Exciting and eclectic line-up of over 55 programmes taking place in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct.

 

Whether you’re a history buff looking to discover hidden stories about the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, or a festival connoisseur seeking innovative new experiences that spark conversations, the Singapore Night Festival (SNF) has something for everyone. From 19 to 27 August 2022, SNF returns with the theme Rebirth for its 13th edition. This year’s festival will zoom in on the BBB precinct’s heritage and stories through an iridescent line-up of experiences, with a greater focus on programmes and artworks by local artists.

At this year’s SNF, the BBB precinct will come alive with highlight act Cathay Hotel: The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe, by local art collective Vertical Submarine, six projection mapping installations, 15 Night Lights installations, five performance locations, five experiential programmes and a Festival Village abuzz with an array of music performances and food and beverage experiences.

SNF’s popular projection mapping installations return with six works illuminating iconic buildings in the city. Rediscover Singapore’s mythical origins at the National Museum of Singapore with Stories from Forbidden Hill by Maxin10sity, then head to the National Archives of Singapore for a colourful throwback to the cinema of times past with Midnight Show at the Capitol by MOJOKO, which revisits the classic movie posters that used to adorn the walls of Capitol Theatre and Cathay Picture House.

SNF continues to serve as a platform for local talent to showcase their works, collaborate, and grow their capabilities. On the façade of the Stamford Clock Tower, festival-goers can enjoy The Melting Pot, a kaleidoscopic ode to Singapore’s multicultural communities, co-created by illustrator and visual artist, Adeline Tan and award-winning DJ, Benedict Teo; and Madeleine, a pop art style piece by Lueur, a collective of five students from the School of Film & Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, that takes audiences on a journey through the stories of the BBB district. Blending audio and visual mediums, Through Worlds by Jo Ho and Intriguant will light up the façade of CHIJMES Hall, showcasing an imaginative world of endless possibilities. Audiences can immerse in multiple perspectives within the history and hypothetical, imagined future of CHIJMES and the area around it.

Night Lights makes its return with 15 installations dotted around the BBB precinct, bringing to life everyday spaces that festival-goers are familiar with in the day but may not have experienced in the beauty of the night. The installations will shine a light on the precinct’s rich history and heritage with Night Lights like Paddy Fields by FARM, inspired by rice cultivators along Sungei Brass Brassa; and An Ocean Without The Anchor by Speak Cryptic, that pays homage to the Bugis people and their history as seafarers.

In response to SNF 2022’s theme Rebirth, installations also prompt audiences to reflect upon poignant themes relevant to modern-day issues. We can no longer be strangers after this by Perception3, located outside the National Museum of Singapore, highlights the shifts and changes in the post-pandemic experience; while Celebration of Life+Style by Justin Lee, situated at the Stamford Arts Centre, is a tongue-in-cheek juxtaposition of traditional Eastern characters with modern elements calling into question the impact of technology on our daily lives. City of Books, a large-scale anamorphic pavement mural by Fish Jaafar, sheds light on the decline of print media.

The festival also expands to Fort Canning Park this year, showcasing works that festival-goers can enjoy at any time of the day. tobyato bird pitstop by tobyato is an artistic nod to Singapore’s rich bird biodiversity, inspired by the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings, inviting festival-goers to rediscover the well-trodden park by night. Also in the park, Under My Tree Roof is artist Chloë Manasseh’s first voyage into translating her artwork into a digital print displayed on the iconic Fort Canning Spiral Stairway.

Festival-goers can also look forward to an exciting line-up of performances at five different locations across both weekends during the festival, which celebrate the diverse and vibrant performing arts scene in the precinct. There are also immersive tours that unveil BBB’s unique and colourful history through intimate stories told by its inhabitants. Sit back and see the precinct through a trishaw rider’s eyes with Explore SG Night Fest with Trishaw Uncle; or discover the architecture of Bras Basah and the stories these buildings hold on guided tour After Hours@My Bras Basah with May Hui.

Get competitive in a self-guided race down memory lane with Heat Of The Night, and solve clues and discover stories of BBB for a chance to win attractive prizes including dining vouchers and a staycation at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. Those hungry for more can eat their way through the BBB district’s rich history with the SG Night Fest Food Tour or sample a taste of the precinct’s bustling nightlife with BBBooze O’Clock powered by Sui Gin.

SNF 2022 runs from August 19 to 27, 2022. While entry to the festival is free, some programmes are ticketed. For more information or to book tickets, please visit go.gov.sg/sgnightfest.