i Light Singapore Returns For Its 10th Edition To Light Up Marina Bay And Neighbouring Precincts

Leona Quek
2024-05-08T00:02:37+08:00

Look forward to “eco-tastic” art and extended experiences across Marina Bay and neighbouring precincts.

*Updated 29 May with images from preview

Venue: Marina Bay, South Beach, Millenia Walk & Tanjong Pagar
Date: 31 May to 23 Jun 2024, 7.30 pm onwards

i Light Singapore 2024

i Light Singapore (iLSG) returns for its 10th edition from 31 May to 23 June 2024 to light up Marina Bay and its neighbouring precincts. Organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the footprint of Asia’s leading sustainable light festival has expanded further in this milestone edition. Beyond Marina Bay, South Beach and Millenia Walk, iLSG will also be arriving in Tanjong Pagar for the first time.

The engaging line-up of artworks and programmes for iLSG 2024 is the result of continued collaboration with many partners – event organisers, sponsors and precinct stakeholders – and will feature 17 artworks by 25 artists. This year’s Festival is inspired by the theme of Cyclical Nature and the colour green, a wavelength on the visible light spectrum that symbolises nature and our environment. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in contemplative and interactive artworks that explore the endless potential of everyday objects for re-design, restoration and repurposing.

Here's taking a closer look at some of the artworks and programmes that you can look forward to at iLSG 2024 across Marina Bay and the neighbouring precincts:

Marina Bay

Spin Me a Yarn

Location: Mist Walk

Spin Me a Yarn features three oversized yarn balls, each with its own long trail that loops over and around its surrounding environment.

With its larger-than-life design and conspicuous scale, the artwork is an unusual addition to the surroundings that intentionally prompts a re-evaluation of the commonplace. With yarn preparation being one of the contributors to the fashion industry’s global carbon emissions, Spin Me a Yarn examines the unsustainable practices that underpin our modern lifestyles. It serves as a reminder of the intricate threads that bind us all and the collective responsibility that we bear in shaping the future.

Kinetic Perspective

Location: Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza

Kinetic Perspective is an immersive abstract geometric experience inspired by the Optical Art Movement of the 1960s that uses optical illusions.

The circles within the installation are in perpetual motion, spinning ceaselessly. This rhythmic movement is echoed and repeated as each circle completes a full rotation. The synchronised spinning generates mesmerising visual patterns that persistently recur. By moving around the installation, visitors can discover infinite combinations of patterns and distortions. The artwork’s hypnotising fluidity invites contemplation on the eternal rhythms embedded within our existence.

Liminal; Minimal

Location: Waterfront promenade in front of Red Dot Design Museum

Waste lurks unseen in the built environment — a silent witness to the development of a modern city and its excesses. Assembled with wooden beams, reclaimed pallets and discarded dust nettings, Liminal; Minimal exposes the hidden wastefulness of urban construction by framing the surrounding cityscape with remnants from building sites.

In the relentless pursuit of urban densification, Singapore finds itself at a crossroads. Liminal; Minimal is an interrogation of our intricate entanglement with waste. The artwork forces a confrontation with the transient nature of our built environment and represents an insistent call for sustainable practices in the face of rapid urban development.

Iwagumi Air Scape

Venue: The Promontory at Marina Bay

At The Promontory at Marina Bay, Iwagumi Air Scape by ENESS transports visitors to an immersive, larger-than-life urban garden that embodies the allure of the Japanese art form of Iwagumi, evoking a sense of wonder in those who venture into the heart of our urban city.

Fish are Jumping

Venue: Lower Boardwalk

On the waters near the lower boardwalk, visitors will be enchanted by the simple wonders of nature through Fish are Jumping by Studio Toer, as each leaping “fish” breaks the water’s surface, revealing a tapestry of light and shadow, movement and stillness, sound and silence.

Arc ZERO

Venue: Near the Red Dot Design Museum

Arc ZERO: Nimbus by Studio James Tapscott encircles the floating pontoon near the Red Dot Design Museum. Visitors can take a walk along the pontoon and view the city skyline through a ring of mist, animated with the lifeblood of our existence - water, air and light.

Dandelion

Venue: Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade

Families can also explore the colourful and interactive artworks along the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade. One example is Dandelion by Sydney-based artist studio Amigo & Amigo. Presented by Marina Bay Sands at the Event Plaza, its playful symphony of light and music promises to transport visitors to a world of hope and optimism. Inspired by the breezy dance of dandelion petals, the installation represents a sanctuary for all to take a pause from the frenetic pace of life and reconnect with the marvels of nature.

Fountain of Happiness

Venue: Clifford Square

Over at Clifford Square, next to The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, visitors will be captivated by the Fountain of Happiness by 27June Studio, presented by The Fullerton Heritage. This installation features seven sets of swings and light tubes resembling fountains. The movement of the swings generates energy that lights up the square with a brilliant display of colours as visitors take a seat, bringing joy to each interaction.

Alchemy of Atmospheres

Venue: The Lawn beside NTUC Building

Another vivid artwork is Alchemy of Atmospheres by Janez Grošelj located at The Lawn beside NTUC Building. Bathed in an ethereal green glow, the lightning-like artwork presents an auditory visual spectacle to remind visitors of how actions of the human race can impact climate and atmospheric conditions.

Tanjong Pagar

BottleBlooms

Location: Tanjong Pagar Park at Guoco Tower, Tras Link Park near Orchid Hotel Singapore

BottleBlooms is a display of solar-powered luminous plastic blossoms in a green public space, crafted from approximately 1,000 upcycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles through a public collection drive by Discover Tanjong Pagar, Cantonment Primary School and City Sprouts, a social enterprise with an aim to rejuvenate urban spaces.

The artwork provokes a re-evaluation of things that are often thrown away mindlessly and is a reminder of the transformative potential inherent in our discarded materials. BottleBlooms urges us to think about the life cycle of materials and encourages a more thorough incorporation of plastics into the circular economy via PET recycling.

Kickit Team Tennis

Location: Discover Tanjong Pagar Community Green

Kickit Team Tennis is an interactive light art game that can be played by two teams of up to five-a-side.

A visit to the Barbican, a gothic gate-tower in Pécs, Hungary, inspired the creation of this modern tennis game. By reimagining a traditionally solo sport for teamplay in a public space, this installation encourages visitors to interact and collaborate with strangers — a call to find common ground and unity through friendly competition and play.

Hidden Garden

Location: Tras Link Park

Hidden Garden illustrates the co-existence of nature with the urban environment, much like blades of grass bursting forth through concrete — its tenacious growth a sign of its enduring vitality and pursuit of harmony.

The artwork presents resplendent inflatable flowers cling to the trunks of trees akin to living organisms, transforming the concrete jungle. Here, the man-made and natural are intertwined in symbiosis and forge a harmonious co-existence, with each lending support to and enhancing the other. The radiant display of colours is both a tribute to and jubilant celebration of biodiversity.

South Beach

Lumi

Location: Fountain Plaza, South Beach Avenue Level 1

Paying homage to Singapore’s maritime heritage, Lumi embodies the fluidity of meandering river paths and its state of perpetual flux.

This interactive installation invites play, connection and reflection within the bustling urban landscape. Tactile and immersive, it implores visitors to engage with one another and in the process, mould and remould the artwork in a shared act of co-creation. The repurposing of ordinary objects, such as yoga balls, demonstrates the transformative potential inherent in the mundane. Join in — to play, or to rest.

The Lantern

Location: Courtyard between South Beach Tower and The Grand Ballroom, Level 1

Nestled in the embrace of the city, the luminous pavilion emerges as a contemplation on the voracious cycle of consumption. Its gentle luminescence is an alluring invitation to be mesmerised by the sight of light dancing upon the water within.

Made out of over 5,000 upcycled plastic water bottles — a staggering quantity that mirrors the relentless pace of bottle disposal in Singapore recurring every 7 minutes — The Lantern is a sobering physical embodiment of our collective harm to the environment. Yet, by harnessing the beauty of these upcycled materials, The Lantern is also a symbol of renewal and a call for bolder, innovative design approaches to shape a more sustainable future.

Millenia Walk

Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness

Location: Millenia Walk (The Great Hall)

Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness juxtaposes the timeless archetype of a guru, traditionally a guide to attain spiritual enlightenment and happiness, with the contemporary pursuit of fulfilment.

Inside the ceremonial shroud, visitors are greeted by the Modern Guru, a translucent ovoid with four imposing large digital eyes suspended above a spiralling ring of LEDs. A stream of AI-generated absurdist messages flows from its mouth.

A new message reveals when visitors point the lens of their camera to capture a glimpse of the Modern Guru.

This installation is a commentary on the role that technology plays in shaping perceptions of fulfilment in the digital age.

Programmes

i Light River Cruise Shuttle Service

Festival-goers can view the water-based light art installations and those situated along the Marina Bay waterfront from a refreshing vantage point by hopping onto the i Light River Cruise Shuttle Service. Newly introduced by Singapore River Cruise and WaterB as part of this year’s Festival, the special shuttle service offers a seamless and scenic journey across the Bay where visitors on board can take delight in the enhanced vibrancy of the blue spaces and beautiful city lights at night.

The ticketed service will be available on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the Festival period.

GastroBeats

Location: Bayfront Event Space
Date: 31 May to 23 Jun 2024
Time: 4pm to 11pm
Fee: General admission to the Festival Village is free, while charges apply for selected activities

GastroBeats, the Festival Village of i Light Singapore 2024, will feature a wide range of gastronomic delights and musical experiences. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the inclusion of more sustainably-produced food options, including items cultivated through organic farming methods, locally-grown seasonal produce and ethically sourced meat. An enticing array of local and international cuisine ranging from Mexican tacos, Russian dumplings and prawn noodles awaits.

This year, GastroBeats will strengthen its sustainability efforts by using rechargeable batteries for selected lighting posts and in powering back-of-house operations. Solar energy will also be used to power air-conditioned “portaloos”, setting a new benchmark for eco-conscious event amenities. To encourage visitors to put into practice green habits, GastroBeats strongly encourages visitors to bring their own cup/flask/tupperware to reduce waste. Eco-friendly food packaging and utensils will be used and no plastic straws will be provided.

Find out more information on programme details here.

The Conscious Festival x i Light Singapore

Location: Various locations at Marina Bay (details on full activities and locations to be announced in May 2024)
Date: 31 May to 2 Jun 2024 | 7 to 9 Jun 2024 | 21 June 2024
Fee: General admission to The Conscious Festival x i Light Singapore is free, while charges apply for certain programmes

Embark on a journey of transformation at The Conscious Festival x i Light Singapore, a vibrant convergence of wellness, technology, leadership and eco-consciousness that strives to guide humanity towards a brighter future.

Grounded in the ethos of protecting the Earth with mindful governance, this festival event draws together a fervent community united in their dedication to the preservation of life and nurturing our planet for generations to come. It welcomes corporate and individuals to delve deep into technology, climate change and social impact, to explore the possibilities of future living.

From soul-stirring music performances to insightful talks and practical workshops, this event is nearly zero-waste, plant-based and carbon-negative, and considers itself a hub for motivational transformative action. Building on the success of previous editions including those in Hong Kong and Paris, The Conscious Festival is running its eighth instalment in Singapore, with an extended duration in partnership with i Light Singapore 2024.

At The Conscious Festival x i Light Singapore, sustainability is not just a theme — it is a way of life. Immerse yourself in seven days of activities devoted to sustainability and rediscover our intrinsic connections with one another and with the Earth that sustains us.

To find out more information on programme details, please visit this link.

*Photo Credits: i Light Singapore 2024