Sonictower. Photo: The Straits Times

 

The fourth edition of the i Light Marina Bay festival, a sustainable light art event organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, is taking place right now and runs till March 27. Admission is free. Twenty-five artworks light up the Marina Bay waterfront area, mainly across three venues – The Float @ Marina Bay, Marina Bay waterfront promenade and The Promontory @ Marina Bay. The theme of sustainability and environmental concerns underscores the works, from the issues they explore to the materials they are made of.

Here are 8 highlights of i Light Marina Bay 2016.

 

1) SONICTOWER

Artist: Zulkifle Mahmod (Singapore)

What: Inspired by city life, sound artist Zulkifle's work is made of scaffolding and accompanied by a melodic composition of sounds usually heard at a construction site. The 15m-high installation is made up of 320 solenoids (electromagnetic devices) and LED lights.

Where: The Float @ Marina Bay

 


Photo: The Straits Times

2) BOLT

Artist: Jun Ong (Malaysia)

What: Architect-artist Ong was inspired by the form and behaviour of lightning when he created the piece.

The interactive artwork, which triggers a lightning effect when a button is pressed, not only mimics the ethereal nature of physical phenomenon, but also creates a tactile, visceral connection that adds the human touch to our increasingly virtually connected world.

Where: Marina Bay waterfront promenade

 


Photo: The Straits Times

3) LAMPSHADE

Artist: Snohetta (Norway)

What: Made of bamboo, this installation by architecture and design firm Snohetta not only acts as a shelter during the day, but also uses solar-powered lamps that light up intensively at night.

After the festival, the lamps will be donated to off-grid communities in Myanmar and the bamboo will be recycled.

Where: The Promontory @ Marina Bay

 


Photo: i Light Marina Bay 2016

4) TORRENT

Artist: Brandon Tay (Singapore)

What: This site-specific work by motion and interactive designer Tay captures the movements of viewers using sensors and transports them into a dream-like, often abstract, landscape projected onto a screen.

The artist hopes that passers-by will stop to think about the physical landscape of the reclaimed Marina Bay area.

Where: Marina Bay waterfront promenade

 


Photo: The Straits Times

5) CYCLE HOUSE

Artist: Hafiz Osman (Singapore)

What: The installation artist, inspired by elderly male cyclists he has seen using LED-lit bicycles in Marina Bay, has created a form of mobile housing that combines a bicycle with a sheltered platform.

There are two versions of Cycle House – one stationary and the other mobile. The mobile version, which will be cycled by the artist and a group of LED bicycle enthusiasts on weekends, comes with a functioning karaoke system, which visitors can use.

Meanwhile, the stationary bicycle is parked permanently near Marina Bay Sands. Visitors can pedal it to power up the LED lights attached.

Where: Lower boardwalk, near Bayfront South jetty

 


Photo: i Light Marina Bay 2016

6) MOON HAZE

Artists: Feng Jiacheng and Huang Yuanbei (China)

What: The artists created the work in response to the quality of air in China. While it does represent a full moon, the work also functions as a monitoring system for air pollutants, as its brightness depends on good air quality. The work demonstrates the close relationship between human beings and the environment.

Where: Marina Bay waterfront promenade

 


Photo: The Straits Times

7) WHAT A LOVING & BEAUTIFUL WORLD – ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM

Artist: teamLab (Japan)

What: This multisensory interactive experience by interdisciplinary creative group teamLab encourages the public to co-create the artwork.

By accessing the website ilight.team-lab.com with their smartphone and selecting different Chinese characters by swiping on them, the character will appear on the facade of ArtScience Museum, followed by a visual representation of the word. For example, selecting "bird" will result in the Chinese character for "bird" appearing, followed by a flock of birds flying across the building. Selecting "thunder" will trigger thunder, while also appearing to scare the birds away.

Where: ArtScience Museum

 


Photo: i Light Marina Bay 2016

8) TERRA.GLIMMER

Artists: School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Singapore Polytechnic (Singapore)

What: Made of pebbles coated with phosphorescent, or glow-in- the-dark paint, the artwork has light-emitting properties without using electricity. The piece is inspired by Japanese zen gardens and encourages visitors to reflect on issues such as man's reliance on fossil fuels.

Where: Near Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

 

Event details

WHERE: Marina Bay waterfront promenade

WHEN: March 4 to March 27, 7.30 to 11pm, till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays

ADMISSION: Free

INFO: www.ilightmarinabay.sg

 

(First published in The Straits Times.)