Happenings this week
We highlight the best our city has to offer and what’s keeping it abuzz. Here are the best things you can do in Singapore this week.
Tea meets mixology
When: 16 January 2025
Where: The Bar at 15 Stamford
Take time out for this one-night-only guest shift at The Bar at 15 Stamford, a gorgeous bar located within the Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. Featuring industry legend Gagan Gurung of Tell Camellia, Hong Kong, look forward to a showcase of four signature creations from his collection of tea-based cocktails, made with tea-infused spirits and gins redistilled with unique tea blends.
Art SG
When: 17 to 19 January 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands
Southeast Asia’s leading international art fair is back once again for its third edition. Presented by UBS, Art SG will bring established and emerging contemporary art galleries, artists and collectors to Singapore, with an exceptional lineup of 106 galleries, remarkable talent from across the world, installations and activations. Highlights include the Talks programme, a diverse series of engaging discussions exploring various contemporary art themes and issues. More here.
Louis Vuitton’s Murakami pop-up
When: Now until 19 January 2025
Where: 72 Joo Chiat Place
Join Louis Vuitton in celebrating the launch of a re-edition collection between the brand and contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami. Set in a UNESCO-recognised neighbourhood that’s celebrated for its rich, cultural heritage, this exclusive pop-up will be one of seven in the world, where visitors can discover the breadth of imagination and creation within the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami world. Upon arrival, be greeted by a historic Peranakan shophouse façade before exploring a seamless blend of culture, retail and dining. Register here for free admission.
Crafted, by Hennessy
When: Now until 26 January 2025
Where: Ion Orchard
After its debut in Malaysia, this travelling exhibit and celebration of Richard Hennessy’s 300-year legacy is set to take place at Ion Orchard this January. Visitors will be able to journey through key milestones and get up close with the cognac-making process, rarities like Dame-Jeanne (€1.2M), Paradis Unlimited (€60K) and more. The experience is free, but reservations are highly encouraged here.
The Art of Banksy: Without Limits
When: Now until 26 January 2025
Where: Royal Plaza on Scotts
After successful tours across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the USA, The Art of Banksy: Without Limits is here, with several experiential areas and over 200 works brought in for the show. In this Singapore edition, expect to be welcome into a Walled Off Hotel (2017)-style lobby and the chance to get up close with certified originals, lithographs, sculptures, etc. across 1,300 square metres of space. In the spirit of Banksy’s activism, visitors are also invited to spray paint their own T-shirt with a S$2 donation to the M.V. Louise Michel organisation. Tickets here.
Singapore Art Week
When: 17 to 26 January 2025
Where: Singapore Art Museum
Feeling artsy? Head to the Singapore Art Museum for the highly anticipated Singapore Art Week. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy, from solo exhibitions by artists like Yee I-Lann and Zhao Renhui to live performances, a makers’ market, workshops and guided tours. Admission is free. More information here.
ORBar on A Great Street
When: Now until 31 January 2025
Where: Various bars along Orchard Road
For those who bar-hop frequently along Orchard Road, this drink passport is for you. Available at eight participating bars, passport holders will enjoy a selection of 16 cocktails at special rates, with eight signatures to enjoy. Different select cocktails include Atelier Lounge & Bar’s Smoky Negroni and Café Quenino’s Ondeh-Ondeh. More here.
Teo Eng Seng: We’re Happy. Are You Happy?
When: Now until 2 February 2025
Where: National Gallery Singapore
In the largest solo exhibition dedicated to Teo Eng Seng, one of Singapore’s pioneer sculptors and Cultural Medallion recipient, everyday items are transformed into brilliant works of art, embedded with humour and irony. One will find Teo’s creations rich in spontaneity and tongue-in-cheek commentary on local and global social events, bringing his honest negotiation between self and society into perspective. More here.
The World of Studio Ghibli
When: Now until 2 February 2025
Where: ArtScience Museum
For around four decades, Studio Ghibli has captivated fans across the world with its rich narratives, visual splendour and relatable characters. Those who can relate will delight in The World of Studio Ghibli, a special tribute to the studio’s timeless treasure and many iconic characters. Organised by ArtScience Museum, Singapore’s very first official Studio Ghibli exhibition has transformed 11 galleries with 16 large-scale, immersive theatrical sets, depicting iconic scenes from 11 films for a truly immersive experience. Tickets here.
Behind the Canvas
When: Now till 6 March 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands
This month, Singapore will be hosting the global debut of Behind the Canvas Series 1: Jean-Michel Basquiat, a celebration of the life and work of one of the most influential artists of our time. Presented by Covenant Art in partnership with New York collector and publisher Larry Warsh’s House of Inspiration, the three-month-long initiative aims to make art accessible to one and all, reimagining stories of iconic artists through innovative and experiential showcases. More here.
Of Dreams and Contemplation: I Am All but A Story – Collection of Richard Koh
When: 9 January to 9 March 2025
Where: The Private Museum
For the second time, Richard Koh’s personal art collection will be showcased at The Private Museum, offering viewers a fresh glimpse into his journey as a collector and gallerist. Collected with a focus on memory and emotion, the collection will reveal a rare insight into the mind of a veteran who has spent years promoting the works of others and championing contemporary artists from Southeast Asia and beyond. Admission is free. More here.
No Patents on Ideas
When: Now until 23 March 2025
Where: SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark
Through video, installation and objects, witness how ideas can transcend boundaries and redefine art at Pratchaya Phinthong’s first solo exhibition in Singapore. Phinthong, a Bangkok-based artist who uses art to examine the cultural and economic systems that define modern life, will also present Undrift, a new video installation that reflects on the implications between cultural circuits of vernacular knowledge and everyday material cultures. More here.
Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco
When: Now until 1 June 2025
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum
In this special exhibition, a set of 84 hand-carved model pagodas from Shanghai have been reunited for the first time in over a century. Not since they travelled thousands of miles to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, a massive world’s fair that attracted more than 18 million visitors during its 288-day run. Remarkably detailed, these pagodas offer a good look at China’s rich architectural heritage, and will be complemented by Towers of Faith, a photography exhibition of religious landmarks in Singapore, as well as a series of public programmes. More here.
Coming up:
See You, Anniversary
When: 14 to 23 February 2025
Where: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Funan
After an acclaimed debut in 2022, See You, Anniversary is returning, hoping to, once again, touch the audience with its heartfelt exploration of love and memory. Performed in Mandarin with English subtitles and closed captions, this moving production celebrates the love story of a couple, looking back on the many firsts in their life together. Opening on Valentine’s Day, ‘dine and theatre date’ tickets are available for couples who wish to enjoy a wine-pairing dinner at The Masses, anytime from 8 to 23 February 2025. More information here.
Wicked
When: 19 March to 20 April 2025
Where: Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands
Talk about good timing. As fans await the second installment of the film to arrive in theatres (November 2025), they can experience the award-winning musical from Broadway live this coming March. Step into the Emerald City with an Australian cast and explore the story of an unlikely friendship through Grammy Award-winning music by Stephen Schwartz. Tickets begin at S$68, with dining packages to consider. More here.
