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Light to Night 2022 invites you to an immersive arts festival like never before

The role and necessity of Art in society, especially in the past two years has generated many heated arguments. Whether you have looked to Netflix, gaming, books, music or any other artforms to ease the days you have been spending at home, the Arts is an undeniable outlet for mental escapism or to gain that sense of balance in these trying times.

With the cancellation of Arts festivals such as the Singapore Art Week (SAW), Huayi, Singapore Night Festival in the last two years, this reporter is super psyched to share how you can partake in the Light to Night Festival 2022 which is a part of the SAW 2022 line-up. And boy, what a visual and sensory treat we are in for.

Our beautiful civic district has undergone a fantastic Arts makeover from 14 January to 3 February 2022. Spearheaded by National Gallery Singapore, in collaboration with Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall; the new kids on the block include the National Library Board, Capitol Singapore, and Funan. This collaboration brings us to a never-before phygital (physical + digital, get it?) format where the Arts may be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, as well as in-person.

Cast away your mindset about the Arts being too high brow for consumption. The 2022 Light to Night edition seeks to engage through the theme “New Ways of Seeing, Thinking and Being” and aims to have something for everyone – at least with 60 installations. Grappling the new normal is never easy. However, the artists and creatives have risen to the challenge to rethink their artwork presentation amidst the boundaries of the coronavirus.

Putting together such a large-scale arts festival is no mean feat. As Festival Director Ms Suenne Megan Tan puts it, "This year’s theme encourages our audiences to expand notions of how art can be explored in new spaces and imagine through technological innovations.”

Read on to find out how the artists express their artwork in the new normal and what to watch out for.

What: Move For?ward (Unseen: Inside out)

Where: Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium Foyer

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

If you think immersive experiences are a thing of the past, you cannot be more wrong. This multi-sensory art installation is an audio-guided walk that lets you navigate through a web of strings. Put together by 12 artists from the visually-impaired community and supported by Unseen Art Initiatives, a volunteer-led inclusive arts platform, this interactive experience takes at least 20 minutes to partake. We won't give away too many details. All we can say is, don’t miss it.

What: Flight

Where: Padang

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

Inspired by the flight of birds and the ubiquitous TraceTogether token, Flight by Litewerkz is an interactive installation that transforms into a stunning light play when you activate it via Bluetooth. Enhanced by the natural winds at the Padang, the installation invites you on a journey of self-discovery.

What: Fragment of a Shoreline

Where: Padang

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

Harking back to how the Padang was built on reclaimed land, Fragment of a Shoreline by Spatial Anatomy and Akai Chew from OFTRT encourages art goers to look forward while reflecting on the past. So sit on the reconstructed shoreline and release your inner child while you dig into the sand as the Art Skins on the National Gallery facade come into play in the background.

What: Visions

Where: Along National Gallery’s façade (opposite Padang)

As the smartphone becomes an increasingly indispensable item in our lives, artists have also taken note and incorporated them into their artwork. AR is cleverly weaved into this cutting-edge interactive outdoor augmented reality (AR) exhibition by Acute Art, given the social distancing rules. Internationally-acclaimed artists such as Cao Fei, Olafur Eliasson, Kaws, and Singapore's very own Ho Tzu Nyen have merged the interplay of history and virtual reality embodiments. Be sure to download Acute Art’s app to unlock its features.

What: Into Multiplicities by Jo Ho & Intriguant

Where: Rotunda Library & Archive

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

What: Refraction by Metamo Industries with Benedict & Palmer

Where: National Gallery façade

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

Who: Art Skins by Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media students, under the mentorship of Safuan Johari and Brandon Tay.

Where: The Arts House

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

Who: Art Skins by Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media students, under the mentorship of Safuan Johari and Brandon Tay.

Where: Asian Civilisations Museum

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

Who: Who: Art Skins by Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media students, under the mentorship of Safuan Johari and Brandon Tay.

Where: Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall

PHOTO: Light to Night 2022
PHOTO: Light to Night 2022

No arts festival is complete without the light projections on the various monuments. So take a leisure stroll along the civic district as the sun sets and see the transformation from day to night. Expect no less than a magical, colourful world of light projections. Enjoy!

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Before you set off on your Arts exploration, it pays to be well-prepared. Come rain or shine, prep an Arts survival pack and head off for a sensorial treat like never before! Here’s what you need:

Water bottle for hydration

Mobile battery-operated fan to combat the heat

Umbrella for unforeseen weather

Smartphones that captures night light

Sunblock to counteract the UV rays before the sun sets

Comfortable walking shoes

Finally, do arm yourself with the SAW booklet (available at all galleries and museums) or log on to artweek.sg for festival deets!

Get a complete guide of Light to Night 2022 here.

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