With all the hype about the recent light art festival held in the Marina Bay district, Singapore’s visual art scene has certainly been flourishing. Nonetheless, can local art-works continue to be recognised in Singapore’s burgeoning economy?
We all have an inherent need to express ourselves greatly. From caveman paintings of centuries past to modern illustrations of art, we manifest ourselves in different forms of artistic expressions to some degree, in a way that is often difficult to put into words.
Today, art is revealed in different ways. With the advent of technology and connectivity, artistic expression and creativity are elevated with a better chance to flourish. This is evident in the array of art installations exhibited for the past 3 weeks along Marina Bay Waterfront.
I Light Marina Bay, an annual light festival in its fourth edition, welcomed festival fans with open arms into a celebration of artistic sorts. It has successfully transformed its precinct into ephemeral works of wonder complimented by spectacular aerial acrobatics, live music and dance performances. Incubating a burgeoning community of aspiring artists, various artworks were showcased that not only reflected their ideas, but also inhibited a social message of sustainability.
Out of the 25 installations featured, 14 were curated by local artists and students as they aimed at sharing their creative process and inspirations.
Play it forward | Image via playitforwardsg.org
Festival goers were also invited to play on refurbished pianos at any time of the day, further elevating their sensory experiences. Part of a creative project, “Play It Forward”, passionate local artists sought to transform old, unwanted pianos into art pieces for the public to enjoy.
This brings to light the growing local art scene in Singapore as local artists come together to build a community that brings art into strong play.
For many years, reports have been pointing to growth in Singapore’s art market, showcasing an increase in Singaporeans taking on vital roles in building the country’s arts and culture scene. Despite being a relatively small community, there is, however, increasingly more creativity, inventiveness and ingenuity in the various productions and exhibitions presented of late.
Cycle House | Image via ilightmarinabay.sg
Take for example ‘Cycle House’, a local piece created by Hafiz Osman at the light festival. Seen as a mobile workstation combining temporary shelter and a bicycle, this piece has transcended the functional aspects of a bicycle and brought to play the perception of home and space.
SONICtower | Image via channelnewsasia.com
Another art piece spurred by creativity is ‘SONICtower’ by local sound-media artist Zulkifle Mahmod, presenting a 15-metre structure that sought to create a rhythmic sound and light scape within its construction. Not only did the display explore the different compositions of sound and light, it also invited visitors to re-imagine the fundamental forms and roles of both elements.
Beyond its personal intrinsic value, the installations also served to create positive social behavioural changes through delightful ways. Building on the message of ‘sustainability’, the event has inspired people to contemplate about deeper issues related to environmental change. No matter the intensity of the piece, each installation curated caused most people to stop, even for just a moment, and engage in an emotional and intangible experience.
Providing a platform for local budding artists to display their creativity and talent, this light festival shows how local artists are increasingly gaining recognition for their artworks. With the widespread intrusion of media technologies, innovative artists are now able to surpass conventional means of creating interactive art, thus allowing for more novel methods in public engagement. Additionally, these interactive pieces have proven that far from being merely for display purposes to illicit a response from its audience, art has now transcended beyond its decorative purposes to play a part in social engagement.
Stay tuned for a follow up interview with festival co-curators Randy Chan and Khairuddin Hori on their efforts in creating Asia’s leading sustainable light art festival.
