With gorgeous commissioned artworks and pieces from local and international artists, here’s what’s on at Light to Night festival 2024.
National Gallery Singapore’s annual visual arts festival returns to set the Civic District alight with installations, projections, and programmes for all ages. This event is a hallmark of Singapore Art Week and is one you shouldn’t miss. Happening from 19 January to 8 February 2024, step out after the sun sets for a series of activities. Let’s take a look at what’s going down at this year’s Light to Night festival.
The hottest happenings at Light to Night 2024 in Singapore
All the necessary info
This year’s theme is Reimagine, where you’ll be treated to artworks in unconventional forms and presentations. Institutions, collaborators, and contributing artists are invited to challenge their perception of art to rediscover the world. That includes the way we interact with the art too! Instead of being told to not touch the art, you’ll find interactive pieces that welcome you to immerse yourself in them.
The event is free for all to explore, with some ticketed programmes and activities. During the festival weekend, National Gallery Singapore will also be extending its opening hours until 11pm. That means you get the chance to have your very own Night at the Museum experience. Entry to all exhibitions will be free, including the year-end blockbuster, Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America.
All the highlights at Light to Night 2024
1. Symphony of Order
19 January – 8 February
Ready to delve into an immersive experience that reimagines what art is meant to look like? This piece by Sarah Choo Jing makes use of projection artworks that put you in the centre of a 360-degree dining scene. Featuring 12 characters, it allows you to explore the idea of order and unspoken laws through a looped scene projected on the roof. Get to know each character and their inner thoughts on dedicated screens placed on the desks of the library.
Symphony of Order, Level 3, Rotunda Library & Archive, Supreme Court Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
2. Rapture
19 January – 30 June
If you see several human figures floating in mid-air, don’t panic. That’s Victor Tan’s latest installation. Inspired by the biblical notion of rapture, Victor explains that this piece is about ascension and the realms that we can never comprehend. Eight wire sculptures are illuminated by dedicated spotlights, each floating up higher than the last. It’s an ode to spirituality and surrendering to divine power. If you can’t make it for Light to Night to catch this display, don’t worry. It’ll be around till June.
Rapture, Level 1, Padang Atrium, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
3. 8-bit Word Cloud
19 January – 8 February
These adorably pixelated clouds are fun to admire in the day and night – and they even send you on a little scavenger hunt. Inspired by philosopher Karl Popper’s essay On Clocks and Clouds, artist Justin Loke brings together the precision of clocks with the unpredictability of clouds. The installation features two clouds and a poem with missing letters. Head out to search for the puzzle’s missing letters through the Civic District’s six art benches. While the words may be intuitive, Justin Loke invites you to come up with your own renditions as well, adding whimsy into poetry.
8-bit Word Cloud, Front Lawn, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
4. Party Pavilion
19 January – 8 February
It’s lights, camera, and disco at the Party Pavilion located just next to the Asian Civilisations Museum. Inspired by the museum’s collection and the dreamy nature of theme parks, artist Howie Kim’s artwork captures youthful excitement. Step into the installation and snap videos under the disco ball with nostalgic music playing in the background.
Party Pavilion, ACM Green, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
5. Wings of Change
19 January – 8 February
Dotted around the Padang is Singaporean artist Kumari Nahappan’s inflatable artwork. Addressing the vanishing saga trees in Singapore, the sculptures are made to resemble saga seeds. They call for a show of sustainability and preservation, engaging you in climate activism. How should you go about enjoying this piece? Walk around it in a clockwise direction with the pulsating music of art projections in the background.
Wings of Change, Padang Field, Singapore 179861
6. Lee Wen’s Ping Pong Go-Round
19 January – 8 February
If you’ve ever been to a museum, you might’ve had the attendants tell you to not touch the artwork. Throw these notions out the window for this installation, because you’re welcome to play on it instead. Lee Wen’s Ping Pong Go-Round features a circular ping pong table. Help yourself to a paddle and battle it out in an unconventional game of ping pong with friends, family, and even strangers. The rules have been reinvented with this unique concept, turning the one-on-one game into a multi-player experience.
Lee Wen’s Ping Pong Go-Round, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
7. Basement X
19 January – 8 February
Grab yourself a souvenir from your time at Light to Night when you visit Basement X. The Spine Hall transforms itself into a craft market where you can shop to your heart’s content. We’re talking curated collections of exquisite jewellery, unique gifts, and trinkets galore crafted by several talented artists. There are even Make and Take activities where you get to handmake your own piece of the Light to Night festival to take home with you.
Basement X, Basement 1, Spine Hall, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
8. Art skins on monuments
19 January – 8 February
When the sun sets, the crowd favourite Art Skins on Monuments makes its return. The city’s night skyline will be lit by commissioned artworks projected onto multiple historic buildings within the Civic District. Catch the buildings come to life with creations by both veterans and budding artists who have reached out beyond their comfort zones to produce projection mappings for the first time. This year’s showcase involves the likes of Milosh Luczynski, Arahmalani, Sarah Choo Jing, Sistrum, and Knuckles & Notch.
Art skins on monuments, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
9. How to Art With Friends
19 January – 8 February
This playful journey through the reimagined walls of the gallery might have you making some new friends through ten activities that will get you looking at art in new spectacular ways. You can embark on this quirky journey on your own anytime during Light to Night. But we think these activities are better with friends! Join weekend group sessions to meet new people. Some groups will even be guided by the gallery’s own Best Friends of the Gallery volunteers.
How to Art With Friends, Level 1, Padang Atrium, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; guided sessions available on 20, 26 & 27 January, and 2 & 3 February
10. Wishful Thinking by Whisperlodge
19 January – 8 February
A must-see at this year’s Light to Night festival is the multi-room installation, Wishful Thinking by Whisperlodge. Created by Chia Kwa and Melinda Lauw, Whisperlodge is an ASMR production company that has pioneered live ASMR shows. If you enjoy the tingly sensation when you get from an intimate auditory performance, this is one to catch. You’ll get to reimagine what escapism feels like and discover unexpected textures and sounds with a heightened state of awareness.
Wishful Thinking by Whisperlodge, Basement 1, Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Foyer, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; $5 per participant
11. Artwork scavenger hunt
19 January – 8 February
This is the ideal activity for families with kids, or simply for you to unleash your inner child. Get your thinking caps on for this scavenger hunt, as the gallery becomes a hunting ground for the most inquisitive. Seek out hidden treasures in this artistic realm with mysteries just waiting to be discovered. The prize? Exclusive festival merchandise!
Artwork scavenger hunt, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
12. Dungeons and Dragons: The Art Quest
20 January – 4 February
Have you ever wanted the chance to participate in a Dungeons and Dragons session? Sign up for a session specially created for this year’s Light to Night festival. Veterans and first-time players alike are invited to join this adventure. Take on different roles and embark on a quest that’ll take you through the artworks within the gallery. Guided by experienced dungeon masters, you’ll be taken through a vibrant fantasy world. Discover fantastical creatures and solve strange riddles while making decisions to conquer your adventure.
Dungeons and Dragons: The Art Quest, Level 3, Former Supreme Court Lobby, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; $20 per participant, every Saturday & Sunday
13. The Gachapartment Complex
19 January – 8 February
Ever wondered what it’d be like to walk through a secret underground city? Here’s your opportunity to find out. The Gachapartment Complex is born at the Funan Underground Pedestrian Linkway. It turns into a vibrant pathway filled with artworks created by Nikkei, a Singaporean illustrator and designer who creates fantastical works. The colourful works serve as a guide through the path, giving you a glimpse into the lives of toys who live complex lives. It also features an augmented reality component developed by students at Temasek Polytechnic.
The Gachapartment Complex, Funan Mall Underground Pedestrian Linkway, 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105
14. Collective Canvas: A Tour Reimagined
20 January – 4 February
For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of taking a tour through our beautiful galleries (or even if you have), pop by for a renewed tour. This walkthrough of the gallery will see the art springing to life through your imagination. Expert storytellers will lead you through tales of each masterpiece housed within this establishment. And you’ll have a role to play as a co-creator, contributing to the creation of a new narrative. You can book 30-minute sessions at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm timeslots every Saturday and Sunday.
Collective Canvas: A Tour Reimagined, Level 3, Former Supreme Court Lobby, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; $8 per participant, 30-minute sessions available every Saturday & Sunday
15. Ways of Not Seeing
20 January
This single-day workshop invites you to challenge assumptions about how our imaginations can be formed. Developed under the Calm Room Creative Residency, this exercise draws on research about aphantasia – the blindness of the mind’s eye. Consider how the act of not seeing will lead you to a deeper appreciation of the many processes in life. If you’re looking to pop by, be sure to register and book your spot, and bring an item along with you. It should represent something “in progress”, and you’ll be asked to explore its significance alongside other participants.
Ways of Not Seeing, Level 5, Rooftop Studios, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; $8 per participant
16. Art X Social Festival Village
19 January – 4 February
No festival is complete without a food village that’s the central heartbeat of the area, and this one’s no different. St Andrew’s Road will be closed off to dedicate the whole stretch to this vibrant market. You’ll be able to grab a bite and a drink in between all the exciting activities. After you fill up, head towards the Padang Atrium to catch live performances to wrap up your night.
Art X Social Festival Village, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Light to Night 2024, 19 January to 8 February 2024, multiple locations around the Civic District, entry is free with some ticketed programmes