My take on Artbox Singapore at Marina Bay: from Insta-worthy shots of colourful snacks and beverages, creative art installations and DIY handicrafts, to the pouring rain and bustling crowd
Managed to spend your Good Friday and Easter Weekend at Artbox Singapore? We did, and boy, did we not expect to be on a rollercoaster ride of ‘yay’s and ‘nay’s. But despite a few hiccups here and there, Artbox was an unexpected smash hit. Here’s our little review on what’s hot and what’s not at the creative market.
Hot: The industrial hipster huts
I totally dig the whole industrial concept of shipping containers, with some stacked and decked with pretty fairy lights. And I couldn’t resist posing by the rad artwork on the containers – Instagram opportunity at its finest, folks!
Not: Tough crowd
As you’ve probably heard, the crowd at Artbox was insane, and I don’t mean that in a good way. I was photobombed several times, and the lack of crowd control had me practically crawling from one stall to the other. At one point, I was unaware of waiting in line for a beverage I had no intent to buy.
Hot: Instagrammable food and beverage
Speaking of queues, most of such were planted at popular food vendors such as The Talad Drink for colourful Thai beverages, Tio Smoke for Dragon’s Breath candy (candy chilled with liquid nitrogen), Loco Loco for mini churros, and SWAG Blood Potion for fruit juice in a blood bag, complete with a tubing to drink from. Morbid, we know!
Not: Lack of said food and beverage
Due to the unexpected turnout, some of the food vendors were sold out before sunset. Hearts were broken that day.
Hot: Good vibes
I soaked up the bustling atmosphere at the Chang Beer Garden which sat atop two stacked shipping containers. People were lying in hammocks by the main stage, relaxing, and enjoying the live acoustic tunes by local performers. Glad these were positioned away from the crowded stalls.
Not: Weather conditions
Not a wellie in sight, so I guess nobody came prepared. Rain, chairs, tables, stalls and even the artificial grass flooring were soaking wet due to the rain. Plus, getting splashed and stepping into dirty puddles wasn’t how I wanted to spend my Good Friday.
Hot: Free tattoos
I had an exclusive look at the free tattooing service offered by MTV Asia (you’ve probably seen it on our Instagram story. No? Start following us on @honeycombers). Tattoo artist, Greamy, was giving free surprise tatts that came with a ballsy catch: The tattoo is chosen by your friend, and you’ll only get to see it when it’s done.
Not: Tiny spaces
It was definitely not free and easy. The containers were small, so entering the spaces of MTV, Artbox merch and Thai Airways was quite a squeeze. There were limited spaces between stalls, giving rise to several issues like long queues within a crowd.
Hot: Creative crafts
There were a couple of local and Thai vendors selling their wares like handmade jewellery, hand-painted phone cases and vintage clothes at affordable prices. I even managed to bag a handmade soap that looks and smells like mango.
Not: Quite expensive
With such “pasar malam” vibes, you would expect to bag cheap stuff… except some of the items were far from cheap. A simple, silicone iPhone 7 case cost about $20, and a long-sleeved printed shirt cost almost $50! Talk about daylight robbery.
Missed Artbox? Fret not, it will be up and running again this weekend (22 and 23 April). But if crowds are your worst nightmare (especially if you’re claustrophobic), best to stay away from the Marina Bay area. Still going? Come prepared and brace yourself. Let’s hope you get out of Artbox in one piece.
Artbox Singapore, Bayfront Event Space (beside Marina Bay Sands the Shoppes), 14-16 April and 21-23 April, 3pm-11pm.
If you’re all about the ‘gram, check out these unique places for some #OOTD inspo. There’s another market worth checking out on 29 and 30 April, and if you’re new to the scene, check out our guide.