If you’ve missed last weekend’s River Nights performances, fret not. There’s still one more weekend of festivities left!
This October, premier arts festival River Nights, returns to light up the banks of Singapore River in the heart of the Civic District. Organised by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), and with the National Arts Council as Principal Partner, this third edition presents the theme “Phantasmagoria”, inspiring four nights of magic and illusion as technology puts a new spin on traditional art forms, marrying the old and the new.
Festival Director, Dr Lim Chye Hong said, “River Nights 2016 truly reflects Singapore’s strong bilateral and cross-cultural relations, as we present the best of local and international artists on the same stage. One can look forward to collaborations between international artists and the local community; as well as participation from overseas communities such as Japan, the US and the Philippines as they offer us a glimpse into their arts, culture and tradition. At the heart of this year’s programming is also the use of technology to blend the old and the new, presenting new and shared experiences for both artists and the public. The cross-cultural diversity and shared experiences offered at River Nights 2016 is definitely something that festival-goers can look forward to.”
Where arts and technology intersect
In celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations and cultural exchange between Singapore and Japan, the public will get to witness the first time a Noh play – an age-old Japanese theatre form – is being paired with 21st century 3D projection. An original theatrical experience, Yugen: The Hidden Beauty of Japan, is presented by Shutaro Oku and prolific director Amon Miyamoto, whose work has recently been commissioned for a pre-event performance for Tokyo Olympics 2020. This performance will be held on 28 and 29 October, 8pm and 9.30pm at ACM Green.
Also for the first time in Asia is the Umbrella Project, a collaboration between world renowned American dance company Pilobolus and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Distributed Robotics Laboratory. This interactive art and dance piece is inspired by science and technology. Collaborating with 100 students from Singapore Polytechnic, the public will be able to experience a colourful and dazzling performance as students light up the night sky with a ballet of colour-changing umbrellas. This performance will be held on 28 and 29 October, 8.45pm at Empress Lawn.
Yet another performance, Soundscape: The River is an ambitious project that melds a variety of instruments and the human voice to create the story of a river by weaving the magic of sound, whispers, the rustling of the wind, and the fury of a thunderstorm into one integral whole. It is a collaboration of five instrumentalists, two voices and a dancer demonstrating the unity and diversity of sound, mood and emotions. The musical artwork is pre-set yet at the same time allows on-the-spot improvisation, demonstrating complete understanding and integration amongst the performers. Performed across three stages, technology and artists have to be in sync to create this 20-minute immersive experience.
A celebration of cross-cultural diversity
ACM’s signature and widely anticipated lifestyle event, ACM after Dark, will also return this weekend of the festival, presenting a showcase of Asian supernatural and beliefs. This year’s instalment, themed Horror Mash-Up, is supported by the Embassy of the United States and will feature an East-meets-West zombie-themed programme. One can brave through zombies within ACM’s galleries and attend indoor movie screenings of Asian and Western horror movies, or participate in a series of family-friendly activities such as face-painting, craft workshops and dress-up and photo-booths. Come dressed in your Halloween-best, be spotted by the organisers at ACM, and stand chances to win attractive prizes!
Members of the public will also be able to sign up for workshops and talks with featured artists over the festival weekend. Partners such as Japan Foundation, *SCAPE, Preservation of Sites and Monuments, and SJ50 Film Festival have also come on board to complement the festival offerings with fringe programmes ranging from music performances, guided tours of Singapore monuments to a showcase of short films from Singapore and Japan.
Dr Lim added, “River Nights celebrates the river’s legacy as a vital trading artery in the colonial past to the vibrant Civic District it is today. The museum’s strategic location has enabled us to present a creative canvas for local and international artists, and a holistic experience to festival-goers. With ACM championing the visual arts and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall anchoring performing arts, Empress Place is an important cultural playground for both artists and visitors. It is very exciting to see this area be filled with buzz, as we meld the area’s rich heritage with arts and culture through River Night’s specially curated programmes.”
River Nights will take place on 28 and 29 October, from 7pm to 11pm around the Civic District. For more information, visit the Asian Civilisations Museum website.
