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.

A Sneak Preview of the Singapore Night Festival

Companie Retouramont.

The Singapore Night Festival is back again! Treat your senses to a nocturnal extravaganza of spectacular aerial performances, music, dance, installation artworks and spectacular interactive light installations on the nights of 23, 24, 30, 31 Aug 2013.

Whether you are more interested in stunning outdoor performances, art and light installations, free admission into the museums, intimate indoor performances or simply spend some out in the night with your families and friends, there will be something for everyone during this year's Singapore Night Festival.

For the art community in Singapore, the Singapore Night Festival provides a platform for local artists to showcase their works and to collaborate with international artists. With the renaming of the Night Festival to the Singapore Night Festival, this year's festival is positioned to garner international attention.

Here is a sneak preview of some of the highlights for this coming weekend (Fri 23 Aug and Sat 24 Aug):

Onmoonbeings by Singapierrot.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

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

If a whimsical and poetic touch of romance is what you may crave for, be sure to make time to watch two soulful Singaporean jesters Roy Payamal and Ng Xi Jie's performance, Onmoonbeings. The duo will be dressed in plastics. They simply looked like the modern incarnations of Pierrot play.

The storyline is essentially about two jesters descending from a crescent moon and exploring the land. Witness how the jesters create meaning as they explore the wistful dark corners of our soul. I was drawn to the primitive, whimsical yet playful mood of the performance.

For the lovers of live music, this performance is very likely to delight. The performance of Onmoonbeings will be accompanied live by gypsy-swing jazz duo So Ma Fan.

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Vertical Extraction 
by Compagnie Retouramont
Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2013
8.15 p.m., 9.30 p.m., and 10.45 p.m.
National Museum of Singapore facade

Vertical Extraction by Compagnie Retouramont.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

Light projections, shadows play and aerial dancing on bungee cords combined in a mystical way in Compagnie Retouramont's Vertical Extraction. In this performance, acclaimed local artist and film-maker Victric Thng will collaborate and complement Vertical Extraction with a special video that he has produced.

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Pyramid of Void by Compagnie Retouramont. 

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 facade

Perhaps choreographed for a crowd that is willing to bring themselves to a meditative and reflective state, Compagnie Retouramont's performance of Pyramid of Void is an aerial dance performance. A pyramid structure made of ropes is suspended in mid-air to outline the contours of an abstract void that is invisible to our eyes. The dancers dance in the air with the ropes as their only form of support.

The set is rather minimalist. Be awed by the physical agility and strength that will be required for the dancers to form a dialogue with the invisible pyramid. Perhaps Pyramid of Void challenges us to slow down and think about what is invisible and yet essential?

Pyramid of Void.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Photography.

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Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Fourneau.

Water Light Graffiti
by Antonin Fourneau
Outside Raffles City

Of particular interest to yours truly is Antonin Fourneau's Water Light Graffiti. Based on the idea of illumination, Water Light Graffit enables one to draw or write messages which appear as light against the wall of LEDs. What is the medium that is used to draw the light? It is water! I was simply intrigued by the possibilities that can be created on the wall. Check this out for yourself.

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Starlight Alchemy: Redux.
Photo courtesy of Jinha Kim Photography.

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

Dramatic and full of amazing feats, be sure to watch Starlight Alchemy who will promise to entertain you with their unique feats using fire and LED lights. According to the festival guide, the final performance of each night will also include a free play and jam session where visitors to the Singapore Night Festival can try their hand at playing with the LED manipulation tools used by the artists. This is surely a great reason to stay up late for the Singapore Night Festival.

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ABSOLUT CANVAS
Fri 23 Aug and Sat 24 Aug,
Fri 30 and Sat 31 Aug: 7.00 p.m.
Sun 25 Aug - Mon 2 Sep 2013: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
National Museum of Singapore, Stamford Gallery

ABSOLUT CANVAS is an exhibition that showcases the ways in which ABSOLUT cultivates creativity and innovation. If you are lucky, you may find yourself acquainted with one of the ABSOLUT bottle collectors to learn about his special journey in collecting the bottles.

Throughout the four nights of the Singapore Night Festival, the exhibition will also play host to a pop-up bar serving both ABSOLUT VODKA and ABSOLUT ELYX. Visitors aged 18 years and above can experience three different cocktails that were created just for ABSOLUT CANVAS.

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In essence, experience the stretch of the Bras Brasah.Bugis precinct from Plaza Singapura to Raffles City turn into exciting venues featuring art, heritage and cultural events that can be enjoyed with our families and friends this weekend.

My personal recommendations for this weekend's Singapore Night Festival will be:

• Onmoonbeings by Singapierrot, 7.30 p.m., 8.45 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., Armenian Street, 
• Vertical Extraction by Compagnie Retouramont, 8.15 p.m., 9.30 p.m., and 10.45 p.m., National Museum of Singapore facade
• The Algebra of Need, Bamboo and Rope Light Installations by Knut Eckstein, Fri 23 Aug - Mon 23 Sep 2013, from 7.30 p.m. onwards at various locations within the festival grounds, including CHIJMES.
• Night Lights 2013, 7.30 p.m. - 2.00 a.m., Singapore Art Museum, Banyan Tree at National Museum of Singapore, The Cathay, School of the Arts and Raffles City.
• Starlight Alchemy: Redux, Fri 23 and Sat 24 Aug 2012, 8.45 p.m. and 10 p.m. National Museum of Singapore,11.15 p.m. Armenian Street.
• Late night free admission to Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein, 7.00 p.m. - 2.00 a.m., National Museum of Singapore.

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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 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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Other media previews or related articles on the Singapore Night Festival:
Sights and sounds of Singapore Night Festival 2013 by Kevin Ho, inSing.com
Media preview of the Singapore Night Festival, Xinhuanet
Singapore Night Festival back for 6th year, Channel Newsasia
Singapore Night Festival 2013, lambentI2e
Singapore Night Festival 2013, TimeOut Singapore
Highlights of the Singapore Night Festival, Jerome Lim
Playing with Fire, Jerome Lim
Singapore Night Fest 2013 sneak peek, by Mayo Martin, Today Online
Singapore Night Festival Returns, by Lydia Vasko
Singapore Night Festival 2013 is back! by Jinghui, Photojournalist
Singapore Night Festival 2013 - Media Preview, by David Teo

The Ramadan Trails at Sultan Mosque 2013

The Ramadan Trails organised by Sultan Mosque is one of the most meaningful tours I have been on in Singapore that enhanced my appreciation of the significance of Ramadan. When I learnt that the Sultan Mosque will be organising the Ramadan Trails this year, I gathered a few friends who were interested to sign up for the trail.

I attended one of Ramadan Trails 2013 on 2 August. The members of the mosque welcomed the guests with their hospitality and cheerful smiles. When the tour started officially at 6 p.m., I noticed that the guests who were attending the tour came from diverse backgrounds. A number of us were local Singapore citizens, others were Residents in Singapore, and there were also a number of tourists from other countries.

At the registration booth.

The tour began with a guided tour about the mosque's compounds. We were introduced to some of the architectural features of the mosque. The tour guide also shared with us insights related to some of the religious practices of the Muslims. I have gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Islamic faith thanks to the tour.

Also included in the Ramadan Trails was a presentation on what Ramadan was about. To the Muslims, Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Qur'an was revealed by Angel Gabriel. In the month of Ramadan, it is believed that every good action is spiritually multiplied.

During the month of Ramadan, all Muslims (except children, the medically unfit, those travelling long distances, women who are menstruating, in post-childbirth care, pregnant or breast-feeding) will refrain from food, drink and intimacy during fasting hours. Fasting begins at the break of dawn and ends at sunset. In addition, Muslims are to refrain from blameworthy thoughts and acts. The primary objective of fasting is to attain "God consciousness" and self-discipline.

The presentation on Ramadan reminded me that a lot of self-discipline and faith would be required to set oneself with the right intentions and frame of mind to fast. I left the presentation with deeper respect for the Muslims.

During the presentation, my memory was refreshed that in the month of Ramadan, we could greet our Muslim colleagues by saying "Ramadan Mubarak" which means "blessed Ramadan".

The Ramadan Trails concluded with an experiential and memorable Buka Puasa in which the tour participants could experience the breaking of the fast with the Muslims. I felt that there was an atmosphere of gratitude and humility when it was time to break the fast. As the participants shared food and break fast with the Muslims, I felt reminded of our shared humanity. The month of Ramadan possibly also fosters a spirit of empathy and shared humanity.

My heartfelt appreciation to the Sultan Mosque and the guides for the Ramadan Trails for the memorable and enriching experience at the Ramadan Trails. It was my third year attend the Ramadan Trail and I felt there was a lot that I have learnt nevertheless.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim friends.