The Singapore River is a hotbed for F&B establishments that draw people after night falls. Today and tomorrow, there’s another reason to visit the area, and it goes beyond food and alcohol.
That reason is River Nights 2015, billed as an artistic extravaganza featuring performances, art installations and light shows. An event presented by the Asian Civilisations Museum, it doesn’t just celebrate the importance of the Singapore River to Singapore’s development, but also seeks to generate more interest in the area around Empress Place and Boat Quay.
In the words of Festival Co-Director Dr Lim Chye Hong, as quoted from a press release, “This is a place-making initiative to elevate Empress Place precinct to its rightful role in the fabric of Singapore, as a creative playground for both artists and visitors. Essentially this is about place as poetry, through the intervention of art. River Nights is also part of the pre-events leading up to the grand opening of the new spaces at the Asian Civilisations Museum in November.”
That’s right. ACM is coming back better than ever in November. (I can’t wait to see what’s in store!)
But back to River Nights 2015. What you can expect, in order of urgency, are:
1) Performances by local artists
You need to rush down to see these, as they are only held in the evenings of 23 and 24 October.
Pictured above: T’ang Quartet (photo by Olivia Cruciata)
If it hasn’t fully sunk in that it’s Halloween month, the T’ang Quartet is set to remind you of it. They present Music, Movies & Magic, where they provide music accompaniment to the short silent film classic, The Haunted House (1921) by Buster Keaton. It wouldn’t scare you, but it will provide some laughs. Watch it on YouTube without the music here and see how it transforms in the hands of the T’ang Quartet.
New Opera Singapore will also perform arias, which will please fans of classical music. And if you’re not a fan, you’ll still want to catch the Mandarin rendition of Habanera from Carmen. Yes, Mandarin. Classical opera in Mandarin.
Also being presented is a play, Sailing Past by Jonathan Lim, and an infectious percussion performance by NADI Singapura.
2) Artworks and light shows from international and local artists
Pictured above: Delight by Yves Moreaux (photo by Asian Civilisations Museum)
Judging from the enthusiastic response to the National Museum’s facade light-up at the Singapore Night Festival 2015, you’ll be happy to know that French artist Yves Moreaux has curated a light show, Delight, which will be played out on the facade of ACM. You might want to get there earlier to chope a good vantage point.
Pictured above: Les Voyageurs by Cedric le Borgne (photo by Asian Civilisations Museum)
Les Voyageurs by Cédric Le Borgne is another artwork that piques my interest. Consisting of seven larger-than-life “travellers” suspended at various locations along the river and illuminated with carefully planned lighting, it promises to be an ethereal sight that you can’t forget.
Kids will love 160 by Pierre and Joël Rodière. It invites you to interact with a light and sound installation consisting of 160 light bars spanning over 50 metres. A veritable playground in the making.
Pictured above: Parasol sketch at the Little Room of Wanders (sketch by Phillipe Dumas, courtesy of Hermès)
For those who prefer luxury over proletarian entertainment, ACM has also collaborated with French luxury brand Hermès to present you the Little Room of Wanders (no, it’s not meant to be Wonders). Take a walk through Emile Hermès very own, and very rare collection of albums and paintings, and feast your eyes on the objects that have become a permanent source of inspiration for the house’s designers. Here’s a taster: Check out Phillipe Dumas’ sketch for a parasol (above) – there’s something charmingly Da Vinci-esque about it.
Fortunately, you can view these until 31 October, so there isn’t any need to rush. Little Room of Wanders will be available until 31 December 2015.
All performances and artworks will be located around the Empress Place Precinct. For more information on venues and timings, visit the ACM website.
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