In January 2023, the multidisciplinary public arts festival ARTWALK will return to the vibrant streets of Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat.
Jointly organised by LASALLE College of the Arts and Singapore Tourism Board, with the support of Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, ARTWALK 2023 will take place from 6 to 15 January 2023 with a full on-site programme after two years.
Through artworks such as wall murals, workshops, live music, and performances, the festival aims to surface the vibrance of the local heritage through these multisensory art experiences. There will be four new murals in Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat by Laurie Maravilla (SPAZ), Mural Lingo, Mohammed Zulkarnaen Othman (ZERO) and Soph O.
This ninth edition of ARTWALK explores the theme of Echo — how culture, heritage and traditions reverberate in all directions like sound waves. The metaphor of an echo reminds us that culture is in constant flux, never stagnant. ARTWALK 2023 calls on audiences to envision the various ways culture could grow from here by relooking at the cultural heritage and bringing these spaces and histories alive through the reflections and impressions of contemporary artists.
Performances
Rachel & The Rempah Runaways: A Dinner Theatre Experience
This is a pop-up dinner theatre experience in Katong-Joo Chiat that promises a fun and fully immersive experience for everyone.
Combining the best live theatre with a delectable five-course meal by Peranakan Inn, performers will regale audiences with the whimsical story of Rachel and The Rempah Runaways, involving a girl, garlic and chill that explores Peranakan history and cultural identity.
By Strawberries Inc.
8 January 2023 | 1:30pm and 6:00pm
Peranakan Inn
More here Rachel & The Rempah Runaways: A Dinner Theatre Experience
Liminal States is an experimental piece that acts as both a fixed installation and the focal point of a durational performance. A structural piece will be made by the artist – remaining incomplete. Throughout the period of the festival, dancers — physical manifestations of a sound wave — will perform and leave imprints on the murals, leaving a remnant of their presence and performance there.
The piece reflects Little India’s constant state of transition. Like a growing organism, the precinct is never static. Every stimulus thrown in leaves its mark there. As an installation, Liminal States highlights the liminal nature of our interactions with strangers, as well as the idea that spaces — and places — are made by the people who interact with them.
While the visual artist sets the intention of the physical installation, the dancers are ultimately the ones determining its final outcome. The piece thus grows and evolves, both as a reflection of the artist as well as the dancers who interact with it.
By LASALLE College of the Arts Diploma in Dance students
7 and 14 January 2023 | 4:30pm
Poli @ Hindoo Road
More here Liminal States
Celebrating ARTWALK’s return to the streets with a bang, Damaru is back for its third time as part of the festival's programme, this time with a refreshed and contemporary twist to their performances.
Watch Damaru up close and personal as they drum up a lively performance on the streets. Adding an element of surprise, each performance comes with its own twist, be it martial arts, zumba or even music. Don’t miss out on this crowd favourite.
By Damaru Singapore
13 January 2023 | 7:30pm
Campbell Lane
7 and 14 January 2023 | 4:30pm
Campbell Lane
More here Ala'parai
This site-specific piece will be performed through music, dance, poetry and theatre at various stops in the Little India district. A pair of dancers and a pair of percussionists will bring to life mythical characters as well as explore metaphysical binaries ubiquitous in myth.
Southeast Asian performance art has historically presented stories such as the Ramayana or Mahabharata in dance, music and puppetry. These epics can also be seen represented in sculpture or reliefs. The artist seeks to continue the timeless tradition of reinterpreting these and other stories in a contemporary setting and allowing them to reshape the way we view Little India.
Through the telling, retelling and recreation of myth through various performance modes, this piece aims to examine the role of narratives and stories in the placemaking of Little India and Singapore. The performance is framed with the dancers and musicians performing in pairs, enabling dialogue and conversations between classical and contemporary forms.
By Mark Nicodemus Tan
6 and 13 January 2023 | 4:30pm
More here Origin
Experiences
Even before the first rays of the sun are visible on the horizon, at least 10 million Indian households sweep and clean their door entrances and draw picturesque and colourful designs called rangoli or kolam outside their houses.
The word rangoli is derived from rangavalli – (rang meaning colours and valli meaning creepers) so Rangavalli means a row of colourful creepers. It is generally believed that rangoli/kolam are drawn to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, into the house and also to ward off evil spirits. These designs evoke a sense of geometry, creativity, sensitivity and beauty and is considered an important form of artistic expression.
As an art form, rangoli/kolam teaches one patience, endurance and determination. It also enhances creativity, concentration and confidence. Ms Vijaya Mohan will be conducting hands-on rangoli-making workshop as well as a share of its history and significance, from its origins to the practices here in Singapore.
By Vijaya Mohan
6 and 13 January 2023 | 1:00pm
More here Rangoli Workshops
Celebrating the Harvest: Cultural Tour and Experience
This year, the harvest festival Pongal takes place from 15 to 18 January. Participants will be immersed in the traditional practices of the festival as Kamini shares stories related to Pongal, as well as delve deeper into four to six different types of Pongal rice dishes that are traditionally prepared. Participants will be invited to eat and taste the different rice dishes while gaining a deeper understanding of the role of rice, harvest and beliefs in Indian culture.
They will also learn about the main ritual of boiling milk to celebrate Pongal. This ritual relates directly to the Serangoon Road area's history of cattle and dairy trade, as well as the symbols of cows and cattle that can be found in the precinct. Myths and folklore related to cattle will be shared that will contextualise the precinct's history.
By Kamini Ramachandran
7 and 14 January 2023 | 6:30pm
More here Celebrating the Harvest: Cultural Tour and Experience
This private boutique tour, set within Kim Choo Kueh Chang’s premises, will provide attendees with a smorgasbord of experiences. From food sampling of treats to a Peranakan shoe beading demonstration, this boutique tour will give insight into the lesser-seen facets of the Peranakan lifestyle in Singapore. Treats sampled include mini Nyonya, mini Nyonya kueh, and pineapple tarts.
Fashion designer Mr Raymond Wong will also lead a shoe beading demonstration, introducing attendees to basic concepts underlying Peranakan beadworks. Participants will gain the basic skills necessary to not only create a small piece of beaded design but even venture towards completing a kasut manek (Peranakan beaded shoe). Through this tour, attendees will learn more about Singapore’s Peranakan heritage, particularly within the context of its presence within Katong-Joo Chiat.
7 and 14 January 2023 | 2:00pm
More here Peranakan Boutique Tour
Whether you're a journaler or scrapbooker, everyone can partake in the therapeutic craft of stamp-making. In this workshop by Artefakts, attendees will learn the basic techniques of carving their very own stamp, one that is wholly unique to them.
Spend your weekend detoxing in a quaint art-jamming environment — a great way to channel one's creative energy. Get the chance to interact with like-minded craft enthusiasts and relieve stress while also discovering the childhood artist within.
No arts experience is required to participate. Sessions are limited to 12 participants to maintain a cosy, personal and friendly vibe. Bring a friend for company and try stamp carving together, or go alone and delve into profound inner thoughts while crafting your own self personalised stamp.
By ARTEFAKTS
15 January 2023 | 1:30pm and 5:00pm
More here Stamp Carving Workshop
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