The final week of January also happens to be the last stretch of this year’s annual blockbuster art event, Singapore Art Week. You’re missing out if you haven’t checked out this year’s offerings. Otherwise, there are a couple of must-go parties, art films to watch and runs to take part in, as well as this year’s Laneway Festival to keep things upbeat.
Friday, Jan 26
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival: “Displaced” by Ground Cover Theatre. Photo credit: S.E. Grummett
THEATER
Part of the 14th edition of M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, catch Ground Cover Theatre’s Displaced, a play that tackles xenophobia, Islamophobia and cross-cultural intolerance through the stories of three immigrants fleeing their countries at three different points of history. Jan 26-28
OPENING
Ever wondered what goes on in a fashion shoot? Satisfy your curiosity and head over to The Hive Lavender for the official launch of their swanky new Hive Studios, where you’ll get to see upclose how shoots are done as fashion label OliveAnkara puts up a demonstration. Jan 26
ART
Gillman Barracks comes alive after dusk with the return of the flagship edition of Art After Dark. The night-time open house will play host to an evening of live music, F&B pop-ups from revered establishments in Singapore, and of course new exhibitions and programs at the various galleries in Gillman Barracks. Jan 26
PARTY
You’ll want to keep yourself free for this one—Berlin-based Turkish house producer-DJ and resident at Heart Ibiza Zigan Aldi will be taking music lovers at Headquarters on an aural journey with his rich, ethereal and ethnic take on house music. Jan 26
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 26
PARTY
Prefer getting jiggy with Britpop, indie and everything in between? Head over to The Great Escape as Misshapes takes over everyone’s favorite gritty rooftop carpark together with Indonesian duo duo Pubhorror for an unabashed night of screaming, jumping, dancing and boozing. Jan 26
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 Momotaro, Sacred Sailors, Japan’s first ever feature-length animated film that was intended as a means of boosting morale amongst the locals, for when it started to appear Japan would not emerge victorious. Jan 26
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. Through Jan 27
ART/CONVENTION
Whether you’re an actual art collector, or just an appreciator of fine art, Southeast Asia’s flagship art fair Art Stage Singapore is the place to be to check out the best of Asian contemporary art. Now in its eighth edition, the fair continues to be the shining platform to develop and bridge various art aficionados, collectors and artists in the region through dialogues, panel discussions, exclusive private collection previews, and more. Through Jan 28
EXHIBITION
It’s the final weekend to learn about the highly misunderstood and overlooked heart of Singapore. Larger Than Life: The Unspoken Histories of Jurong Neighbourhood will share forgotten points in Jurong’s history in five interactive, site-specific art installations, along with guided tours, workshops and artist talks. Through Jan 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. Through Jan 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
Alternative gallerists kult have collaborated with German cultural organization Goethe-Institut to curate a sartorial exhibition on games and politics as a reflection of the political nightmare that was 2017, and the conversations we should continue to have. Open your mind and have your hand at the Games and Politics over at Kult Studio & Gallery. Through Feb 12
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
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
CARNIVAL
Get your adrenaline pumping at Singapore’s largest carnival. The massive Prudential Marina Bay Carnival will span across 25,000 sqm (or the size of three and a half football fields) at The Promontory and Bayfront, and boasts more than 40 rides and games—most of which are from the UK, Germany and Italy. Through Apr 1
Saturday, Jan 27
Laneway Festival 2017. Photo credit: Laneway Festival Singapore
FESTIVAL
It’s time once again for indie music lovers to congregate at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay for the all-day music pilgrimage, Laneway Festival. On the line-up are Laneway alums Mac DeMarco, The Internet and Slowdive, as well as Bonobo, Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals and more. You can also expect regional and local acts like Alextbh and MAS1A to wow the crowds this year. Full line-up here. Jan 27
HEALTH
The Safari Zoo Run was first conceived to commemorate Singapore Zoo’s best loved animal personalities—the one and only, reverent Ah Meng, who died of old age in 2008. Now in its 10th edition, the run’s focus is to raise awareness of wildlife conservation through four animal icons representing endangered species in Singapore. Take the unique trail through the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, and say hi to the locals along the way. Jan 27
HEALTH
If you’ve still got your adrenaline pumping on this last weekend of January, make a date with Pikachu at the Pokemon Run Carnival, back for its second edition by popular demand. The trail takes you through the waterscape and green canvases of Gardens by the Bay, but throws in fun obstacles in fire, water, electricity and grass element zones to conquer along the way. Afterwards, shake off the leg cramps at the Pokemon Carnival, where you can play games, feast on gourmet delights, and catch the much anticipated, choreographed Pikachu dance performance. Jan 27
PARTY
Get down to a night of reggae and dub at Root Down, where big-time reggae and dub selectas like Ras Irie & Sham Em, Marvin Gold and Gonzo, together with Lion Steppaz Sound System, will take over The Great Escape with roots and culture music lasting into the wee hours of the morning. Jan 27
PARTY
Headquarters’ latest digs, Upstairs, is going full-on deep house with Belgian DJ-producer duo Kong & Gratts. When they’re not busy tinkering with beats, they run music label Ensemble, possibly one of Belgium’s best underground gems. Jan 27
WELLNESS
Learn to take care of your body and join in this edition of Urban Yogis’ Pop-Up Yoga series on the MBS Boardwalk. Jan 27
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 Magda Danysz, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
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
Sunday, Jan 28
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival: “Does This Work For You” by The Nervous System
THEATER
Here’s one from M1 Singapore Fringe Festival’s “Fresh Fringe” segment that might hit home for some—the world premier of The Nervous System’s Does This Work For You will invite guests to examine Singapore’s workplace environment and the subtle (and sometimes explicit) discrimination in it, and how the characters overcome various challenges. Jan 28
FOOD
There’s going to be a big-deal tandoori party over at Meatsmith Little India, as they invite some of Singapore’s best chefs to whip up their versions of kebabs with a side of booze and tunes. At allotted times between noon and 8pm, you’ll get to sample kebabs by Burnt Ends’ David Pynt, Proof & Co.’s Zdenek Kastanek, Artichoke’s Bjorn Shen and more. Jan 28
MARKET
If you want to get ahead of everyone for Valentine’s Day, you might want to check out the 35MM Art Market by The Local People at Singapore Art Museum. There’ll be 120 art, retail and F&B vendors like apparel label Oana, handknit accessories by It Takes Balls and more, as well as a screening of films by finalists from the Singapore Heritage Short Film Competition 2017. Jan 28
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
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
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
