This week, there’s plenty to see and do in Singapore for various audiences. There’s of course the Harry Styles concert but for those who dig their techno parties, art and music collective Strange Weather’s putting on a banger this Saturday – we hear it’s their last party for the year (until October), so if you’re a fan, you’ll want to be there. More details below.
While they’ve only been around for a year, art and music collective Strange Weather has quickly carved out a reputation for great gigs that meld experimental techno sounds with experiential artworks. This weekend sees the collective putting on Upacara Kampret!, a gathering of regional musicians, performance and visual artists working in synergy with each other at a secret location in Singapore, which will be announced a day before the event.
Upacara Kampret! (which means ‘ceremony of the damned’ in Bahasa Indonesia) is a “cloud of collaborations”, according to the organisers, and there certainly are multiple creatives across music, art and craft coming together to storm our senses. There’s Uwalmassa from Jakarta, a trio known for their deconstructed gamelan sounds, technologist Alina Ling, who manipulates light and haptics to create interactive light installations, and avant-garde dance ensemble RAGAURA.
But if partying isn’t your jam, there’s also an art exhibition component. Curator Tulika Ahuja of Mama Magnet will be bringing the drawings of contemporary artist Arwin Hidayat to Singapore’s shores as part of the line-up’s Indonesia country focus. Artworks will be available for sale.
Get your tickets here.
Mar 18, 1PM – 3AM (Free entry for the art exhibition until 7pm. Entry after 7pm for Upacara Kampret! ticket holders only.) Mar 19, 1PM – 6PM (Free entry). Location to be disclosed tomorrow – follow Strange Weather on Instagram for more updates
Sometimes you just want a convenient one-stop-shop place to hunt for various objects. Well-made slow fashion garments. Plants. Bath towels. Elevated home scents. Artisanal beaded accessories, such as those by textile specialist Tanchen Studio (pictured above). Boutique Fairs is that candidate – this particular edition of the long-running event features nearly 300 local and international labels, of which more than 40 are making their debut at the fair.
Look out too for several emerging designers such as Karyn Lim, who fashions beautiful jewellery pieces out of wire and Syne Studio, known for their repurposed kimonos – they’re taking part as under the fair’s Young Designers Showcase Grant, which supports new names aged 18-30.
Get your tickets here.
Mar 17 – 19, 10AM – 8PM (till 6PM on Mar 19), at Singapore F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard
One of the newest galleries in town is WOAW, opened by Hong Kong-based multihyphenate Kevin Poon, who’s known for a diverse in fashion, art, coffeemaking and DJ-ing. The gallery is known for championing emerging Asia-based artists and favours a colourful, energetic vibe and their Singapore outpost’s second show continues that streak.
Titled Memories in Motion by Jade Kim, it is the Korean artist’s debut exhibition in Singapore. The animated character featured in Kim’s paintings, MIN, is inspired by and modelled after the artist’s wife for her endearing personality and the memories they share. The way that she is set against different landscapes reflects the transient nature of memory and its impact on one’s personal identity. As MIN goes through the ebb and flow of life, she becomes a symbol of stability in the midst of chaos.
Mar 18 – May 20 at WOAW Gallery, 4 Ann Siang Hill
If you’ve yet to check out Walk Walk Don’t Run – an island-wide open studio walk organised by independent art space Grey Projects – well you’re missing out. Artists, designers and artisans all over Singapore are opening their private spaces, especially for this programme, which will happen over four Saturdays in March, with each weekend focusing on a specific area. This feel-good programme was designed to foster spontaneity, informality, and open conversations with artists (hence the name Walk Walk Don’t Run, in which visitors are encouraged to take in things at a pace they’re most comfortable with).
This Saturday focuses on spaces found in the Northern area of Singapore and it’s the most jam-packed list of the entire four-week programme; it features 11 spaces in total, including SCULPTURE 2052, the newly opened gallery dedicated to the medium of sculpture, as well as Pinch, a studio run by artist Tricia Lim that offers ceramic classes to artists and beginners alike.
The latter will be displaying works by their students, but do keep an eye out for the cute hole-in-the-wall pop-up cafe at the back (pictured), selling coffee, baked goods, quirky ceramics and zines organised by artist Mike HJ Chang.
Check out the full list of participating studios and their addresses here.
Mar 18, 10.30AM – 6PM, various locations
Yes he’s finally here! The Grammy-winning singer’s long-awaited Love on Tour 2023 will be sweeping into town for a one-night-only gig. Styles is set to perform earworms such as As It Was, Adore You, Watermelon Sugar and Sign of the Times from his latest album, Harry’s House, and we’re hoping he brings his signature dazzling Gucci drip with him. More tickets have recently been released – good news for those of us who missed out on the initial release can now be part of the standing crowd upfront – is this where procrastination actually pays off for once?
Tickets are available here.
Mar 17, 8pm, National Stadium, 1 Stadium Drive