts, the upcoming Hell’s Museum and the Aw family memorials. May 25
FILM/PARTY
What a feeling! The Glory Hoes return with their queer film series experience, this time with the screening of the 1983 classic, Flashdance. Then, break out them leotards, leg warmers, wrist and head bands and your brightest ’80s workout get-up for an after party at the Intermission Bar, with ’80s music blasting thanks to DJ TJD, Steve Lush DJ and Bobby Luo, and performances by Arya Dunn, Becca D’Bus and JG Love. May 25
FILM
The French Animation Film Festival kicks off its seventh edition this weekend, screening films like Zombillenium, Droles de Petites Betes and Emilie Jolie. May 25-27
MARKET
TGIF Bazaars returns to OneKM Mall for their third Ramadan Flea, where you’ll be able to splurge on accessories, apparel, essential oils, home decor items, antiques and collectibles, and of course, food. May 25-Jun 14
DRINK
Oenophiles and connoisseurs of fine spirits, it’s time to stock up again at 1855 The Bottle Shop’s fifth Wine & Whisky Week—even if you’re still not down to the last drop with your last batch. There will be more than 500 other labels on offer throughout the 12-day event, with over 100 of them available for tasting before you buy. Through May 27
PERFORMANCE
Catch the latest performance masterpiece by traveling theatrical and performance troupe Cirque du Soleil, Toruk – The First Flight, based on James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic, Avatar. Through Jun 3
THEATER
Pangdemonium’s 2017 sold-out original production Dragonflies returns for an extended run, with Adrian Pang, Tan Kheng Hua, Fanny Kee and Frances Lee reprising their roles, performing alongside new additions Benjamin Chow, Elizabeth Morse and Matt Grey joining the cast. The show is set in 2021, in a xenophobic post-Brexit world. The England-based protagonist Leslie Chen is deported back to Singapore after the death of his wife in the UK. He now has to relearn and reintegrate into the country he left in his youth. Through Jun 3
MARKET
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) turns 80 this year. And to celebrate, they’re throwing an eight-week arts festival to showcase the school’s diverse talents. As part of the festival, a series of festival markets will take place each weekend, featuring craft-makers and jewellers, local fashion labels, original artworks and vintage collectibles. You can even be part of the excitement and book a booth here. Through Jun 3
THEATER
After sold-out success in London, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong, UK-based theater company Secret Theatre Project is finally coming to Singapore, bringing to locals their unique style of interactive theater. The experience essentially takes audience members on a high-budget theatrical production that can include anything from deciding a central character’s fate to journeying through a full-blown haunted house adventure. Through Jun 10
EXHIBITION
Singapore-based Taiwanese indie pop art illustrator and designer Billy Ma will be showcasing pieces from his Sexy Sin City series at casual French dining eatery Merci Marcel, as part of the restaurant’s first-ever art exhibition. Each piece presents an otherwise provocative history of familiar Singapore neighborhoods juxtaposed against seemingly unassuming and less charming modern structures. Through Jun 15
EXHIBITION
Kult’s newest exhibition Word will interpret written text in visual forms through artworks. Specifically, the artists involved were invited to interpret traditional scripts such as Arabic, Braille and Urdu. Through Jun 20
Saturday, May 26
Tanjong Goodman Open House 2017
FESTIVAL
For the first time, the annual arts festival organized by Goodman Arts Centre is going green, with a lineup of events and activities themed after reimagining creative yet environmentally sustainable ways of making art. There’ll also be performances, original theatrical work and workshops to catch. May 26
PARTY
After a kinky night of spreading across two floors, DJs weelikeme and KiDG are returning to Canvas for their long-running Poptart night; this time with special guests Disco Hue, who will be putting up a hybrid DJ/live set at the party. May 26
PARTY
Another month, another Sub City night for bassheads. The party is up at the second floor of Piedra Negra, where special guests Kenneth Francis of Beatroot Sound and the ever so elusive SG from UK will smash the room with bass-heavy beats, alongside local DJs Senja and OMJ. May 26
[SPONSORED]
WELLNESS
If there’s one the thing we love about the ’80s—apart from the music and the fashion, of course–it’s the rampant aerobic workouts on TV (remember Richard Simmons or Jane Fonda?). And in case you haven’t realized, dancing is exercise too, and gyms know that. Virgin Active is throwing back to those days, organizing a full day of high energy outdoor classes with a fresh spin. Burn To The Beat is exactly what you’d imagine: Virgin Active’s fun and high energy dance workouts all set to thumping synth music, in Tanjong Pagar Centre’s Urban Park. Admission is free for all (non-Virgin Activemembers must register online). May 26
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PARTY
Head over to the recently reopened Cato as Thailand’s techno frontrunner Nakadia makes a stop in Singapore in between her current jam-packed world tour. May 2
WELLNESS
Now that the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival is over, the scenic space along Bayfront will be taken up by the seventh edition of DBS Marina Regatta. Headlining it is Battle Bay Extreme, which has been touted as the largest land and water obstacle course in Southeast Asia. May 26-27, Jun 2-3
THEATER
The beloved annual Shakespeare in the Park by the Singapore Repertory Theatre was put on hold last year, but it returns this month thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. They’ll be staging Julius Caesar in its well-loved setting of Fort Canning Park. Through May 27
EXHIBITION
Human Version is an introspective exhibition filled with photographic and videographic works designed to explore the nascent relationship between humans and robots. Held at Alliance Francaise de Singapour’s La Galerie, the all-encompassing exhibition will give you a rare insight into research labs often kept away from the public eye. Through Jun 2
EXHIBITION/FESTIVAL
Angkor: Exploring Cambodia’s Sacred City. Masterpieces of the Musee national des arts asiatiques-Guimet showcases more than 140 sculptures, watercolors, drawings, and historic memorabilia from the museum in France, for a detailed look into the magnificent history of Angkor. There’s even a festival, Angkor Encore, that’s happening exclusively this weekend (May 25-27). Through Jul 22
EXHIBITION
The eighth edition of Singapore Art Musuem’s annual family-friendly contemporary art exhibition explores the concept of time. Ten artists and art collectives from around the world have taken over SAM at 8Q for Imaginarium: Into the Space of Time, presenting immersive and interactive installations exploring the tales and theories that shape our memories and future. Through Aug 26
Sunday, May 27
The Great Race – Contemporary Chinese Zodiac by Laurina Paperina
EXHIBITION
Chinese New Year may be long over, but this new exhibition looks at the Chinese zodiac through the eyes of European artists. The internationally renowned Mazel Galerie from Brussels has commissioned The Great Race, a new exhibition that takes source material from the traditional Chinese zodiac. Through Jun 30
WELLNESS
The third edition of Pesta Ubin – WalkRunBike returns for its third edition at Pulau Ubin. Challenge yourself and choose from either the brisk walking (2km), running (6km) or trail biking (6km) categories. May 27
TALK
According to Ministry of Manpower’s website, there are close to a million migrant workers in Singapore. While we roughly know what their job requires of them, it’s rare to hear actual backstories of these unsung heroes. Drop by the National Volunteer & Philathropy Centre to hear these migrant worker finalists who’ll be sharing their true stories under the theme “home”. May 27
EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s current shtick traces 40 years of street art, from its controversial beginnings as expressions of counterculture, to its current standing as a major pillar of contemporary art. Art from the Streets features the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
FOOD
Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual durian festival returns with all-time favorites like durian puffs, crepes, strudels, ice cream and more. Through Jul 22
EXHIBITION
Peranakan Museum’s latest exhibition, Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography, delves into the Southeast Asian history of photography through the pictured lives of the Peranakan community in the region. Through Feb 3, 201
