The biannually event, i Light Marina Bay have once again return to the perimeters of Singapore River. Held from 4 to 27 March of 2016, from 7.30pm to 11pm/12mdn, this free public event is bound to bring you more excitement and light installations.
The last time I went to i Light Marina Bay was in 2012 and I believed that it could be described as: Boring. The lack of interactivity and food stalls makes it a mundane event with lights being placed in an interesting position. Upon such monotony, I skipped the 2014 one.
When the 2016 i Light roll over, I was rather indifferent. I have no sudden urge to go the festival till I saw the festive guide on it's original website and saw a moon on the ground, a mirrored hexagon and most importantly, FOOD. Thus, it aroused my interest and curiosity about the festival and moon puns in my head.
As always, I downloaded the festive guide with the overview map to give me an outline of what to expect when I am there - Huge help I gotta say - and did some googling myself - for the pictures of the installations on the festive guide are not always true to it's installations on site. HOWEVER, what I get is the Top 5, 7 or 10 Installations which I MUST SEE during the festival. But I don't want to just see the TOP 5 OR 10 ONLY. I want it ALL!
Thus, I have created this post to show you ALL that is going on i Light Marina Bay 2016 this year before you decide whether its worthy of your attendance.
Before we start, allow me to show you the overview of the festival. As mentioned above, before heading off to the festival, I treated the festival guide/ map as my bible.Therefore, in this post, the official festive map shall bee our bible (photo above, you can download it Here)!
So basically, we'll be going through i Light's activities, it's 25 installations and what to expect when you are there. Do note, I did not take photo of all 25 installations. For those in which I did not capture, I would paint a visual picture of them using literal words :)
To make the map and my notes viewable, I have broken up the map into 3 parts:
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Area Marina Bay Sands, Installation 1 - 6
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Area Marina Bay Financial Center to One Fullerton, Installation 7 - 16
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Area The Float @ Marina Bay, Installation 17- 25
Click on the parts to skip to the topic.
Alright let's begin!
Area Marina Bay Sands, Installation 1 - 6
Before we start, for those of you whom are using light bulbs at home, you can exchange them for LED light bulbs here. Just bring your used bulbs for a 1-for-1 exchange at Information Kiosk B . Ok moving on.
The MBS Event plaza, Event Square and Bayfront Event space holds different events for different weekends of the festival. For the first weekend -the one which just passed- there was a Craft Beer festival and a Singapore International Jazz festival happening at the area. These two are ticketed event thus, I didn't attend.
However, for the subsequent weekends there will be free public events such as Pasarbella goes to town, Marine Waterfront Bazaar and Musical acts @ Festival Stage. Since I attended i Light Marina Bay on 6 March, I was not able to partake in these free event to tell you more but here are the details as stated in our Holy Bible:
KamPONG
Right in next to the Bazaar, there's these illuminate Ping Pong Tables with Ping Pongs and Paddles included. The Ping Pongs and paddles could be found in this built-in baskets under the middle of the table.
Do note: There are some tables where there are lack of the baskets or a paddle or a Ping Pong and there's nothing you can do about it.
However, if you did manage to get the full set at an empty table, I'll say go for it and have fun! Just beware of the flying Ping Pong balls from the nearby tables or maybe from your table too.
Held at the BayFront Event Space, i Light Carnival at the Bay is basically Uncle Ringo's heaven. Filled with games, rides and red bear balloons, the only thing separating it from a mini fun fair would be popcorn, candy floss and corn dogs.
Here's the overview of the carnival. Most of the booths in the carnival involved throwing all the stuff down and you'll win a stuff toy. However, there's also other booths such as darts and basketball. Rides includes the famous carousel, long slide etc. Oh there's a mini train ride within the carnival too - However, most of the train ride you'll hear lots of honking and see a train guard at the front to asking people to get out of the way.
Ok enough gabbing, photo album time:
1) Cycle House
As seen from the festive guide, the cycle house is basically a shelter place where there place a bicycle right in front of the small rectangle's opening and play Chinese KTV. Encouraging cyclist to sing and exercise at the same time!
Right next to it were these exotic bikes decorated with LED and many other stuff.
2) Light Walk
I guess they are overhead lights which was clearly outshine by the other exhibits on the ground.
3) Clockwork Stories
Basically, these are 5 interactive bubble blowing sculpture. That means you get to play a part in making the bubbles.
For this to work, the two person at each side of the pole have to cycle to pull the web up. and let the bubble be blown out by the wind. Thereafter, they'll stop cycling, the cobweb will drop down into the bubble solution and they'll cycle once again to make it go up. #TeamWork
So this involved the volunteer there to push the participants 360 degrees for the bubble to appear. Both sides have to lift the handles at the same time in order to see it's full effect.
There seemed to be soap solution at the bottom but no one seemed to be operating it and it's cornered off. So, red scary hands for you.
There's also a last one at the end of the Waterfront Promenade where it seemed to work as a swing. It looked interesting however, there were no lights to signify that installation was open and there were pails of soap and woks around. I guess that's just an under staff moment they had so that area was turned into an outdoor storage space for the time being. However, I guessed by the time you're reading this, that section of the installation will be operating so go make some bubbles!
4) Groove Light
Three words to describe the exhibit: Playing with shadows.
If you like to see how the shadows rotate, watch this short Instagram video (Can't embed Instagram codes in my post because Tumblr's HTML is being a Pain in the Butt)
5) The Unveiled Beauty
Fundamentally, this installation is hundreds and hundreds of tiny square flaps, which are being doodled on, screwed to a large wall. The flaps generate lights of a certain colour - Blue, Green, Yellow. So this flaps detect your motion and projects your shadow on the wall.
Beware: Wall is bright.
6) EmoGraph
I believed the description covers everything which is to be said.
By complementary soundtrack, they meant Beethoven and other classics. Plus you can see the flowery lights on the wall expand and contract.
Psst. Just for your information, the music and the heart pumping, can be heard from way over the other side of Singapore River.
Area Marina Bay Financial Center to One Fullerton, Installation 7 - 16
7) Bolt
True to it's name, this installation acts as a lighting bolt cutting the air till it reaches the bottom. Unlike the lighting bolt, this thunder starts from the bottom. Double click the blue button at the bottom of the florescent tube and watch the light zig zag across the tubes right before your eyes.
8) Torrent
Alike Installation 5, The Unveiled beauty, Torrent is powered on a huge LCD screen with motion sensors. The motion sensors react to the audiences movements and mimic it with an explosion of shapes and colours literally. However, unlike The Unveiled beauty, Torrent is a plain LCD screen without tiny small squares and doodles in your way. It is more like pop rocks. Even without any sound, it's explosion of lights are enough for you to form the sound effects in your head. Just try not to be blinded by the screen.
Right next to the Torrent exhibit is the Very Wishing Exhibition. This exhibition is what can be described the art of no exhibition at all. Why would I say that? Well, it aimed to turn the public into artists by putting the materials in their hands. Thus, the public can share their creativity with the world as well.
Upon reading that from this little tiny description box taken of the official webpage, I got curious and interested as well - after all I do explore the world of DIY during my free time. However when I reached there, what I see was people giving out glow sticks and light balls (or more like the public grabbing them from the boxes of the volunteers/staff there) and the public leaving with them. They don't look like they have any intention of being a designer.
Despite such heartbreak, there were still groups gathered around the "give out point", allowing the creativity to be unleashed #FaithInHumanityWasRestored
9) Marine Constellations
Basically, these are blue lasers shined from the nearby high rise building imitating the invisible lines formed by the constellations.
If you're more interested in actual stargazing then attend on the 12 & 26 March to look through the telescope and look for the Moon and Jupiter.
10) Shadow Bath
Shower Sponge / Hair Bun up-size? Oh and Do Not Touch!
Ever seen Old Chang Kee on wheels? Me neither, till today that is.
11) LampShade
This have got to be one one of the coolest installations in this festival. It basically hundreds and hundred of inverted lampshades installed to the ceiling of this shelter. In the middle of it, there's even a nest for you to sit and maybe take 10 selfies of yourself because of the wonderful lighting.
12) Angels of Freedom
Remember that stupid pair of wings in the Trick Art Museum which many just have to take a photo with it to prove that they are an angel? (No you're not an angel and neither am I. Having a pair of wings behind doesn't make us one nor does it make us fly. Try Red Bull instead.)
Now there are 4 of them; In different sizes and different colours of glowing lights. The picture above shows the Angels of Freedom which was exhibited in the Festival of Lights 2015. It's a similar piece which is exhibited in iLight Marina Bay - Yes the wings includes the Halo. I would post a selfless selfie of myself as an angel but many seemed to be hogging it I decided against being an angel.
It's located behind the Royal Tea Salon. You're able to spot them from afar, don't you worry.
13) Moon Haze
Ah, the reason why I am here. The moon installation. Do note that the moon is on the flat ground not water. No floating moon. Anyways, it's time for my moon puns - Caption and picture taken from @ireviewureadsh
"I love you to the moon and back ❤" "But now the moon is at Raffles Place, so you love me to Raffles Place and back ONLY?" 🌝🌚🌙🌛🌜 #RomanticMomentGONE #MoonOnGround #WalkToTheMoon #Moon #ilightmarinabay #ilightmbs #ilight #ilightmarinabay2016 #ilight2016 #ilightmoon
- Others want their photos without you in it too
- It's getting hot in there - Nelly (On a more serious note yes, it'll get stuffy and warm after awhile)
A photo posted by Tan Shi Hui | IreviewUread (@ireviewureadsh) on Mar 6, 2016 at 2:53am PST
"Look at the moon. It's filled with holes, flaws and dust but yet everyone still think that it's beautiful. Maybe it's a sign for us to stop our search for perfection and start accepting ourselves for who we are."
14) C'Scape
The basic idea of this installation is it's lines in the middle of it all will be shone and a landscape will be produced as seen at the back wall. I expected more walls to be built surrounding it considering there seemed to be more coverage in the festive guide.
15) Light Origami
This have got to be the ultimate selfie place. Filled with mirrors mirrors and mirrors I'm sure this generation of narcissistic people (like myself) would love it. However do try not to stay too long in there for
16) Lightscape Pavilion
This is one of the most precised installation of this festival for details of the graphics were very well cut. On top of that, each circle will filled with so many different scenarios that it's hard to keep up!
Just look at that tiny little acrylics and their fine details!
This is taken from the full tree circle
Area The Float @ Marina Bay, Installation 17- 25
17) Terra Glimmer
Totally missed this installation. However, from what I've researched, the Terra Glimmer is a river made out of sparkling stones.
The first thing right under the seats would be the kids zone. There are mini rowboats, pirate ship bouncy castle and some other bouncy castle. Definitely a kids/ manchild/ womanchild paradise.
18) Dandelion
Ever wonder what is a dandelion? Wonder no more:
Source | Picture taken from @ireviewureadsh Instagram
- Not recommended for the germaphobes for everyone will be touching them one after another.
- Do it slowly or esle you will feel dots dots and BAM a huge patch of something.
With such reference, we're going to look at the installation inspired by the dandelion. All relevant information reflected in the description by the artist.
19) Fissure
This interactive piece is basically 2 piece in one. For it to work. One person is supposed to place both palms on both sides of the panels. The panels will measure your heart rate and diffuse the light waves through the sculpture accordingly.
Please read the description before interacting with the sculpture or else you won't know what you're in for.
20) The Cloud
Maybe this are what clouds will looks like once they are forced to be man-made.
I spent the longest time trying to take a short of this installation without the man, only to realize that a human's curiosity being captured is one of the most beautiful photo ever. Why? For it expresses the fact that regardless of our age, we should never stop being curious. Never stop learning.
21) Unseen: Touch Field
It's a life size long metal tin which was being chopped off and elevated. At the side of the walls are covered in black and engraved with graphics of trees, bushes and some stories so that you are able to feel them and understand what is it like to lose your sense of sight - something which we heavily depended on. In the box, there's also sounds and a tv fixed to both sides.
Advice:
They say ground control, I say rocket.
22) Ode to the Wind
On the first look, these are a bunch of LED inserted in the middle of some really long bamboo poles and put up.
On the second look, I feel very short looking at the bamboos.
This art market is being held under the seats of the float nearing the Youth Olympic Park side. For those of you looking for built-in toilets, there are toilets here as well.
The market sells many stuff such as vintage cameras, handmade accessories, the cute Merlion plushie, watches, slippers, handmade cards, 24K gold rose, square mashmallows, lemonade and drinks of similar kinds, coloured bearded candy wrapped in coloured crepes/ popiah.
It's just amazing how much variety the booths are able to offer in such an enclosed environment. It's definitely worth a look.
This challenge only happens on 5 and 6 march where participants complete 10 different hands-on obstacles and get a certificate of completion after finishing it. From what I saw, obstacles includes rope climbing and push ups.
23) Sonic Tower
This tower is hard to miss. It is right next to the spartan circuit challenge or should I now say, the field on the float. It's a horizontal tower with blue lights following through it's bars giving it energy.
24) Ground Control to Major Tom
For this installation, you can take turns to go in and explore it's space. Not quite sure what's there to see for on the outside looking in, it doesn't seemed to contain much. But who knows! As they always say, the grass is always greener on the other side though for me, I'm very contented with the grass on my side.
Now for my one liner pun to this installation and maybe one other installation or a band (if you're into them;)) : A rocket to the moon.
25) What a loving & Beautiful World - Art Science Museum
Short story even shorter: Short art films projected on the sides of the Art science Museum.
Bonus Installation: Toilet Paper Roll Frantic
No. That's not the official name of this art work. We all don't know it's name. Apparently, it's not part of the i Light festival but it was just here at the right time and the right place for us to view. So here it is!
Just look at what beautiful patterns it was able to portray.
Conclusion
This year's i light Marina Bay was definitely more interactive then the previous years with Bubble sculptures and heartbeat machines. I do appreciate the carnival and addition of the food part. However, I believed that more staff are needed to help out and educate the visitors in regards to certain interactive installations.
There are definitely, many activities which you can partake and observe when you are there. You just have to download the Holy Guide and match the activities to the dates. If you were to go do remember, i Light Marina Bay 2016 is more of a weekend thing so do it during the weekends. Besides that, have fun and expect a moderate amount of human :)
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