Finally, a four-day work week. For those who weren’t lucky enough to apply for a long weekend, fret not—Singapore’s scene didn’t forget you. Fill the week with parties, exhibitions and a couple of markets before you head into the weekend (and a new month).
Monday, May 28
John “00” Fleming
PARTY
If you’re not up for Mambo, head up to Capital where it’ll be absolutely popping as trance heavyweight John “00” Fleming helms the deck. He brings along his signature “J00F sound”, a distinct style of music described as “deep, textured and progressive with an underground approach”, which he’s carved for himself over the years. May 28
FILM
Watch one of Wes Anderson’s cult hits, The Grand Budapest Hotel at BluJaz to catch up on his older works before you hit the cinemas to catch Isle of Dogs. May 28
PARTY
One of our favorite things to happen on public holiday eves is Zouk’s iconic Mambo Jambo. Once a Wednesday staple at the old premises on Jiak Kim, the night will be filled with nothing but good vibes, synchronized dance moves and familiar tracks from yesteryears. May 28
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
Tuesday, May 29
Singapore by Billy Ma, showcasing at Merci Marcel
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
COMEDY
Catch everyone’s favorite drag queen comedian Kumar as he dishes out his usual antics, politically incorrect rants and Singapore issues-based jokes at Canvas. May 29
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, 2019
Wednesday, May 30
Toruk – The First Flight. Photo credit: Matt Beard © 2017 Cirque du Soleil
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
FOOD
Chef Li Guang of One Michelin-starred Labyrinth, together with famed Chef Jordy Navarra of Manila’s Toyo Eatery, will be presenting a fun four-hands dinner cheekily called Jor-Li-Bee, featuring the best of Singaporean and Filipino cuisine mashed together as an awesome six-course dinner. May 30-31
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
THEATER
UK-based theater company Secret Theatre Project has arrived in 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
Thursday, May 31
Japanese Cyclops Baby by Mister Edwards; showcasing at Kult Gallery’s Word
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. May Through Jun 20
[SPONSORED]
THEATER
It’s been a super busy month for the arts, what with the conclusion of this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts and the return of the landmark Shakespeare in the Park. But if you’re still lusting for more, you might want to check out Esplanade’s on-going 10-day festival, Flipside, which spotlights an unorthodox take on art and performances by flipping conventional ideas for a more refreshing and current iteration. Mark your calendar this week for Dans l’Atelier, a kooky performance that uncovers the mystery of puppet creation. It starts off by presenting the various mishaps in the construction process, but later on, the puppet comes to life to complete its own construction, only to be met with the same struggles as the puppeteer. It’s followed by Chantier Frigolite, an optional workshop, where you can make your own styrofoam puppet. May 31-Jun 3
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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. Through Jun 14
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
Friday, Jun 1
Adrian Wee & Cats on Crack for Modern Love at Tuff Club
PARTY
Let Adrian Wee and Cats On Crack whip you into shape with their regime of house, indie disco and electronica at Modern Love, happening at Tuff Club. Jun 1
PARTY
Singapore’s coolest parking lot bar, The Great Escape, will be popping off with a delicious cauldron of classic funk, soul groove, jazz, afro, hip-hop, house and disco music, freshly prepared and dished out by the likes of MC SWTLKR and DJs Ramesh, Daryl C and more at this edition of Kampong Boogie. Jun 1
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. Jun 1
MARKET
Bazaar people LalooLalang (whose name translates loosely to “passing by” in Malay) are holding a special Raya bazaar. Look forward to six zones of trend food, local street eats, fashion, furniture and plants, and pretty trinkets. Everyone’s invited to come buka puasa together after sundown—plus share in the festive atmosphere of Eid. Jun 1-3
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. Jun 1-3
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
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
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
EXHIBITION
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. Through Jul 22
EXHIBITION
The eighth edition of Singapore Art Museum’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
