Singapore Art Week 2020
Image adapted from (bottom): @aliwalartscentre & @seafocus
Whether you’re a fan of all things artsy or you’re just looking for something fun to do to renew that new year energy, Singapore Art Week (SAW) will be livening up the streets of Singapore with over 100 innovative art events and lifestyle activities for everyone to enjoy.
And we’re not just talking about the classic light ups around the Civic District, this visual art celebration will be taking over neighbourhoods like Tampines and Punggol with free activities. You’ve got only 9 days from 11th – 19th January 2020 to conquer this year’s SAW so read on and prep yourself to start the year with an art and culture fix.
1. Experience street culture at Aliwal Urban Art Festival
Image credit: Arts House Limited
Think about the youth subculture of dance battles, upbeat music and skateboarding, and pair it with urban art that goes beyond the typical canvas – that’s what the annual Aliwal Urban Art Festival is all about.
Located in Kampong Glam – one of the hippest districts that’s lined with chic cafes – the festival will feature an edgy showcase of art forms inspired by street culture from around the world.
Image credit: @aliwalartscentre
Watch in real-time how graffiti artists give dull walls a new lease of life, immerse yourself in the heat of a breakdance battle, and learn how to skateboard. There will also be a Craft and Design Market selling everything from clothes to handcrafted products, plus workshops on how to upcycle your items.
You can also leave your own graffiti doodle on the walls
Image credit: @aliwalartscentre
Date: 18th Jan 2020
Time: 4PM till late
Address: Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal Street, Singapore 199918
Price: Free
Website
2. Immerse yourself in artworks at Singapore Biennale
Installation view of Triptych of the Unseen, Post-Museum.
Image credit: Post-Museum
The Singapore Biennale is back with its contemporary art showcase and you don’t want to miss their solid lineup of over 150 artworks spread across 11 locations in the city.
Expect tons of interactive installations that’ll tell familiar stories in unconventional ways: like watching the story of the Bukit Brown Cemetery unfold through a pair of cardboard goggles. Or reliving The Matrix movie and flying through a rain of letters in a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation.
Other displays include a Twitter-like collection of recounts from migrants and students printed onto hanging scrolls and a walking trail with hidden spots to discover.
Date: 22nd Nov 2019 – 22nd Mar 2020
Time: Various timings
Address: Various locations
Price: Ticketed at National Gallery Singapore. Free admission for all other venues.
Website
3. Get exclusive access to works from leading galleries at S.E.A. Focus
Image credit: @seafocus
For those looking to get acquainted with contemporary Southeast Asian art, S.E.A. Focus at Gillman Barracks is the place to be. They’re showcasing contemporary art pieces from 20 leading galleries around the world from cities like Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Berlin, New York and Seoul.
Pinata-smashing from last year’s SEA Focus event during SAW
Image credit: @seafocus
There’ll also be performance art this year, alongside works like fossilised sculptures, metal paintings, and even first-time collaborations of drawings and ceramics by regional artists. Apart from the array of galleries, you can also sit in on one of the many artist-led events or talks titled ‘Southeast Asia Art Watch’.
Date & Time: 16th Jan 1PM-7PM | 17th Jan 1PM-10PM | 18th Jan 12PM-7PM | 19th Jan 12PM-6PM
Address: Gillman Barracks, Block 7 Lock Road, Singapore 108935
Price: From $10
Website
4. Attend art workshops with your kids at Art is Everywhere by Brave New Worlds
Those with kiddos will appreciate Art is Everywhere by Brave New Worlds. This year, they will be bringing a series of free workshops around neighbourhoods so you won’t have to travel far to get in on the SAW action. You and your kids can recreate iconic sights of Singapore with the stroke of a brush on Saturdays or learn to make textured art and collages on Sundays.
Image credit: Brave New Worlds
There’s also the chance to stamp your own postcard using distinctive Chinatown-inspired motifs while learning about the heritage of the area.
SAFRA Punggol
Date: 11th – 12th Jan 2020
Time: 10AM-12PM, 2PM-4PM
Address: 9 Sentul Crescent, Singapore 828654
Price: Free
SAFRA Toa Payoh
Date: 18th – 19th Jan 2020
Time: 10AM-12PM, 2PM-4PM
Address: 293 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387
Price: Free
Our Tampines Hub
Date: 18th – 19th Jan 2020
Time: 10AM-12PM, 2PM-4PM
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
Price: Free
Website
5. Find hidden gems around the CBD
One of the rare pieces only the Facebook employees and visitors get to see
Image credit: Facebook Singapore
Step into the jungle of glossy skyscrapers in the CBD area and you usually think of that 9-to-5 work life. But join the CBD Arts Trail organised by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) to see these same buildings from a new perspective.
Image credit: @singaporechineseculturalcentre
The trail will bring you to places you can’t usually visit like Facebook Singapore’s office or CapitaLand’s office. Here, you’ll get access to artworks that are rarely displayed to the public.
CBD Arts Trail
Date: 14th, 16th, 21st and 23rd Jan 2020
Time: 6.30PM (English guided tour) & 7PM (Chinese guided tour)
Address: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
Price: Free. Register here.
Website
6. Get one-night-only late-night access at SAW Late Nights
Have a late-night hang with your friends at one of the many programmes lined up during SAW Late Nights at Waterloo, Bras Basah, Bugis and Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Don’t miss special performances, guided tours and a chance to meet artists, as exhibitions will stay open till late for one night only.
Dancing Alone by Susie Wong features projections of women dancing like no one’s watching
Relive the days of dance halls in 1960s Singapore at Dancing Alone (Don’t Leave Me), and over to the National Design Centre for a look into the future through the building of complex prototypes in Prototyping in Tokyo – Illustrating Design-led Innovation.
Waterloo, Bras Basah & Bugis venues:
Date: 11th Jan 2020
Price: Free
Venues:
- Objectifs
- National Design Centre
- The Private Museum
- Singapore Calligraphy Centre
- SOTA Art Gallery
- Dr Chen Wen Hsi Museum
- DECK
- Galleries at Bras Basah Complex
- artcommune Gallery
Tanjong Pagar Distripark venues:
Date: 16th Jan 2020
Price: Free
Venues:
7. Purchase exclusive merchandise from Naiise X Singapore Art Week Artists Collection
Image credit: Naiise
Naiise is the one place we can trust for all things cute and local. Exclusively for SAW, they will be launching a capsule collection that’s themed around functional art pieces for everyday use. This includes a colourful cushion cover designed by Ripple Root, and items like doormats and a five stone pouch by local artists Michael Lee and Twardzik-Ching Chor Leng.
Look out for artist Tan Wee Lit’s designs that’ve been inspired by his installation at Raffles Place Park
Image credit: @ania___w_
These artists are a staple in the local art scene and there’s a high chance you’ve come across their works in National Gallery Singapore and National Museum Singapore.
Date: From 11th Jan 2020
Website
8. Smile to Vote for your favourite artwork at City Hall MRT
Image credit: National Arts Council
Face-recognition technology has been the talk of the town since its introduction in smart phones. And this time, SAW has jumped on the bandwagon with Smile to Vote. Look out for the screen at City Hall MRT station during SAW and vote for your favourite artworks with a smile.
Date: 11th – 15th Jan 2020
Address: City Hall MRT station
9. Apply SAW ArtTakesOver IG filters to up your IG game
Image credit: National Art Council
For Instagram addicts and anyone else who loves posting IG stories of your day, SAW will have its own ArtTakesOver IG Filter available only during the event.
All you have to do is visit the SAW Instagram page and look for the filter under the Effects Gallery. Use the filter for your own IG Stories and make your friends #fomo over your updates. Alternatively, save the filter in advance and use them when you’re visiting art events during SAW.
Date: 11th – 19th Jan 2020
Activities at Singapore Art Week
Happening only from 11th – 19th January 2020, watch how ArtTakesOver Singapore during Singapore Art Week. Get in on the creative buzz with over 100 events that include everything from performance art to graffiti and skateboards. There’ll even be free workshops and exhibitions for you to hone your artistic skills alongside the artists themselves.
Whether you’re a rookie at art or a savvy collector, there will be something for everyone with so many activities lined up for the week.
Find out more about Singapore Art Week 2020 here
This post was brought to you by National Arts Council.