The city never sleeps. Right off the bat, we’re seeing January usher in a vibrant tapestry of art and culture here in Singapore, from light festivals to immersive theatre
As with all new beginnings, the start of a new year brims with inspiration–and very much so for our local art and culture scene. Other than the 13th edition of Singapore Art Week 2025 happening this month, January brings a plethora of events that’ll captivate, engage and inspire. Here are a few noteworthy events not to be missed:
Light To Night 2025
Set to dazzle its audience for three weeks from 17 January onwards till 6 February 2025, the ninth edition of Singapore’s annual light art festival Light To Night 2025 invites you to explore themes of diversity, self-identity, and sense of belonging.
Through a showcase of over 70 artworks and programmes centred around an overarching theme, “Do You See Me?”, the light show will illuminate the city’s Civic District, stretching from landmarks like the Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade, the Arts House, to Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the National Gallery Singapore–watch its facade come to life with Art Skins on Monuments, a showcase of vibrant projections with the accompaniment of mesmerising soundscapes in the background.
Foodies, don’t miss out on the Art X Social: Festival Street along St. Andrew’s Road–a row of food stalls will be operating across all three weekends in the duration of this light art festival.
I am Seaweed
A multimedia theatrical performance that is exactly as quirky as it sounds, I am Seaweed debuted at the Melbourne Fringe Festival just last year, where it clinched one of the Judges’ Pick and earned a nomination for Best in Theatre. The play delves into the pressures of the modern-day hustle culture, and its impacts on one’s mental health.
Follow Sheryl, a Singaporean navigating societal expectations of constant productivity and self-sufficiency. Through moody projections, presentations, and satirical advertisements, the 60-minute show invites the audience to reflect on our personal well-being amidst relentless everyday demands. I Am Seaweed will be staged at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, from 16 to 18 January 2025 at the NAFA Studio Theatre.
Seeing Forest
What happens after we humans deforest an area? We bet that’s a question that’s never crossed your mind before, and never may, if not for Seeing Forest. Presented by Robert Zhao Renhui, this is the first time Seeing Forest is opening in Singapore–after its debut at the Singapore Pavilion during the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2024, this immersive installation returns home, transforming the Singapore Art Museum’s gallery into a forested environment filled with sights, sounds, and stories.
Seeing Forest is an evocative exploration of Singapore’s secondary forests—specifically, areas that have regenerated following human-led deforestation. Through a blend of videos and sculptural works, Zhao delves into the resilience of nature and its intricate interactions with urban development, shedding light on the dynamic ecosystems that flourish within the city’s landscape, and sometimes right under our unknowing noses.
Behind the Canvas Series 1: Jean-Michel Basquait
Having opened back in December 2024, and running till 6 March 2025, Behind the Canvas Series 1: Jean-Michel Basquait is an immersive experiential exhibition set at the Marina Bay Sands. This global debut showcases and celebrates the life and work of the iconic eponymous American artist, offering visitors an insightful and interactive peek into his private life, early artistic endeavours, and the inspirations that propelled him to international acclaim.
At the exhibition, visitors will be able to interact and engage with Basquiat’s captivating sketches and illustrations through a fusion of art, literature, music, and technology. Gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s creative genius at Exhibition Hall D of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre; it opens daily from 10am till 8pm. Avoid disappointment by booking your tickets online here before heading down.
