Billing itself as the world’s “first convenience store to promote inconvenience”, the [Not-So] Convenience Store is a cute space conceptualised by local creative agency Kinetic Singapore that hawks products that emphasise environmental responsibility. Beneath the facade of a typical convenience store, you can find plenty of reusable options here, such as compost bins, carrier bags, toolkits for DIY fixes of home appliances and devices and more. You can even drop off old electronic items for e-waste recycling here.

Much akin to how others pay the price when one shops for fast fashion (read: garment workers who get paid unlivable salaries), the point here is to illustrate that there is a price for everything, including a convenient lifestyle. “Convenience is a big part of modern life; unfortunately, so are its effects. Globally, the volume of waste exceeds two billion tonnes every year. Singapore alone generated over seven million tonnes in 2019, enough to fill more than 14,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” says Astri Nursalim, creative director at Kinetic Singapore. “With The [Not-So] Convenience Store, we want to tell people that there is a price to convenience.”

On now till March 30 at the National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road

It’s not a stretch to say that most people’s sense of time has been distorted lately, especially by the ongoing pandemic. Artist Dawn Ng‘s tackles that topic with her signature sensitivity with her new exhibition, Into Air. Much of her practice builds on a sense of “holding on” to certain moments in life – be they significant or just small, everyday things. The works in the exhibition were created over a span of three years, and they are a continuation of her preoccupation with time and are the results of her attempts to capture and convey their emotional resonance.

Set in the cavernous backdrop of a former ship repair warehouse, Ng’s poetic works stand out such as this print titled Walk with Me Suzy Lee Through The Park and by The Tree comprising a block of frozen pigments. This, along with the other works dotted throughout the space, alternately capture the various ice blocks as they move through different states of being – from solid to liquid to air and back again.

On now till Feb 21 at 2 Cavan Road 

Aside from the traditionally popular light shows projected onto buildings’ facades, there are many things to take in at the Light to Night Festival. With the open-ended theme of “____-in-Progress” this year, you can now take in art through more diverse channels and avenues than ever. For example, this year’s edition brings art to commuters on the move for the first time, where five contemporary visual artists – Danielle Tay, Dave Lim and Adar Ng, Ezekiel Wong, Joanne Pang, and Tang Ling Nah – have installed artworks on trains plying the North-South and East-West lines.

New initiative Gallery Gigs is intended to spotlight local talents across different disciplines and will feature an exciting mixture of online and on-site performances. In its online series, for example, artistes including dance duo Scrachmarcs, hip hop artiste Yung Raja, and filmmaker Victric Thng utilise the empty museum space to create unique performances inspired by the art in the National Collection.

For those who prefer experiencing the art in person, there are many works to be found throughout the Civic District, including this installation There in the Middleness by industrial designer Nathan Yong (pictured here), which comprises of 125 concrete I-beam blocks engraved with uplifting words gathered from the public. You can find it on the Padang grounds. For the full line-up of events and works, head here.

On now till Jan 31 at various locations