Look out Singapore—the annual blockbuster art event, Singapore Art Week, kicks off this week. And with it comes more than 100 things to do, ranging from exhibitions and festivals to check out, to artist talks and theater performances to catch (psst, we picked 11 you might want to check out here). Otherwise, there’s also your usual fun week of films, yoga classes and conventions.
Tuesday, Jan 16
Sabre-toothed cat at “Treasures of the Natural World” at ArtScience Museum
EXHIBITION
A cursed gem, a dodo and a giant stuffed sloth walk into a museum; the punchline is that they’re here to stay till the end of April. Treasures of the Natural World, the traveling exhibition from the Natural History Museum in London, makes its first and only stop in Southeast Asia at the ArtScience Museum, bringing over 200 of the London museum’s star artefacts. Through Apr 29
EXHIBITION
On the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore, the National Museum of Singapore remembers 1942, with their first large-scale, blockbuster war exhibition featuring more than 130 artefacts from 10 overseas museums and institutions. It’s the biggest collection of war stories to date, but go because the exhibition explores events and portrayals of World War II beyond just your textbook syllabus. Through Mar 21
Wednesday, Jan 17
“Muzik Elev8s” by Billy Ma, for Instant Fame
EXHIBITION
If you’re a fan of the ‘50s art movement, or even just someone who likes keeping up with popular culture, head down to the Visual Arts Center as they present the best of Singaporean pop art in their new exhibition, Instant Fame, featuring names like Andre Tan, Billy Ma and Justin Lee. Jan 17-22
TALK
Join a panel of professors, volunteers and directors in a thoughtful discussion on migrant workers, as they tackle issues like migrant groups advocacy, their rights, difficulties they face, and more. Jan 17
PERFORMANCE
One of South Korea’s biggest music export, DJ Didi Han, is dropping by for a one-night-only performance at Peaches, together with resident acts Attagirl, DuriO, Jaydah and Ffinn. Jan 17
ART
The sixth edition of Singapore Art Week kicks off this month with a mind-blowingly vulgar amount of events to indulge in (we’re not complaining!). To start you off, we’ve picked out a couple of must-go’s here. Jan 17-28
FESTIVAL/THEATER
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival returns for its 14th edition that moves away from its usual thematic concept of “Art & ____”, and focuses on a new direction that calls on artists to conceptualize or feature works that are themed around iconic Singaporean artists and their works. As usual, there’s been some controversy in the lead-up, with The Glory Hoes accusing organizers The Necessary Stage (TNS), a non-profit theater company formed by Alvin Tan in 1987—of censorship. But you can still catch Edith Podesta’s The Immortal Sole, Emanuella Amichai’s The Neighbor’s Grief is Greener and other envelope-pushing shows. Jan 17-28
THEATER
Just how much do you know about the cultural, social and collective expectations of a traditional Chinese wedding? Visual artist and 2018 Young Artist Award recipient Kray Chen takes that perceived knowledge and puts a twist on the usual rituals in 5 Rehearsals for a Wedding, to shine a light on the anxieties and behaviors that come with weddings of today. Jan 17-31
ART/FILM
Asian Film Archive’s (AFA) annual flagship and visual art series, State of Motion, is back for its third edition. This time, they’ll be exploring film as a medium of cultural and ideological changes of Singapore during 1955-1965, featuring 10 films that were produced in that decade such as Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961), Hang Tuah (1956) and Hang Jebat (1961). There’ll also be exhibitions, public art walks, panel discussions and guided film location tours to give a deeper perspective on the topic. Through Feb 11
EXHIBITION
The problematic issues surrounding climate change and the ocean take center stage at this exhibition presented by the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore. Featuring contributions by 12 artists, filmmakers, composers and researchers who made trips to islands in the Pacific, The Oceanic focuses on large-scale human interventions in oceanic ecospheres. Through Mar 8
EXHIBITION
Curated by acclaimed art historian Lorand Hegyi, The Artist’s Voice, brings together the works of 34 contemporary artists from around the world, to reflect on socio-political issues and the human conditioning through mediums ranging from sculpture and video. Through Mar 18
Thursday, Jan 18
Kanmani, Melissa Quek x Tinu Verghis, 2017, for ArtWalk Little India. Photo credit: Singapore Tourism Board
ART
The fourth edition of ArtWalk Little India will see long-lost tales and urban myths of the area through colorful murals, over-the-top public art installations and free performances by local artists and performers such as master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran, self-taught aerosol painter Shah Rizzal, artist duo Sobandwine, musical fusion band Lotus Collab, Indian theater company Ravindran Drama Group and more. Jan 18-27
WELLNESS
With all the Christmas and New Year’s activites now over, learn to take care of yourself and join in the twilight edition of Urban Yogis’ Pop-Up Yoga series on the MBS Boardwalk. Jan 18
FILM
National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is teaming up with Asian Film Archive (AFA) to present a special selection of war films as part of the Witness to War: Memories and Screens series. This week, catch Spirit of the Overseas Chinese, a film that was once thought to be lost forever. Directed by pioneering female Chinese filmmaker Wan Hoi-ling, the film anecdotes affluent Chinese immigrants having to make decisions that threaten to shake their cushy lives, in the lead-up to the war coming to Malaya. Jan 18
WELLNESS
If high-intensity interval training (HIIT) isn’t a challenge for you anymore, try doing it on water. Over at ParkRoyal on Beach Road, these low-impact classes will require you to do a fun, full body workout that include burpees, lunges, squats and aquaclimbers on a solid float in their pool. Jan 18
EXHIBITION
In a stunning collab between National Gallery Singapore and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, Claude Monet and his contemporaries grace our sunny island with over 60 Impressionist masterpieces in Colours of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musee d’Orsay, featuring works like the dreamy Le Bassin aux nympheas, harmonie rose. Through Mar 11, 2018
EXHIBITION
If you fancy yourself a cinema enthusiast, the Singapore Art Museum’s latest exhibition Cinerama: Art and the Moving Image in Southeast Asia is a must-go. In a series of immersive, multi-medium installations, the exhibition brings together the works of 10 artists and art collectives from across the region. Here are five you should check out. Through Mar 18, 2018
Friday, Jan 19
Light to Night Festival 2017. Photo credit: National Gallery Singapore
FESTIVAL
After a successful first run last year, the dazzling Light to Night Festival returns to the Civic District to wow audiences once again. Similar to last year’s program, the festival will offer a visual spectacle on the Gallery’s facade, a Festival Food Street (line-up to be confirmed), music performances, and a variety of installations that will explore the sensation of color. Jan 19-23
FILM
Also part of NSM x AFA’s Witness to War: Memories and Screens series, Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence stars David Bowie, and focuses on trying relationships intricately woven against a backdrop of war. Jan 19
CONCERT
You’ve seen the films, you’ve heard the catchphrases, now experience the music from every James Bond film ever made performed live under British conductor Pete Harrison and his 28-piece live band at MasterCard Theatres. Jan 19-20
CONVENTION
Top up your personal office pantry (a.k.a. your side drawer) and shop for all your favorite munchies at the World Snack Fair happening at Suntec Convention Centre. Brands are separated by country/region (Japan, Korea, Australia, Asia and Euro), so it’s easier to navigate and go straight to that snack you’ve been craving for so long. Jan 19-21
EXHIBITION
If you have a penchant for urban exploration but have nowhere else to go, you might want to drop by Raid; a three-week-long exhibition taking place at the historic Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter. Eight promising artists will be presenting their interpretation of the site through sculptures, installations and conceptual art. Through Feb 3
EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s upcoming shtick will trace 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 will feature the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
