It’s the season to know and learn more through art, with a whole bunch of events happening thanks to Singapore Art Week, M1 Singapore Fringe Festival and the ongoing Singapore Bicentennial. For those who missed last week’s Downtown East shindig Eatbox and Bacon Beats, this will be the last weekend to go check it out.
Friday, Jan 18
Bacon Beats
FOOD/MUSIC
Like Artbox but with just the food stalls, the second weekend of January sees the start of the inagural Eatbox taking over the Open Plaza space at Downtown East. Expect over 50 local and regional vendors offering their yummy treats, as well as an impressive lineup of DJ performances by Eatmepoptart as part of parallel event Bacon Beats. Jan 18-20
MARKET
Held in conjunction with Aliwal Urban Art Festival, So Gelam Market returns for their first edition of the year with fresh new vendors and feel-good vibes for a whole weekend of fun along Bahgdad Street. Besides food and shopping, look out for surprise performances and activities too. Jan 18-20
ART
In the biggest façade light show in Singapore to date, Art Skins on Monuments: The Odyssey projects images created by artists, illustrators and multimedia designers on the façades of four iconic buildings in the Civic District to kickstart this month’s instalment of Arts Weekend Civic District 2019. Jan 18-27
ART
Under the Five Trees at Esplanade Park, part of Arts Weekend Civic District 2019’s line-up, taps into the history of its area with site-specific audio and environmental installations that combine sound, music, poetry, narrative and landscape design. Explore five trees, five songs and five eye-opening stories on the bay. Jan 18-Apr 30
ART
Set to the theme “Image and Sound of Fragrance”, the fifth Artwalk Little India returns this year to the buzzing heritage district with more experiential works, where guests get to admire public art displays, wall murals, performances and more, all happening in the real-world stage of Little India. Part of Singapore Art Week 2019. Jan 18-Feb 2
FILM
The 22nd edition of the Japanese Film Festival presents a bumper crop of 31 films this year, with screenings of Japan’s best at Shaw Theatres Lido, *Scape and The Projector. If you can only catch one screening, make it zom-com One Cut of the Dead, the festival’s opening film. Jan 18-Feb 10
FESTIVAL
Crowd favourite Light to Night returns for its third year, with a bumper six-week edition to span both Singapore Art Week and the Singapore Bicentennial in February. While the second half of the festival has been themed to honour Singapore’s histories, the first two weekends will see installations and programmes emphasising new perceptions of art via the five senses. Jan 18-Feb 24
Saturday, Jan 19
Aliwal Urban Art Festival 2018
FESTIVAL
The annual one-day celebration of Singapore’s underground culture, the Aliwal Urban Art Festival, will be returning on for its sixth year running. Set to happen once again along Aliwal Street and inside Aliwal Arts Centre, expect the full-day affair to be an eclectic showcase of works inspired by international street culture, from graffiti and music to skateboarders showing off their prowess and b-boys and flygirls breaking it down. Jan 19
MUSIC
Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated concerts of the year (looking at how tickets sold out so quickly), the world’s hottest K-pop boy band BTS is ready to set the stage ablaze with their chart-topping hits and impressive moves as part of their sold-out concert at the National Stadium. Jan 19
FOOD/MUSIC
Can’t wait for The 1975 concert coming in September? Mix and mingle with fellow fans this weekend at A Brief Inquiry Into The 1975 happening at the Swee Lee Social Club and score some band swag while you’re at it. The first 100 fans to arrive get to have a free beverage too. Jan 19
MUSIC
Having been around for 20 years, Taking Back Sunday has come a long way since their debut in 2002. Fans can look forward to favourites as well as hits from their recent discography Tidal Wave. In addition, the post-hardcore band might also be performing two of their newest tracks from their new compilation album titled Twenty, which drops eight days before the concert. Jan 19
EXHIBITION
Working at the intersection of art and technology, local artist Andre Wee presents a solo exhibition of traditional and new media works (where both oil paintings and digital creations alike shine) with Within Without, held at the Mulan Gallery. Part of Singapore Art Week 2019. Jan 19-Feb 23
Sunday, Jan 20
EarthFest 2017
FESTIVAL
The fourth and largest EarthFest is here, this time, with over 130 vendors, more performers and new speakers taking the stage. Come and show your support for a sustainable lifestyle, or simply have a good time learning more about going green. Jan 20
EXHIBITION
Ever wanted a peek into the lives of artists-at-work? Check out the Sim Lim Square Art Residency. Taking inspiration from the interactions between visitors and people who work in the building—ranging from mall tenants to repair technicians—artists will produce works within the space, creating in turn an open studio, workshop and exhibition all wrapped in one. Through Jan 27
THEATRE
The 15th edition of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is here, and this time, remarkably free from any pre-festival drama (unlike last years). There are plenty of productions to catch, but our pick of the best local ones will help you choose the ones that hit home hardest. Through Jan 27
EXHIBITION
Local artist John Toh is showcasing watercolour pieces of iconic Singapore landmarks old and new, such as Temple Street, Keong Saik and the Supertrees, in a new solo exhibition titled Cityscapes, Ancient and Present. Held at Pan Pacific Singapore‘s public art space. Through Jan 28
EXHIBITION
Lend your support for local passions made possible at architect-turned-art teacher Tay Zhiyong’s debut solo art show Brush Diary. Featured in this debut are familiar scenes from Tay’s daily business of living—like the Fullerton Waterboat House, Marina Bay Financial Centre; even a bridge at Tampines River. Part of Singapore Art Week 2019. Through Jan 29
EXHIBITION
Celebrating our hawker culture and protecting the men and women toiling behind each stall has never been more pertinent. Pledge your support to induct this beloved part of our everyday life into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the travelling Our SG Hawker Culture Exhibition popping up at various hawker centres and community venues around Singapore. Through Jan 31
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
EXHIBITION
Next up in Telok Ayer Arts Club’s roster of artists is Dawn Ng with 11, an experiential performance piece on human relationships that involves bringing together 11 pairs of strangers. Pay for a ticket and become part of the performance, in a social experiment-type show that combines audience participation with speed dating. Through Feb 14
EXHIBITION
Brace yourself for a disturbing visual experience at contemporary video artist Toh Hun Ping’s first solo show Dance of a Humble Atheist. In it Toh marries his self-invented techniques of bleaching, scratching and recycling filmstrips, with more than 600 handmade ceramic pieces—for a painstakingly made, frame-by-frame stop-motion masterpiece. Part of Singapore Art Week 2019. Through Feb 17
EXHIBITION
From Cold Storage to Tiger Balm, come chart the evolution of print advertising in Singapore from the 1830s to 1960s at Selling Dreams: Early Advertising in Singapore. Aside from just print advertisements, the exhibition at the National Library also includes interactive multimedia stations for you to experience life as a consumer in early Singapore. Through Feb 24
CARNIVAL
The second coming of the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival is here, set to transform the Marina waterfront into a colossal fairground filled with rides, games, food, and of course, plenty of pretty lights. This time, entry is free, and with more rides to check out than before. Through Mar 24
EXHIBITION
Trace the Polaroid camera’s fascinating history at the National Museum of Singapore’s latest exhibition, In an Instant: Polaroid at the Intersection of Art and Technology, featuring over 200 Polaroid artefacts and artworks from the original collection. Through Mar 31
EXHIBITION
The ground-breaking Minimalism: Space. Light. Object exhibition spanning National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum traces the origins and evolutions of the Minimalist art movement, in more than 150 works loaned from all over the world. Check out our quick picks here. Through Apr 14
EXHIBITION
One of Singapore’s smallest minority communities is finally having their moment in the spotlight at Chetti Melaka of the Straits: Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities. Come hear the lesser-known stories of the Chetti Melaka, also known as Peranakan Indians—descendants of early South Indian migrants who to Singapore in the 15th and 16th centuries, and married local Chinese or Malay women. Through May 5
