Voyage Night Festival - A night of fun at the museums

I love the museum. It's one of those places I love spending lazy Sunday afternoons at, going through the exhibitions and taking pictures along the way.

And if you talk about the museum scene in Singapore, you'd definitely think about the Night Festival, one of the largest event that stretches over a few days and is held mainly outdoors around a few museums.

The Night Festival is back again and this year, it'll be held on 26-27 August and 2-3 September. I was invited to the media preview and bring you news on what you can look forward to and the must-visit highlights.

The theme of this year's Night Festival is "Voyage", as a homage to our forefathers who arrived in Singapore through the sea ports, and then shaping Singapore into what we are today.

Look forward to traditional and contemporary music, song and dance, light performances, film, visual arts, all curated by Goh Ching Lee, Festival Director of Singapore Arts Festival (2000-2009) and Executive and Artistic Director of Culturelink.

Some of the performances that I got to preview yesterday:

Soundwalk by Simone Merli, Kamran Sadeghi, Dug Winningham
26 & 27 August only
7pm, 9pm and 12.15am
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
28 Aug - 1 Sep
10am-6pm
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
2 Sep - 3 Sep
10am-2am
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore

These three are New-York based international sound collectors. They collect the whir and murmur of port and human activity that can represent different cultures, languages and stories they encountered in their own journeys and present three different musical pieces - Ulysses Syndrome (hertzian frequencies along the shores of the Mediterranean basin), Rub' al Khali - "The Empty Quarter" (through the deserts of Yemen and Oman, and up the Red Sea, Persian Coasts and North East Africa) and The Passenger (the sounds in the Straits of Gibraltar, between Tarifa and Tangier).

My comments: It's interesting to know that the natural sounds of different places around the world can sound so different from each other. Whenever we talk about "sights and sounds', seriously, most of us focus on only the "sight'. This brings our attention to the "sounds" we sometimes neglect.

Black Sea Fire by The Shin
26 & 27 August
9.45pm
Singapore Management University Campus Green

The Shin comprises of a blend of talented musicians, singers and dancers to bring about a collage of traditions from Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Ukraine. The type of music that you can expect is a mix of jazz scat, funk and fusion, meets flamenco, Ravel and Shakti

My comments: These musicians created the atmosphere of "carnival". The passion that they exude as they present their craft is so infectious, I can't help but swayed to their music, all the while smiling and hoping I had a mug of beer in my hand.

The Shape of a Dream by Cake Theatrical Productions
26 & 27 Aug only
8pm, 8.30pm and 9.45pm
Singapore Management University Campus Green
Roving performance on SMU grounds

See the stories of Marco Polo, Cheng Ho, Vasco da Gama and their stories of adventure presented in the form of a lively song, dance and drama.

My comments: Comprising of imaginary elements, bright colours and visually engaging props, this might be something both the young and old can appreciate.

Corazon de Angeles in Paradise by Theater Tol
26 & 27 August only
10.30pm
National Museum if Singapore

Music, dance, film, acrobatics... rose petals and bubbles... this outdoor aerial performance is dreamy and very, very spectacular.

My comments: This is definitely the highlight of the festival, if you ask me. The costumes, performance, and the sheer massiveness of the set-up take your breath away. As we stood at the field and look up at the performers, none of us can stop saying wow.

Other interesting installations at Singapore Art Museum:

Projection of a growing rain cloud

Light performance in Volvo style

Jellyfishes in the court

The Night Festival will take place on 26 & 27 August, and 2 & 3 September, from 7pm to 2am, at National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum and SMU Campus Green. On 26 & 27 August, you can also visit The Peranakan Museum and The Substation for more programmes.

Click here for more information.