The UrbanWire team heads down to i Light Singapore 2023 to check out the light installations and programmes on show. 

The annual i Light Singapore returns this year for its 9th edition with two new locations, in a bid to showcase the artworks to a wider audience. 

i Light Singapore is Asia’s leading sustainable light festival that showcases light art installations created by Singaporeans and international artists held in Marina Bay. The artworks are designed with environmentally friendly materials to encourage eco-consciousness in our everyday lives.

This year’s theme, titled ‘A New Wave’, features 14 installations by 22 artists from eight countries.  11 of these remarkable artists are representing Singapore, adding a touch of local brilliance to this global artistic showcase.

Mr Jason Chen, the festival director and director of place management at Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said, “A New Wave encourages festival-goers to reflect on the condition of our natural environment and our relationship with it, as we enter a new era of technology and advancement.”

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Location 1 – South Beach

One of the artworks at South Beach Avenue, titled: Bleached, connotes the future outcome of marine ecosystems impacted by both climate change and human activities.
One of the artworks at South Beach Avenue, titled: Bleached, connotes the future outcome of marine ecosystems impacted by both climate change and human activities. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.

We were captivated by this artwork as it was designed to detect our movements and touch, causing it to temporarily turn white, symbolically referencing coral bleaching. 

During an interview with Mr Chen, we asked him about his favourite showcase this year. While he could not make up his mind as it “is like asking a parent to choose a favourite child”, he highlighted an artwork by student artists from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and James Cook University, titled ‘Show III’.

Show III, is inspired by the conviction that showers are the ideal environment for self-contemplation.
Show III, is inspired by the conviction that showers are the ideal environment for self-contemplation. Image Courtesy of i Light Singapore.

“The experience of ‘showering’ without water is certainly unique, but more importantly, it serves as a reminder for visitors to reflect on their water usage,” said Mr Chen.

Location 2 – Millenia Walk

Prism, located at The Great Hall, is an interactive installation that utilises both natural and artificial light to generate a dynamic interplay of colours and spatial perception.
Prism, located at The Great Hall, is an interactive installation that utilises both natural and artificial light to generate a dynamic interplay of colours and spatial perception. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.
Festival-goers can take instagrammable pictures with these artworks.
Festival-goers can take instagrammable pictures with these artworks. Photo credit: Charis Joy.

Location 3 – Marina Bay

After visiting the two locations, we eventually arrived at Marina Bay, where a plethora of installations awaited us.

At Trumpet Flowers, festival-goers can experience creating a one-of-a-kind floral symphony as they engage with the interactive keys that control the towering musical and light instruments.
At Trumpet Flowers, festival-goers can experience creating a one-of-a-kind floral symphony as they engage with the interactive keys that control the towering musical and light instruments. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.
As visitors step beyond this threshold, their image will be projected onto the adjacent wall, symbolising the inexorable passage of time.
As visitors step beyond this threshold, their image will be projected onto the adjacent wall, symbolising the inexorable passage of time. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.
Our Web Designer, Charis Joy, hugging the Tree Man – an artwork that showcases the act of nurturing and connecting with our environment.
Our Web Designer, Charis Joy, hugging the Tree Man – an artwork that showcases the act of nurturing and connecting with our environment. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.
While there is a $5 fee to experience Turning the Tide, it was one of the key highlights for us as it prompted us to envision a future where human actions have irreversibly harmed the world around us.
While there is a $5 fee to experience Lightwave: Turning the Tide, presented by Alibaba Cloud, it was one of the key highlights for us as it prompted us to envision a future where human actions have irreversibly harmed the world around us. Photo credit: Charis Joy
Our Web Designer, Charis Joy, joined the Block Party – an installation where visitors can participate in collaborative community building through the joyful medium of dance.
Our Web Designer, Charis Joy, joined the Block Party – an installation where visitors can participate in collaborative community building through the joyful medium of dance. Photo credit: Neo Kai Ting.

Fun fact: As we were leaving the Block Party, the blocks on the projection bowed to us, as a way of thanking us for our visit. 

After a long walk, our visit ended with a bang when we visited the Glacier Dreams at the Façade of ArtScience Museum.

Glacier Dreams is inspired by both the beauty and the fragility of glaciers.
Glacier Dreams is inspired by both the beauty and the fragility of glaciers. Photo credit: Charis Joy.

Through the captivating artworks and programmes this year, Mr Chen hopes to inspire visitors to reflect on our natural environment and our connection to it, fostering awareness of the adverse impact of human actions.

He added, “As always, we hope visitors can have a great time and forge memorable experiences at the festival. At the same time, we also hope that the festival [will] inspire visitors to adopt sustainable lifestyle habits and become good stewards of our environment”. 

Overall, this year’s i Light Singapore festival was an enlightening and thought-provoking experience for us as it offers many captivating and interactive art installations that made us think about our environment and the roles we might play to be good stewards of it.

If you have yet to plan your weekend date, this festival is a perfect option especially since admission is free! However, charges may apply to certain programmes such as Lightwave: Turning the Tide, presented by Alibaba Cloud.

Jot down the details now so you don’t miss out on the fun! 

Admission: Free

Date: 1 – 25  June 2023

Venue: South Beach | Millenia Walk | Marina Bay

Time: Sun-Thu 7.30 pm-11 pm | Fri & Sat 7.30 pm-12 am