The best things to do in Singapore this week (May 20-26)

Even with the Paris 2024 Olympics happening a world away, Singapore is crafting its very own mini local version, with a twist. Fusing both art and sports is Artletics, a two-day event orchestrated by the Embassy of France and Art Outreach Singapore that will bring together urban sports athletes and street artists from both Singapore and France at the Somerset Skate Park on May 25 and 26, 2024. Art jam with local graffiti artists Zero, Spaz, Simpleproblembeings and French names like Elsa Martino, and Kekli as they revamp Somerset Skate Park; then catch French skateboarder Max Berguin and Singapore's urban sport communities in skateboarding, breaking, BMX, bike trials, parkour, and yo-yo showcases.

In the evenings, Singaporean DJs Kiat and Intriguant will lead the crowd at an urban rave, accompanied by food & beverages from Frozt, 1664, and Trifecta, along with energy drinks from Monster Energy to keep festival-goers energised and refreshed. And speaking of Trifecta, the surf-snow-skate facility will also be hosting its first Slope Pop-Wow Challenge as an extension of the festivities. The snowboard and ski challenge will offer visitors the chance to experience the excitement of winter sports, which have been a staple of the Winter Olympic Games since their beginning in France in 1924.

Spicing things up this week at Zouk Singapore is Latin Grammy-nominated DJ and producer duo, Afro Bros.  Let loose with their Afrobeats and Latin dance hits on May 21 – the eve of a public holiday – as part of the club’s line-up of guest DJs this month. Giordano Ashruf and Rashid Badloe, the duo behind the name, have worked with other iconic artistes like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, and Daddy Yankee to produce viral tracks, so you know you’re in for a great party. Get your tickets here. 

Enjoy the satisfaction of whipping up your own cakes at BELLS Baking Club, a sleek baking studio at Suntec City. Other than one-on-one sessions with professional chefs and masterclasses by culinary experts, the studio also offers free-and-easy ‘Bake-With-Tablet’ sessions, where you choose your preferred confection from their catalogue and follow step-by-step recipe instructions on a smart tablet – with pro chefs on standby should you need assistance along the way. Time Out readers can use the code ‘OPENING50’ from now till June 30, 2024 to get a $50 discount on baking sessions for selected cakes.

The timeless tale of Swan Lake graces the stage at The Theatre at Mediacorp this May, performed by the St. Petersburg National Ballet Theatre. For those unfamiliar with the famous ballet, Swan Lake follows the story of Princess Odette, cursed to transform into a swan by day, and Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with her. The highlight of the ballet is the black swan pas de deux, a dance filled with seduction, confidence, and of course, the 32 fouettés, a turn requiring the dancer to use her leg to whip herself around. This production of Swan Lake will also feature former soloists from the famous Mariinsky Theatre, so do not miss out on this spectacular performance.

Reward yourself for getting through the week with the flavour-packed Meat and Foie Gras Fest buffet at Ellenborough Market Café, available for a limited period of time from May 1 to June 30, 2024. The restaurant at Paradox Singapore Merchant Court will be serving up a meaty feast, along with decadent foie gras-infused items including mushroom velouté, crispy beancurd with minced beef sauce, and even crème brûlée. That aside, tuck into dishes from a range of cuisines such as Peranakan and more, along with seafood on ice and chicken shawarma hot off a live carving station. Enjoy this spread from Fridays to Sundays, from 6.30pm to 10pm – priced at $98 for adults and $42 for children. Find out more here.

Great artists transport minds and challenge perceptions, and Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is undoubtedly a master at work. Known for playing with elemental materials such as light, wind, fog, and water, he's lauded for creating unreal sensory experiences for viewers. The Southeast Asian debut of his survey exhibition brings together 17 of his works, a collection of his most renowned pieces, Singapore exclusives, and climate-centred art.

Titled Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey, the exhibition will take you through yellow-hued halls, across enchanting rainbows dancing in the mist, and marvelous spectacles of swirling fog. You'll also witness the gradual depletion of ice, represented by a bronze cast of a segment of ice sourced from an Icelandic glacier, and be one of the first to view The seismographic testimony of distance (Berlin–Singapore, no. 1 to no. 6) (2024), an ongoing seismographic sketch series tracing the voyage of his exhibition by sea. 

Learn more about Chinese culture in Singapore’s local context with the two-month-long cultural festival, Cultural Extravaganza 2024. Presented by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, this festival is happening from May 8 to June 30 2024 and follows the theme of (Re)presenting Our SINGAPO人 Treasures. Highlights include the free art exhibitions showcasing works by local cartoonists and students, along with musical performances featuring childhood rhymes and folk songs that will take you down memory lane. Theatre buffs shouldn't miss Essentially Macbeth, a play following the lives of ex-drama club members as they put together a production of the Shakespearean classic in Mandarin, presented with English surtitles. Find out more and book your tickets here. 

You might have seen a particular blue-maned unicorn appearing all over your Instagram feed as of late. This magical creature is part of none other than the Jentle Salon pop-up – a whimsical fantasy land created specially to mark the third collection co-created by luxury Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster, and Jennie of popular K-pop girl group Blackpink.

The pink-washed pop-up is located within the Gentle Monster's Marina Bay Sand store at level B2, and will be running until June 30, 2024. Entry is free, and you’re more than welcome to snap photos with the installations; Show up dressed in girly pastels to match the installations for bonus Instagram points.

Find out more about the Jentle Salon pop-up in Singapore.

On the back of its brand and menu refresh, one of Asia's 50 best bars Nutmeg & Clove is throwing a mega 10th annivesary bash. From May 26 to 30, it's slinging a series of guest shifts and bar takeovers with award-winning bartender friends from all around the world – complete with live DJ sets, performances, and food menu collaborations. 

Look forward to a different flavour every night as bartenders from Paris, London, Hong Kong, China, America, Columbia, and Taiwan take turns to shake up a storm. The series spins through prominent names: CopperBay (Paris), Drink Kong (Rome), Bar Leone (Hong Kong), Penicillin (Hong Kong), Hope & Sesame (China), Hanky Panky (Mexico), Lady Bee (Peru), and Alquimico (Cartagena). It all culminates in a Nutmeg & Clove reunion, when the greats that first laid the foundation of the bar – Marian Beke from The Gibson, London; Kae Yin from WU, Taiwan; Colin Chia, CEO of Nutmeg Collective – come together for a celebratory trip down memory lane.

The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) returns from May 17 to June 2, 2024, following the theme They Declare. Don’t miss out on The Prose And The Passion, a collaboration between Singapore theatre-makers Haresh Sharma and Chong Tze Chien where characters created by English novelist E. M. Forster come alive to interact with characters from Sharma’s imagination. Other highlights include Singapore visual artist Genevieve Chua’s Wilful Machine; and a 90-minute live adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick by Norwegian theatre troupe Plexus Polaire, a  performance that employs filmic techniques, captivating puppetry, and clever stagecraft to manipulate the audience’s perspective.

Singapore may be tiny, but we pack lots in terms of culture and history. To get brilliant insight into that, check out the many workshops, tours, trails, and exhibitions lined up for Singapore HeritageFest. This year’s theme focuses on ‘reliving the stories that connect us’, bringing you into the untold stories of our city’s oldest buildings and landmarks. Get your steps in on walking tours of iconic landmarks in Singapore’s downtown district and ‘abandoned’ buildings like 37 Emerald Hill. You can also hop on a bus tour through cultural neighbourhoods, or explore Peranakan shophouses and traditional businesses in Joo Chiat. There’s more, including access into restricted areas of the former Supreme Court, exploration tours of historical venues, and exhibitions dedicated to our national monuments and conserved buildings.

Check out the full list of programmes here.

Frida Kahlo, the world-renowned Mexican painter, needs no introduction. Regarded as one of the most influential female artists of the 20th century, she is celebrated for her self-portraits that delve into themes of identity and the human body.

There will be three different segments with nine spaces filled with 360-degree projections, interactive installations, photographs, and films. You’ll be able to trace her artistic journey, starting from her early years as a young girl. The show will also touch on her medical journey – one that isn’t widely discussed about. There’ll also be virtual reality experiences for you to truly step into her shoes and see the world from her point of view.

Stay tuned for the exact dates, and join the waitlist for ticket sales here.

Following up its inaugural series with grentperez, Block A is back at Pasir Panjang Power Station with Platinum-selling indie-pop star Ricky Montgomery. This is a different sort of party, combining dreamy vibes courtesy of Ricky’s emo-tinged tracks with a blossoming sense of community presented through art, food, and merchandise. Details about this edition’s booths are yet to be announced, but the debut edition in March had canvas painting workshops, a library from Chio Books, and a variety of food and drinks. Ricky will also be supported by hongjoin, an emerging local talent known for his tender indie tracks.

@adultsdoharddance, @hyperfocus, and @subplotsystems politely invite you to jiggle some cake and pop some lady bits at Live Laugh Love Riot, which they describe as a juxtaposition of the “cunty energy of a Geylang nail salon” and the “haunting dark aura of your sleep paralysis demon”. What we hear is that it’s going to be a night of no-holds-barred irreverence, perfect for those who need a safe space to let loose. Helming the decks are a host of talent from Singapore and beyond – @ch6rry.peroxide, @hainafromchina, @mynameisbulma, and @tikkoii – at the similarly contrasting izakaya-by-day, club-by night Iki by Ikigai.

It’s time to zoom in and tickle your mind at Japanese artist Tatsuya Tanaka’s first ever exhibition in Singapore, small Muji exhibition – Enjoying Everyday Items, held at Muji’s flagship store in Plaza Singapura. For those that aren’t familiar with the artist, Tanaka-san is best known for his playful miniature works where he toys with everyday objects to create tiny elaborate everyday life scenes. 

In the artist’s works, an everyday vegetable such as broccoli can be creatively reimagined to become a tree, and an orange becomes a miniature sun. Keep this concept in mind as you check out his works where he'll ingeniously use Muji items to breathe life into familiar scenes, providing a unique take on the brand's classics. It’s honestly hard not to let out a chuckle when encountering his works. There will be 19 miniature works displayed in total, where some of the creations will take inspiration from Singapore’s landmarks. 

Experience the magic of the Northern Lights at Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove. From May 4 onwards, a spellbinding outdoor installation called Borealis will light up the Supertrees in a display reminiscent of the polar lights you'd normally have to travel to Iceland, Sweden, or other far-flung regions to witness. It's the work of Switzerland-based artist Dan Acher, who has ingeniously layered light beams and cloud particles to create a mesmerising dance of light and colour. Coupled with an atmospheric score by French composer Guillaume Desbois, Borealis promises to be an out-of-this-world experience. Admission is free – find out more here.

Many know the tale of The Little Prince, but perhaps not much about the writer behind it. This is where Alliance Française de Singapour steps in to shine the light on the author-pilot Antoine de Saint Exupéry, and pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of his disappearance.

Divided into three sections, ‘Adventurer’, ‘Writer’, and ‘WWII Hero’, the show will take guests on a journey through his life’s milestones to uncover hidden facts about The Little Prince, and discover how significant elements in the story reflected his personal life. 

This exhibition will showcase a rare collection of exclusive artefacts, including manuscripts, handwritten letters, original sketches and personal belongings, on loan from the Saint Exupéry Foundation. One of the notable prized artefacts is Exupéry’s engraved name bracelet, discovered at sea in 1998 on the site of his tragic plane crash towards the end of the Second World War.

Apart from the showcase, there will be 17 screenings for audiences of all ages to indulge in – from a documentary to a movie introducing children to the extraordinary world of The Little Prince. There will also be six workshops featuring activities such as coloured sand drawing and wooden plane building, talks exploring various aspects of travel by journalist Lise De Rocquigny, and a sharing by renowned writer and illustrator of children’s books, Satomi Ichikawa. And to top it off, Singaporean comedian Hossan Leong will also be delivering a storytelling session.

Find out more about the exhibition here.

Celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of Europe at the annual European Film Festival. This year’s edition features 24 films from 24 countries, offering a variety of perspectives and insights into histories that are representative of Europe’s shared cultural heritage. Opening the festival is Here, directed by Belgian filmmaker Bas Devos, a film about the deep human desire for connection in a world of transience and movement. Other highlights include 125 Years Memory from Turkey, which won Best Art Direction at the 39th Japan Academy Film Prize, and Norway’s Dancing Queen, a coming-of-age film delving into themes of romance and girlhood.

Check out the full list of films and purchase tickets here. 

Taste The World is a month-long culinary festival organised by the travel brand Gourmet Trails to celebrate Singapore's culinary scene and all its international food offerings. From May 4 to 26 2024, seven restaurants will be participating in a series of events and offering special lunch and dinner sessions (from $180), where proceeds will go toward the United Nations World Food Programme. They are: Appetite, Hashida, Cure, Canchita, Esquina, Ummi Beirut, and Anju. For the opening day on May 4, epicureans can look forward to an intimate lunch experience and dialogue on world cuisines ($300 per person) presented by Michelin-starred chef Ivan Brehm of Nouri and Appetite.

The Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum have joined hands to present Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection, an exhibition that features fukusa, which are beautifully embroidered luxurious Japanese silk gift covers. You can also find kimonos and other related textiles from renowned collector Chris Hall, who holds one of the most valuable collections of Asian textiles in the world. Uncovered varied ways of life that completely differ from ours, a variety of auspicious symbolic motifs such as lobsters and cranes, and how the politics of dress influenced fukusa design in the late Edo period. Don’t forget to stop by the interactive station where you’ll be able to virtually design your very own fukusa.

Those who love tulips will be pleased to know that Gardens by the Bay’s Tulipmania will be returning to the Flower Dome this year. In honour of its 10th edition, the floral display pays homage to its inaugural showcase in 2013. The tulips will once again be planted in rows of singular colour, much like the iconic tulip farms in the Netherlands. Adding to the charm, the display will feature a blend of traditional Dutch landscapes with modern elements, including windmills and watermills, alongside innovative features highlighting urban farming and clean energy initiatives.

Find out more about Tulipmania here.

Discover your signature scent at Chanel Parfumeur: A Fragrance Experience, happening from April 26 to June 2 at CQ @ Clarke Quay. The fashion house is inviting members of the public to explore Les Exclusifs De Chanel, a fragrance collection that expresses chapters of Gabrielle Chanel's life. Dive into the inspiration behind the 19 individual scents and snag a preview of the range's newest fragrance. If you like, you can also take a personality test to discover your unique olfactory character or try the 15-minute Le Quart D'Huere Alchimique personalised fragrance experience to figure out your signature Chanel scent.

Chanel VIPs could also be invited to an exclusive Chanel Parfumeur Masterclass, which brings you deeper into Chanel's library of scents. Hear stories about Chanel's iconic fragrances and the ingredients that go into each bottle from fragrance experts from the house, or pick up styling tips from Chanel on how best to wear its fragrances. On the second floor of CQ @ Clarke Quay, you may also step into immersive experience spaces inspired by Chanel's iconic fragrance Chanel N°5. Walk-ins are welcome, but it's best to make a prior booking here. 

Get acquainted with French arts and culture right here in Asia at the vOilah! France Singapore Festival. This year’s edition undertakes the theme ‘Celebrating Passions’, and is supported by more than 50 local and international partners. Highlights include the readapted Molière play, Tartuffe: The Imposter, staged by Wild Rice, and a tribute to 1940s French musical icon Edith Piaf, aptly titled Piaf!. Fans of The Little Prince by French author Antoine de Saint Exupéry are sure to enjoy Saint Exupéry: A Legacy, an exhibition which retraces his journey with original artefacts, screenings, readings, and conferences.

From April 12 to May 31, 2024, A Trail to Chase will feature 29 multidisciplinary functional art – think everyday furnitures with a twist – created by renowned artists like Fernando Mastrangelo, Charlotte Kingsnorth, and Vincent Pocsik. Visitors are invited to go on an introspective journey to uncover narratives and contemplate the interconnectedness of our world through extraordinary creations. As you traverse the gallery space, explore the beauty of shifted perspectives, where nature's allure meets modern innovation, while tracing the invisible routes of art's journey, uncovering stories of cultural heritage and art.

If you’ve seen the widely-discussed artwork featuring a banana taped to a wall that sold for over a hundred thousand dollars, then you would know that there are no boundaries in modern art. This inevitably leads us to the pressing question: What exactly is art? With this question in mind, take a trip to the National Gallery’s latest show, Figuring A Scene.

The exhibition is divided into six segments: ‘Shadow’, 'Fruit’, ‘Fire’, ‘Air’, ‘Wax’ and ‘City’. These different points of focus hope to further aid our understanding of the displayed works beyond its historical or societal contexts. 

For example, in the segment ‘Fruit’, the show examines the diverse portrayals of the King of Fruits, Durian, throughout several mediums of art – from sculptures to paintings and photographs. With each medium offering its own unique point of view, visitors can reflect on its status during colonial times and uncover how this fruit has evolved into an iconic symbol of Singapore's national identity.

For more information, visit their website here.
Download the e-catalogue here.

Explore a curated selection of 30 paintings by artist Cheong Soo Pieng, completed from the 1950s to the 1980s. Visitors can venture through the space segmented into three sections that will answer the following questions: “What makes a painting?”, “When is a painting complete?”, and “What is painting?”.

This exhibition is a special one as it is the first in Southeast Asia to utilise material analysis such as x-ray scans and infrared photography to unveil fresh insights into Cheong’s artistic processes. Visitors will be able to dive into Cheong Soo Pieng’s art journey and learn more about the ins and outs of his practice such as materials used, art approaches, and untold stories and ideas.

Film fanatics, don’t miss out on ArtScience Museum’s upcoming exhibition Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful. Curated by ACMI (Australia’s National Museum of Screen Culture), Goddess will uncover 120 years of moving image history featuring stories, costumes, sketches, interactive experiences, as well as the pillars behind these wonderful masterpieces. Indulge in a special collection of over 150 costumes, artefacts, and objects, curated to depict captivating visual stories of women in film. Dive into never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, archival materials, projections, and authentic costumes to reveal the untold stories of these stars.