One of the biggest grievances Singaporeans seem to have with being from such a tiny island is the lack of “fun” activities. It turns out that there are a finite number of times one can walk the malls or visit the museums before things start feeling dull. Fret not, this weekend, you won’t have to worry about what to do with your precious free time. Starting today, the 2024 edition of Singapore Design Week (SDW) will be open to the public, all the way to 6 October. This year’s edition of SDW spans over 80 different showcases and exhibitions, peppered throughout the island, in three distinct design districts.
Of course, SDW is driven and helmed by those who have a passion for the design and arts scenes. But what this year’s SDW aims to do is to make things more accessible to the general public. Case in point: the theme of this year’s festival is People Of Design. The 2024 iteration of SDW brings together both designers, artists and curators, as well as everyday people. All these different works and explorations are on display at various venues in Singapore, for everyone to interact with. The three design districts are Orchard, Marina and Bras Basah.Bugis, which also happens to be home to the National Design Centre.
So if you’re looking for something meaningful to spend your weekend doing, this is it. Trust us, many of these different works will tickle your brain and invite you to see things through a whole new lens. Ahead, we selected some of the most interesting showcases to check out at this year’s Singapore Design Week.
Bras Basah.Bugis
In the Bras Basah.Bugis district, there are 10 site-specific installations and activities to explore. Each installation is themed by an action—to read, to eat, to sleep, to shop, for example. This rich zone of art, culture and education contains many promising exhibitions that will give you a different perspective on everyday life.
Read: Book?
Helmed at the National Library in Bras Basah, this installation invites visitors to reconsider the relationship we have with physical books, especially in the era of the digital. Across four levels of the library, there are interactive installations where you can examine what a book really is, without the distraction of its content. How does one hold a book? Is the spine the only way? How does the texture of different finishes impact the feel of a book? Can a magazine come with a hardcover, as opposed to the traditional soft paper that allows for quick browsing? All these questions and more are examined and put under the spotlight for visitors to discover. Time to reacquaint yourself with the very idea of books.
Eat: Transformative Seeds
EAT, housed in the National Design Centre, explores the roles of humble seeds. From looking at ways to reimagine the endless possibilities of processing seeds to even exploring methods of creating sustainable clothing out of seeds and their by-products, this exhibition aims to showcase the diverse options that come from natural resources.
Orchard
Known as Singapore’s famed shopping belt, most don’t know that the Orchard Road area used to be a nutmeg plantation. Tapping on the history of the district, the artists and curators have come together to reintroduce different parts of Orchard to the public, beyond its luxury retail stores and spunky cafés.
Re-Route Chairs Reimagined
This funky exhibition that sits in Far East Plaza is a whimsical visit back to the past. This exhibition invites play and fun, utilising these iconic chairs that used to be found at hawker centres all over Singapore. Though these plastic chairs may not be as commonplace these days, Re-Route: Orchard draws inspiration from these age-old elements. Bits and pieces like this keep Singapore’s culture alive, but they also prompt the question, what truly is Singaporean culture? How is it embedded in our design, architecture and art?
Re-Route Pocket Park
Right outside 313 Somerset sits a collection of bright blue furniture. They’re all there courtesy of Re-Route: Orchard. Their location is no coincidence, they sit right at the cross-junction of Somerset and Orchard Road. Regarded as one of the buzziest intersections in town, the benches and stools encourage us to pause and ponder. Take the time in the space to not only slow your day down, but also consider what once used to sit where you now sit.
Marina
The Marina Bay is not just for tourists or folks from the CBD. That’s what SDW is showing visitors this year, at least. From the Neufolk Design Pavillion at Millenia Walk to installations at Suntec City, this bustling area is where you need to be to experience some of SDW’s best showcases.
Anyhow Seat
This visual escapade transports you back in time—just look at the tiled seats scattered around . A true blast to the past, this interactive exhibition space invites visitors to contemplate how tradition can be brought into contemporary times, without losing significance. Design is not always about changing things up, sometimes it’s just about striking up a conversation.
Reimagining Retail Experiences
Artists and local brands have come together in this retail-meets-design project. A total of six artists and art collectives have been paired up with local labels to redesign and reinterpret what the retail experience can truly look like. This project not only delves into what physical spaces can look like, but it also considers wholly different approaches to customer journeys and contributing design elements.
Find out more about Singapore Design Week 2024 here.
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