i Light Singapore celebrates 10th edition with “eco-tastic” art and extended experiences across Marina Bay and neighbouring precincts

i Light Singapore (iLSG) returns for its 10th edition from 31 May to 23 June 2024 to light up Marina Bay and neighbouring precincts. Organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the footprint of Asia’s leading sustainable light festival has expanded further in this milestone edition. Beyond Marina Bay, South Beach and Millenia Walk, iLSG will also be arriving in Tanjong Pagar for the first time.

The engaging line-up of artworks and programmes for iLSG 2024 is the result of continued collaboration with many partners – event organisers, sponsors and precinct stakeholders – and will feature 17 artworks by 25 artists. This year’s Festival is inspired by the theme of Cyclical Nature and the colour green, a wavelength on the visible light spectrum¹ that symbolises nature and our environment. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in contemplative and interactive artworks that explore the endless potential of everyday objects for re-design, restoration and repurposing. 

“Since its inception in 2010, visitorship to i Light Singapore has grown from over 400,000 to almost 2 million in recent years. The over 200 eclectic light art installations and exciting programmes presented to date would not have been possible without the partnership with our community stakeholders and sponsors. Their strong support has enabled the Festival to not only blossom into a signature showcase that transforms Marina Bay into a vibrant destination for visitors from all walks of life, but also provides a platform to foster greater public awareness on environmental issues and promote cultural exchange amongst artists from around the world. This edition marks another milestone as we have onboarded more partners who share our passion for art and sustainability. We look forward to inspiring more visitors to shape a sustainable future for all through i Light.” said Mr Lim Eng Hwee, Chief Executive Officer, URA. 

Delve into the beauty and wonder of Cyclical Nature 

At the main festival grounds at Marina Bay, visitors can explore an immersive world of light art installations that offer unique perspectives on pertinent environmental issues. 

At the Mist Walk, Spin Me a Yarn by United Kingdom-based Studio Vertigo will feature larger-than-life yarn balls that are intertwined with its surroundings, signalling how yarn preparation by the fashion industry contributes significantly to global pollution. The artwork reminds us of the need to reverse unsustainable practices that underpin modern lifestyles. Another creative take on the theme of circularities is Kinetic Perspective by Spain-based Juan Fuentes Studio, located at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza. Made out of upcycled iron remnants from industrial sources and inspired by optical illusions, the circles in the installation move continuously to create infinite combinations, transforming the familiar into something extraordinary.

Spin Me a Yarn by Studio Vertigo

  Kinetic Perspective by Juan Fuentes Studio

Near the Red Dot Design Museum, Liminal;Minimal by Singapore University of Technology and Design students Benjamin Lim and Yeo Soon Yii will be installed using repurposed materials from building sites and spotlights the issue of construction waste. Juxtaposed against the cityscape along the Marina Bay waterfront promenade, it serves as a reminder for more sustainable practices in the face of rapid urban development.

Liminal;Minimal by Benjamin Lim and Yeo Soon Yii

Immerse in aesthetic and interactive artworks at satellite locations 

For the first time, iLSG will bring its artworks to the Tanjong Pagar precinct, in partnership with Discover Tanjong Pagar (DTP)². Around Guoco Tower and Orchid Hotel, visitors can marvel at BottleBlooms by Singaporean artist Yun. The artwork is a captivating display of solar-powered plastic blossoms upcycled from approximately 1,000 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from a public collection drive, demonstrating the transformative potential of discarded materials. 

BottleBlooms by Yun

At the DTP Community Green, visitors can delight in Kickit Team Tennis, an interactive light installation by Hungary-based artist collective Limelight. Two teams of up to five-a-side can put their agility to test in a game reminiscent of tennis, where players on two ends kick the illuminated balls and send delightful light paths across a field. Over at Tras Link Park, Hidden Garden by Koros Design will feature trees dressed up with light art inflatables that resemble different flower species, as a tribute to the beautiful flora and fauna in our city.

Kickit Team Tennis by Limelight

  Hidden Garden by Koros Design

Returning as a satellite site this year, South Beach will play host to Lumi, a dynamic artwork shaped like a meandering river by art collective 65 SQM @ SUSA SPACE. At the Fountain Plaza, visitors will be invited to sit on illuminated yoga balls wrapped in upcycled net fabric where they can move them around and play, rest and interact with others. South Beach will also feature The Lantern by Josephine Pun Tsz Kiu from the National University of Singapore, a luminous pavilion ingeniously upcycled from over 5,000 plastic bottles, symbolising renewal while serving as a sobering reminder of the waste we generate. 

Lumi by 65 SQM @ SUSA SPACE

  The Lantern by Josephine Pun Tsz Kiu

Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness by ENESS

Located in Millenia Walk – also a returning satellite site – is the larger-than-life Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness by Australia-based art and technology studio ENESS. This artwork brings visitors on an immersive journey featuring whimsical inflatables, before meeting the Modern Guru who reminds them to seek contentment in the present.

Join in an array of exciting programmes to embrace sustainable living 

In addition to feasting their eyes on artworks, visitors can also participate in an array of exciting programmes that promote and celebrate sustainable living. For the first time, iLSG has partnered sustainable lifestyle event The Conscious Festival³ to introduce a series of wellness workshops, transformative talks, a bootcamp for conscious leadership, music performances and an outdoor marketplace. At The Conscious Festival x iLSG, visitors are invited to reflect on mindfulness and rediscover connections with one another as well as the Earth that sustains us.

The popular Festival Village GastroBeats will make its return with a plethora of culinary delights and musical experiences at the Bayfront Event Space. This year, a wide range of more sustainably-produced food items will be on offer, such as The Curry Club’s Mumbai Pav Bun made of mixed vegetables from organic farms and locally-sourced buns; Papi’s Taco’s Yaca Pibil Taco that uses jackfruit as a unique meat alternative; and the Braised Pork Spring Roll by 8 Degrees Taiwanese Bistro stuffed with locally-sourced tofu, black fungus, mushroom and egg.

In line with the Festival’s commitment to sustainability, plastic straws will not be provided and visitors are encouraged to bring along their own reusable cups, flasks and storage containers. Visitors can also enjoy the convenience of solar-powered air-conditioned “portaloos” provided onsite for a comfortable and sustainable restroom experience.

More details of the artworks and programmes can be found in the Annex [PDF, 585 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab) [PDF, 586kb], while the full line-up of the Festival will be announced next month. 

iLSG 2024 will be held from 31 May to 23 June 2024, 7:30pm to 11:00pm daily with extended hours to 12:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free while charges apply for certain programmes⁴. Visit www.ilightsingapore.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab) for more information.

¹ Since iLSG 2022, each edition of the Festival is anchored on a colour from the visible light spectrum, which comprises different wavelengths that symbolise ways of seeing and understanding the world. 

² Discover Tanjong Pagar is a private-sector led partnership formed by property owners in the precinct to carry out placemaking of the precinct. It is set up under URA’s pilot Business Improvement District programme, an initiative that supports collective efforts by precinct stakeholders to create vibrant districts across Singapore.

³ Organised by Singapore-based sustainability lifestyle brand Green is the New Black, The Conscious Festival is an experiential series of events that navigates the issue of humanity's future through wellness, leadership, technology and consciousness. The Festival will hold its eighth edition in Singapore this year and has previously also travelled to Hong Kong and Paris. 

⁴ More information on ticketed programmes will be shared in May 2024.