A visit to Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris

The largest private art museum in Paris, Pinacothèque de Paris, will open its first venue outside of Europe in Singapore! Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris is set to fully open by the first quarter of 2015 at the Fort Canning Centre, within the Fort Canning Park.

Before the full opening of Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris, there will be an exhibition entitled "The Art of Collecting, Masterpieces from the Pinacothèque de Paris" held at the Fort Canning Centre from 14 Sep - 31 Dec 2013. This exhibition "will span over 500 years of art history through prestigious works of art by 20 world-famous artists. In the intimate spaces of the exhibition, I felt as if I was a private collector enjoying these beautiful works of art in my personal showroom.

At the exhibition, Pablo Picasso's Jacqueline left the deepest impression on me. It was my very first time seeing face-to-face a tapestry work by Picasso. I learnt that he did more than 340 tapestries throughout his career. The tapestry looked visually interesting with its monochromatic colour scheme and balanced design. It also offered a practical function during the cold weather.

Rembrandt's Bust of an Old Man with Turban which was essential oil painted on wood was strikingly realistic. I could see for myself that this work was created by a master in portraiture.

Lovers of Andy Warhol's art would look forward to viewing his Marilyn Monroe (1967). This is possibly one of Andy Warhol's representative works. After catching a glimpse of Warhol's Marilyn Monroe, my mind was recollecting whatever I could remember about Pop Art.

For the first time in my life, I saw the artwork entitled Suzanne with Sunflowers (1890). Somehow the style and colours used reminded me of Claude Monet. What a sheer sense of surprise when I learnt that it was indeed a work by Monet himself!

On the side, I was rather attracted to Ter Brugghen Hendrck's The Singing Lute Player (1624). This could be because I play a musical instrument and I had the pleasure to listen to a lute recital several months ago. I learnt that "in the beginning of the 17th century in Utrecht the Netherlands, portraits of musicians in half-length enjoyed popularity".

Although the exhibition space was rather intimate, there were a good number of noteworthy works that will make this exhibition worth a visit. For more information, please visit: http://www.pinacotheque.com.sg

ICOM, OCBC, OCBC Arts, PAssion cardholders, Mastercard Holders as well as members of the French Association of Singapore and the Les Clefs' d'Or Concierges Singapore will enjoy savings at Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris. For more information, please visit: http://www.pinacotheque.com.sg/promotion

Please take note that photography is not allowed in the exhibition.

Nearby the Fort Canning Centre.

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Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris
The Art of Collecting: Masterpieces from the Pinacothèque de Paris
14 Sep - 31 Dec 2013
Fort Canning Centre
5 Cox Terrace
Singapore 179618
Tel: +65 6883 1588
Admission hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Mon - Thu, Sat - Sun), 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Fri)
http://www.pinacotheque.com.sg

Snippets from the 32nd UOB Painting of the Year

Stefanie Hauger's Space Odyssey.

The winning paintings from the 32nd UOB Painting of the Year are currently on display at 72-13 Gallery till 7 Dec 2013. The UOB Painting of the Year competition is the longest-running art competition in Singapore.

This year, the organizer has revised the award categories of the competition. Two distinct categories have been created, i.e. the Emerging Artist and the Established Artist. At this year's exhibition, winning entries from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are being displayed.

Less than a week ago, I took a trip to 72-13 Gallery to view the winning paintings. The 2013 UOB Painting of the Year, "Space Odyssey" by Stefanie Hauger caught my eyes. Another painting which had caught my attention was Lim Quan Zhao's "The Transcendence of Love".

72-13 Gallery is located nearby Singapore Tyler Print Institute. To get to 72-13 Gallery, one can take bus services 32, 54, 139 or 195 to River Valley Road. Alternatively, the nearest MRT train stations are Clarke Quay and Dhoby Ghaut. It will take about 15 minutes to walk from the stations to the 72-13 Gallery. For a map to get to 72-13 Gallery, please visit this site: http://www.72-13.com/


32nd UOB Painting of the Year
From 26 Nov to 7 Dec 2013
3 p.m. - 9 p.m. (27 Nov 2013)
1 p.m. - 9 p.m. daily (28 Nov - 7 Dec 2013)
72-13 Gallery
72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road
Free admission
http://www.uobpoy.com

Titans of the Past

Many years ago, I visited an exhibition at the Science Centre featuring dinosaurs and many animals from the prehistoric age. The name of that exhibition was Dinosaurs! A T-rex named SUE and Friends. I have written about that visit on this blog, Back to the Ancient World. That was a pretty memorable visit which acquainted me with the replica of a gigantic T-rex.

Recently, I learnt that yet another exhibition on dinosaurs is now being showcased at the Singapore Science Centre. This exhibition, Titans of the Past: Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals, focuses on the growth and behaviours of dinosaurs. The exhibition features the original research conducted by the Museum of Rockies Paleontologist, Dr Jack Horner, and his research team.

I went recently to this exhibition and was pleased with myself for making the visit. What has left the deepest impression on me was the display of the replicas of the skulls of the triceratops which illustrated how the face of the Triceratops would change from juvenile to adult stages. The theory is that Triceratops being social animals, will need ways to recognize when a young Triceratops reaches sexual maturity. To allow visual differentiation between the juvenile and the adult Triceratops, the horns and the epoccipitals of the Triceratops would look different. When you are at the exhibition, please check out "The Juvenile Triceratops Mini Theatre". This section illustrates how the triceratops grew using animation. I have found the animation pretty entertaining.

The admission to this exhibition is possibly on the higher side at $25 per adult because of the animatronics. I learnt that these animatronics were from Kokoro in Japan. The animatronics looked realistic. These animatronics help visitors to imagine how the various prehistoric animals might have looked like.

In one of the exhibition's galleries, life-sized dinosaur skeletal casts stood close to one another as if they were competing with one another. While I have no idea what competition these dinosaur skeletal casts were involved in, it was humbling to stand beside these giants! The cast of the Argentinosaurus stood 36 metres in length and 7 metres in height. The Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) stood 11 metres long and 4 metres high.

Children visiting this exhibition can look forward to a hands-on activity that would allowed them to role-play as fossil hunters. Instead of playing with the sand to build sandcastles, children were seen totally focused on uncovering the 'fossils'.

In comparison, I have found the section on the Ice Age Mammals less intriguing. Although the animatronics in this section were brilliantly done, I felt that this section did not give me much insights to the general behaviours of Ice Age Mammals. Maybe not much studies have been done on these animals from the Ice Age than the T-Rex? Then again, maybe it was because I was rushing for time by the time I have reached this section?

In general, please set aside at least two hours for this exhibition. Although I had finished walking through this exhibition in about one and a half hours, I felt I was rushing through the exhibition. 

This is quite an interesting exhibition to visit if you are interested in the growth and behaviours of the dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period.

Titans of the Past

Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals

25 Oct 2013 - 23 Feb 2014

10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily

Science Centre Singapore, The Annexe

15 Science Centre Road

Singapore 609081

Admission Charges (inclusive of Science Centre entry):
$25 - adult

$19 - child


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Please also read:

Sengkang Babies' Titans of the Past - Dinosaurs exhibition at Science Centre
Littledayout.com's Titans of the Past: Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals Review

A quick overview of the Singapore Biennale 2013

The Singapore Biennale is here again. In essence, it is Singapore's biennale of contemporary art. The theme of Singapore Biennale 2013 is If the World Changed. The theme, as mentioned in the Biennale's short guide, is "an invitation to artists to respond to and reconsider the worlds we live in, and the worlds we want to live in". The artworks at the Singapore Biennale reflect how the artists think about this very theme.

This year's biennale focuses on Southeast Asia as a zone of art practice. There were a few works by artists from other parts of Asia as well. Interestingly, 27 distinguished curators from the participating countries were engaged to select recent or newly created works for this biennale.

Lim Shing Ee and Kazunori Takeishi's "Mangrowe".
At SAM@8Q.
A whimsical sculpture that makes us ponder over the dichotomy of the natural and the technological.

What could a layperson or an art enthusiast take away from Singapore Biennale 2013? Other than exposing one's visual senses to the various forms of visual or experiential art, Singapore Biennale 2013 will engage its visitors to think about the world that we live in, be it in the past, the present or the future. Be prepared to be nudged to reflect and to think.

Eko Prawoto's "Wormhole" has left an impression.
At the National Museum of Singapore.
What would it be if the buildings that we live in were made of bamboo?

If you prefer an easier way to appreciate some of the nuances and the meanings behind the artwork, it is strongly recommended that you join one of the guided tours. Otherwise, it may help if you visit the Singapore Biennale 2013 with a friend so that you can have someone to engage in a conversation with after viewing each of the artworks. For the people who loves journaling, it may help to write down your thoughts and reflections from your visit to the Singapore Biennale 2013 on a journal.

Lai Chee Kien's "National Theatre@50".
Near Tank Road. Opposite Fort Canning Park.
Remembering the National Theatre of Singapore that was opened in 1963 and demolished in 1986.

Singapore Biennale 2013 feautres the works of 82 artists and artists collectives. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the treats to numerous contemporary artworks from the Southeast Asian region. If time is not an issue, it may help to spread out your visits to the nine venues over the course of at least two days. Please plan in ample time to take a good break between your visits to the various venues. Too much of good art in a single seating can be an overdose.

Shirley Soh's "Seeing (from) the Other".
At the Peranakan Museum.

Even if it could be an overdose, the Singapore Biennale 2013 is not to be missed if you are concerned about the state of the contemporary art in the Southeast Asian region. Somehow, I was reminded that there is a sense of shared humanity between the various Southeast Asian countries.

If it was due to budget issue that had held you back from attending the Singapore Biennale 2013, you will be delighted to know that there will be free entry to selected Singapore Biennale venues from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. during the Biennale's Open House. The two upcoming ones will be during Christmas (25 Dec 2013) and Chinese New Year (1 Feb 2014). Mark the dates on your diary please.

Kumari Nahappan's "Anahata" (2013).
At the Singapore Art Museum.
A visually stunning work with a very thoughtful idea of change.

Singapore Biennale 2013
26 Oct 2013 - 16 Feb 2014
http://www.singaporebiennale.org

Remembrance Sunday Service at Kranji War Memorial will be on 10 Nov 2013

Last year, I took part in my first Remembrance Sunday service at the Kranji War Memorial. In essence, as best as I could understand, Remembrance Day is a day to remember the British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women who have died in the line of duty since the end of World War I. Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to Remembrance Day. This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on 10 Nov 2013.

If you are interested to take part in a similar service this year on Remembrance Sunday, I have found out from the Singapore St. Andrew's Society's website the following information on the service:

Title: Service of Remembrance
Venue: Kranji War Memorial
Date: 10 Nov 2013 (Sun)
Time: 7.30 a.m.
Nearest MRT station: Kranji MRT station
Bus services to get there: 160, 170, 178, 960, 961

To get to the Kranji War Memorial, unless you are an important invited guest who will be given special access passes to drive into the Kranji War Memorial, I highly recommend you travel to the War Memorial using any one of the following methods:

1) Take the MRT train to Kranji MRT station. Either walk or take bus services number: 160, 170, 178, 960, 961 to bus stop #45119 (two bus-stops away) along Woodlands Rd. Take a 10 -15 minutes stroll into the Kranji War Memorial.

2) Take a taxi to Woodlands Rd and alight nearby bus-stop #45119. Then take a 10 - 15 minutes stroll into the Kranji War Memorial.

For more directions to get to the Kranji War Memorial, please read: How to get to Kranji War Memorial by Leone Fabre.

Attire wise, you may like to take note that even though there is no specified dress code, I had observed that most of the guests will be wearing uniforms or formal attire for the service.

If you would like to learn about my experiences attending the Remembrance Sunday service at Kranji War Memorial last year, please visit: http://oceanskies79.blogspot.sg/2013/02/11-nov-2012-remembrance-sunday-ceremony.html

BUKIT BROWN CONVERSATIONS : Ukelady (The NUS Ukelele Girl) meets Ukebaba

Have you heard about the girl who sings and plays the ukelele on the NUS (National University of Singapore) Shuttle Bus to make NUS and Singapore a happier place?

What will happen when Teng Yen Lin aka the NUS Ukelele Girl visits the Bukit Brown Cemetery?

Check out this music video: The Ukelady (The NUS Ukelele Girl) meets Ukebaba!
If you enjoy this video or the music, please 'like' it and share it. Thank you!

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To read about how this project was initiated, please visit the following two links:
A Music Video for Bukit Brown
http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=7719

Reasons to visit the Singapore Art Museum for the second weekend of the Singapore Night Festival 2013

It was rather quiet inside the Singapore Art Museum during the first weekend of the Singapore Night Festival 2013 (i.e. 23 and 24 Aug 2013). Thankfully, I did some homework and learnt that there will a few interesting activities and events lined up at the Singapore Art Museum for the second weekend. With limited feelings of anticipation, I visited the Singapore Art Museum on the third night of the Singapore Night Festival (i.e. 30 Aug 2013) and was treated to some simple pleasures.

CAPTION. Singapore Art Museum, Queen Courtyard.

CAPTION, an interactive installation, appears to pull some of the crowd. For this installation which is placed at two different corners of the museum's courtyard, individuals who have never met can create light paintings together. The pair then can complete the image they created by finding each other and filling in the caption with both their names. Maybe this work urges us to start to think about what makes us connect with another person?

I was enticed by the nearby fountains. They looked so poetic under the night skies.

CAPTION
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
7 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Singapore Art Museum
Queen Courtyard

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Nearby, in the Glass Hall, there are screenings of short films from award-winning local directors such as Royston Tan, Anthony Chen, Boo Junfeng and more. Visitors to the SGFILM Pop-Up Cinema will also have the privilege to view a brand new series of recorded interviews with the various local directors. This will be the outreach event of SGFILM Channel to attend for everyone who supports local films.

For the Screening and Chat schedule, please visit: www.objectifs.com.sg/popupcinema.htm

SGFILM Pop-Up Cinema
Fri 30 and Sat 30 Aug 2013
7.30 p.m. - 1.00 a.m.
Singapore Art Museum, Glass Hall

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When you are at the Singapore Art Museum, please take advantage of the late night free admission to the museum to visit the exhibition, Terms and Conditions. This exhibition presents an open-ended debate into how history and social realities are represented, with an emphasis on the Arab world.

I was pretty intrigued and somewhat shocked by Adel Abidin's The Three Love Songs. This work examines how facades are played through song, specifically Iraqi songs that were commissioned by Saddam Hussein. In this work, the singers have no idea what they are singing. They were directed to perform as though the songs were traditional and passionate love songs. The work reminded me that we can be pretty impressionable human beings.

Do not forget to visit Credit Suisse: Innovation in Art Series - President's Young Talents. This is Singapre's premier commissioning exhibition where visitors will get to see the commissioned works of Singapore's most promising artists under the age 35. This is an exhibition that I would encourage every local who appreciates visual arts to visit, at least once!

Ryf Zaini's Unveil the curtain to the window with no ledge.

Late night free admission to three NHB museums
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Singapore Art Museum
National Museum of Singapore 
Peranakan Museum

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SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013.
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Free Admission
www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival
Download Official Map (pdf)
Download Official Guide (pdf)

The Mega Stunts you must watch during the Singapore Night Festival 2013

The Water Vault. One of the Mega Stunt of Singapore Night Festival 2013.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

The Water Vault 
by 'Magic Babe' Ning and J C Sum 
Fri 30 Aug 2013
10.00 p.m. 
National Museum of Singapore facade

Last night's mega stunt, The Water Vault, performed by "Magic Babe" Ning with J C Sum at the National Museum of Singapore façade was breath-taking.

"Magic Babe" Ning was shackled with chains and locks around her. Next, she submerged herself in a water vault that was pitch-dark and filled with water. The water vault was then covered and shackled with more chains and locks.

"Magic Babe" Ning inside the water vault attempting to unlock the chains and locks.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

I was intrigued as I watched "Magic Babe" Ning escape from the water vault. How did she manage to pick the locks with merely the help of two paper clips? What training did she have to put herself through to endure having to hold her breathe underwater for more than two minutes? What psychological training did she have to take to keep herself mentally alert throughout the entire performance. I felt extremely relieved and happy for her that "Magic Babe" Ning rose up to the challenges and escaped from the water vault.

If you have missed "Magic Babe" Ning's mega stunt last night, RazorTV has a full coverage of last night's performance: http://www.razortv.com.sg/video/498568/can-magic-babe-ning-pull-off-a-houdini though I dare say that it is way more exciting to watch the performance of the stunt live!

"Magic Babe" Ning escaped from the water vault!
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

Special thanks to Jinha Kim Photography for capturing the intense moments of "Magic Babe" Ning's performance of The Water Vault and for giving me permission to share his photographs.

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There will be another Mega Stunt performed by J C Sum and "Magic Babe" Ning on 31 Aug 2013. This performance is an attempt to set a world record!

The duo will attempt the world's first ever tandem upside down strait jacket escape. The duo will be strapped up in strait jackets and suspended upside down by their ankles, one person below the other, high up in the air from a single burning rope. Will the duo escape in time? We will find out at tonight's Singapore Night Festival.


Ultimate Inversion

Mega Stunt by J C Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning

Sat 31 Aug 2013
10.00 p.m.

National Museum of Singapore facade

Free Admission

http://www.brasbasahbugis.sg/SNFPortal/

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SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013.
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Free Admission
www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival
Download Official Map (pdf)
Download Official Guide (pdf)

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Belinda Tan and Jinha Kim Photography for the permission to use some of their photographs, so beautifully taken. Note: Jinha Kim is the exclusive official photographer of the Singapore Night Festival 2013.

Sneak preview: The second weekend of Singapore Night Festival 2013

The Magic Melody. By Tigrelab. Singapore Art Museum façade
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

Are you wondering how to spend your nights this weekend? The Singapore Night Festival is back for its second weekend!

Other than discovering the hidden gems of the Singapore Night Festival, be a part of history-making by watching the mega stunts by J C Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning. Otherwise, there are many other offerings to add a touch of surprise to your weekend at the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct.

Here is a sneak preview of the second weekend of the Singapore Night Festival:

Photo taken during the media preview, 29 Aug 2013.

The Water Vault

Mega Stunt by 'Magic Babe' Ning and J C Sum

Fri 30 Aug 2013, 10.00 p.m.

National Museum of Singapore facade

In this performance, 'Magic Babe' Ning will attempt an underwater escape from the Water Vault. The escape is not as simple as we would imagine. Shackled with chains and locks around her wrists, 'Magic Babe' Ning will have less than two minutes to free herself from the Water Vault.

During the performance, selected members from the audience could interact with the performers and physically touch some of the tools used by the performers.

To prepare for such a stunt, the performer has to train and heighten her endurance level to perform under extreme conditions. Would 'Magic Babe' Ning be able to escape from the Water Vault in time? The best way to find out is to catch this exciting performance put together by J C Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning who are acknowledged by The Straits Times as "Asia's most famous illusionists". The duo has also received a first ever "Patrons of Magic" (2012) award given by the International Brotherhood of Magicians for their unparalleled contributions to the Singapore magic scene.

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Ultimate Inversion

Mega Stunt by J C Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning

Sat 31 Aug 2013, 10.00 p.m.

National Museum of Singapore facade

This is a performance that will close the Singapore Night Festival with a breath-taking note. In this performance, J C Sum and 'Magic Babe' Ning will attempt the world's first ever tandem upside down strait jacket escape. This spectacular escape stunt is complex in nature. The duo will be strapped up in strait jackets and suspended upside down by their ankles, one person below the other, high up in the air from a single burning rope. Any forceful movement made by the duo could potentially tear the rope apart and be fatal.

During the media preview, I learnt from 'Magic Babe' Ning that this inversion stunt is a tribute to Harry Houdini who had performed stunts involving an escape from a strait jacket while hanging upside down.

Ultimate Inversion will be the world's first ever tandem upside down strait jacket escape. This performance has the potential to be a world record so if you wish to witness a record breaking moment in history, this is the show to watch.

Watch them attempt the world's first ever tandem upside down strait jacket escape.
Taken during the media preview.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

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Moongrazing 
by OICSingapore

Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013

OIC Projection display: 7 p.m. - 2 a.m.

OIC live music and drawing

7.30 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m., 11.30 p.m.

National Museum of Singapore facade

Watch the façade of the National Museum of Singapore transform itself into a canvas for local artists to showcase their creativity.  The projection display will be set to an original piece of music. MoonGrazing is a surrealistic abstract animation. See how the animation explores stories related to the moon through the eyes of the illustrators from OICSingapore.

If you cannot decide whether to check this out, the best way to get a preview of Moongrazing would be to watch this short animated loop (music by Affixen and Andy Yang): http://vimeo.com/73197062

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5 Streams
by Ibrahim Quraishi (BamBam Projects)
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
8.45 p.m., 9.45 p.m. and 10.45 p.m.
MAIN Ground
(Near National Museum of Singapore)

Watch how the team comes together to present a cross media performance/ installation involving explosive sounds, vocals, intense dance sequences, video streaming, live percussion and guitar. The overall effect was hypnotic to a large extent.

You may like to know that the three shows for each night are part of a trilogy. Each of the three shows every night is different from the other two shows. Would that give us enough reason to pitch a tent on the MAIN Ground to watch every single show of 5 Streams?

Closed-up photo of an act from 5 Streams.

5 Streams.

5 Streams.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

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Koflow

Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013

10.30 p.m.

Singapore Management University 

U-Square

DJ Koflow has won many awards and accolades, and is one of the artist in his craft to listen out for. Koflow will be presenting a new free style collaboration with renowned musicians like Aya Sekine, Richard Jackson, Mohamed Noor and Casey Subramaniam specially for the Singapore Night Festival.

From the Singapore Night Festival programme booklet.

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Paper Monkey Theatre

Plaza Singapura, Outdoor Atrium

Fri 30 Aug, 8 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.

Sat 31 Aug, 8 p.m.

If you are bringing along your family members to Singapore Night Festival, you may like to be entertained by traditional Chinese hand puppets presented by the Paper Monkey Theatre. In this performance "The Three Big Bullies' by the Paper Monkey Theatre, the story is set in ancient China. How would this story unfold? Watch it to find out.

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Enjoy late night free admission to three NHB museums

Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
National Museum of Singapore
Peranakan Museum
Singapore Art Museum

If you have always wanted to visit the exhibition, Princely Treasures: From the House of Liechtenstein, and yet had not been free to catch it during the museum's regular visiting hours, the Singapore Night Festival will present a wonderful opportunity for you to visit this exhibition from 7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m. free-of-charge! On the nights of 30 and 31 Aug 2013! Even though I have visited this exhibition at least six times, this is still an exhibition that I will keep going back for!

Be prepared to queue to visit this exhibition. The wait will be worthwhile especially if you love the works of artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck and so forth.

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What will entice you to attend the Singapore Night Festival?

SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013.
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Free Admission
www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival
Download Official Map (pdf)
Download Official Guide (pdf)

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the National Heritage Board for the invitation to the Media Preview of this weekend's Singapore Night Festival. Special thanks to Belinda Tan and Jinha Kim Photography for the permission to use some of their photographs, so beautifully taken. Note: Jinha Kim is the exclusive official photographer of the Singapore Night Festival 2013.

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Please also check out:
A magical final weekend at the Singapore Night Festival by Jerome Lim
Asia's Top Magic Duo To Close Singapore Night Festival 2013 With World's-First Mega Stunts, WebWire

The hidden gems of the Singapore Night Festival

A weekend of the Singapore Night Festival has just passed. Here is a compilation of what I have found to be the hidden gems of the Singapore Night Festival. The best part is that if you have missed the previous weekend, some of these hidden gems will still be available for the upcoming weekend of the Singapore Night Festival.

Karen Mitchell's Everyday Aspirations

Everyday Aspirations
by Karen Mitchell
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
7.30 p.m. - 1.00 a.m.
Alley between the Substation and Peranakan Museum

Hidden along the alley between the Substation and the Peranakan Museum is a mixed media artwork by Karen Mitchell. One-word definitions of "Aspiration" were collected from friends, friends of friends, etc. These represented the "Everyday Aspirations" of ordinary people. I love the way the text would cast shadows against the walls and the ceilings in the presence of a light source. What are your aspirations?

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Hawker Food Alley
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
Alley between the Substation and Armenian Street
7.00 p.m. - 1.00 a.m.

If you are nearby the alley between the Substation and Armenian Street, allow your nose to take in whiffs of fragrance from the Putu Piring stall. I do hope the Putu Piring stall would still be there this weekend. It is a rare treat to enjoy Putu Piring and have the gula Melaka melt in our mouths.

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Select Books
51 Armenian Street
Singapore 179939

Book lovers will love the Singapore Night Festival because the Select Books' Bookstore and Cafe will have its opening hours extended during the Singapore Night Festival. The bookstore and the cafe will be opened from 6.30 p.m. to 12 midnight on 23, 24, 30, 31 Aug 2013. What is more, customers will enjoy a 10% discount store-wide at Select Books during the nights of the Singapore Night Festival.

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5 Streams - Interactive Art Installation
Projection. At MAIN Ground. Taken on 24 Aug 2013.

5 Streams
by Ibrahim Qurashi (BamBam Projects)
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
8.45 p.m., 9.45 p.m. and 10.45 p.m.

This will be a cross media performance/ installation where explosive sounds, vocals, intense dance sequences, video streaming, live percussion and base guitars are combined to create a hypnotic performance.

***

Siong Leng Musical Association's performance at the Peranakan Museum.
Taken on 24 Aug 2013.

Enjoy Nanyin, one of the treasures of traditional Chinese musical arts, and Li Yuan opera by the local musical group, Siong Leng Musical Association. This music group will be the ones to listen out for in the local traditional Chinese music scene. If you have missed their performance the previous weekend, you could still get to listen to Siong Leng Musical Association this coming weekend at Plaza Singapura. Be prepared to enter a meditative mood and delight yourself with traditional Nanyin music.

Siong Leng Musical Association
Fri 30 Aug, 9 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Sat 31 Aug, 9.30 p.m.
Plaza Singapura

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If you have a weakness for the naive, Pitaya Design's Paperplanes may move your hearts. I like the simplicity and effectiveness of the design. I felt I was at an airport watching the paper planes taking off in all directions. Maybe this work is telling us that life presents us with a lot of possibilities? I simply like to be at the School of the Arts to enjoy the occasional breeze.

Paperplanes
by Pitaya Design
School of the Arts
Light sculptures

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The Magic Melody. By Tigrelab. Singapore Art Museum's facade.

After exploring the many hidden gems of the Singapore Night Festival, please put aside some time to visit the Singapore Art Museum to catch a glimpse of The Magic Melody by Tigrelab. Be enchanted by the light projections. I take comfort in the knowledge that I can be easily pleased by a fanciful display of light projections.

The Singapore Night Festival will continue to add a touch of novelty to your nights this weekend. Make some time for it please.

SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVAL
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013.
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Free Admission
www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival
Download Official Map (pdf)
Download Official Guide (pdf)

Singapore Night Festival 2013, the weekend of 23 and 24 Aug 2013

The Magic Melody. By Tigrelab. Singapore Art Museum facade.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

Do you love night projections, art performances, late night admission into the museum galleries and so forth? This weekend of 23 and 24 Aug 2013, invite your families and friends to join you to attend the Singapore Night Festival. This year, the festival grounds have expanded and now extend from Plaza Singapura to Raffles City.

A sneak preview of some of the highlights of this year's Singapore Night Festival can be found here: http://oceanskies79places.blogspot.sg/2013/08/a-sneak-preview-of-singapore-night.html.

In addition, here are more snapshots taken at this weekend's Singapore Night Festival to entice you to make a visit.

1. The green sitting area opposite Singapore Art Museum (SAM Façade).

The Magic Melody
by Tigrelab
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013, 7.30 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Fir 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013, 7.30 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Sun 25 - Thu 29 Aug 2013, 7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m.
SAM Façade

If you love to watch night projections while remaining seated, one recommended place to enjoy Tigrelab's audiovisual and interactive video mapping project, The Magic Melody, will be the park spaces directly opposite the Singapore Art Museum's façade. The grounds may be slightly wet after a rain, so it may help to bring along a mat if the weather is wet.

Please set aside at least 10 minutes to enjoy this light projection.

Green spaces opposite the Singapore Art Museum which provide good views of The Magic Melody.

2. The children love the circus!

Circus Swingapore
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013
7.30 and 9.00 p.m.
National Museum of Singapore, Glass Atrium

Circus Swingapore at the Singapore Night Festival 2013.

Watch the performers from Circus Swingapore dance away and fly above the heads of the audience with their stunning acts. The children were observed to love this series of performances very much. At the end of each set of performances, members of the audience are welcomed to get a trial session of getting themselves up in the air, supervised by one of the performers from Circus Swingapore.

3. A touch of romance along the Armenian Street.

Onmoonbeings
by Singapierrot
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
7.30 p.m., 8.45 p.m. and 10.00 p.m.

Onmoonbeings by Singapierrot.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

My personal favourite is Singapierrot's performance of Onmoonbeings. Set in a fairly intimate outdoor space at a corner of Armenian Street, the two soulful Singaporean jesters invite the modern audience to explore the wistful and dark corners of our souls. I particularly like the fact that Onmoonbeings is performed with the support of live accompaniment by gypsy-swing jazz duo So Ma Fan.

Adjectives to describe this performance would be primitive, whimsical and playful. The organisers will be providing some ground mat for the audience to sit on. If you prefer to use your own ground mat, please bring one along.

4. Look up! The aerial dance performance.

Pyramid of Void
by Compagnie Retouramont
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
8.30 p.m., 9.45 p.m. and 11 p.m.
National Museum of Singapore façade.

Pyramid of Void. By Compagnie Retouramont.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

After watching Vertical Extraction by the same group, Compagnie Retouramont, please make sure you stay behind to appreciate the aerial dance performance, Pyramid of Void. The dancers are agile and strong, and they seem to form a dialogue with the pyramid structure that is outlined by ropes suspended in mid-air. While watching the performance by Compagnie Retouramont, I wondered how long it would take for Singapore to groom its own locally-born aerial dancers of international standing?

5. Playing with fire can be fun!

Starlight Alchemy: Redux
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
8.45 p.m. and 10 p.m. National Museum of Singapore

Starlight Alchemy.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

If you are watching the first two sets of Pyramid of Void (i.e. at 8.30 p.m. and/or 9.45 p.m.), please stay behind on the grounds outside the National Museum of Singapore to watch the performance by Starlight Alchemy. Be thrilled by the amazing feats that can be achieved with fire and LED tools.

6. Enjoy late night free admission to three NHB museums

Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
Fri 30 and 31 Aug 2013
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
National Museum of Singapore
Peranakan Museum
Singapore Art Museum

Too busy to visit the museums during your working hours and during the usual weekdays? Perhaps the late night free admission to three NHB museums will provide you with the needed opportunity to finally set foot into one of the museums.

I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in Baroque art and portrait painting must visit the exhibition, Princely Treasures: From the House of Liechtenstein, which is now held at the National Museum of Singapore, Basement. Usually, admission to this exhibition will be S$10 per adult. During the Singapore Night Festival (i.e. 23, 24, 30, 31 Aug 2013), admission to this exhibition will be free from 7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m. Be prepared to queue to visit this exhibition. Even though I have visited this exhibition more than five times, this is still one exhibition that I will keep going back for!

A snapshot taken at Princely Treasures, the exhibition.

7. The Quest for Knut Eckstein's works

Knut Eckstein's The Algebra of Need
Fri 23 Aug - Mon 23 Sep 2013
From 7.30 p.m. onwards
Various locations within the festival grounds

"With simple materials - bamboo and rope lights, Berlin artist Knut Eckstein, at the invitation of Goethe-Institut Singapore and National Heritage Board, creates installations to transform public spaces and poses his questions on the notion of identities in the city."

What is city life about? What does it mean to live in a city? I wonder too. In the meantime, I shall set myself on a quest to search for Knut Eckstein's works within the festival grounds. If you know where they are, send me a comment please.

The Algebra of Need, by Knut Eckstein. CHIJMES.
I wonder if we are too concerned with brands?

This looks like a work by Knut Eckstein.

8. Satisfy the taste-buds

So Sedap!
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug, 7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013,  p.m. - 11.30 p.m.
SMRT Walkway

Along the SMRT Walkway, food stalls spruced up to celebrate the Singapore Night Festival. Mouth-watering treats are probably waiting for us to grab a bite when we are feeling hungry. I have yet to check the food out here, so let me know what are your recommendations please?

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There are many more activities to enjoy this Singapore Night Festival, where will you be heading?


SINGAPORE NIGHT FESTIVALFri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug 2013.
7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m.
Free Admission
www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival
Download Official Map (pdf)
Download Official Guide (pdf)


Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the National Heritage Board for the invitation to the Media Preview of this weekend's Singapore Night Festival. Special thanks to Belinda Tan and Jinha Kim Photography for the permission to use some of their photographs, so beautifully taken. Note: Jinha Kim is the exclusive official photographer of the Singapore Night Festival 2013.