094116Q (Group 4)
The night was silent and the darkness punctuated only by occasional flashes of light from hand-held cameras. With a soft hisst, strategically placed mist-machines released their contents onto the grounds. It was 10.30pm on the 16th of July, and the first unveiling of the Paraboles 2.0 in Singapore has begun outside the National Museum of Singapore.
The Paraboles 2.0 was the highlight of Singapore Night Festival 2010, which took place from the 16th to 17th of July.
The festival is collaboration between Peranakan Museum, Singapore Arts Museum, The Substation, SMU and National Museum to showcase and interact with people through highly engaging and interactive performances.
Paraboles 2.0 is an outdoor performance presented through the collaboration between Singaporean video artist Victric Thng and Compagnie Off, all the way from France. The performance involved the use of 6 gigantic satellite dishes to capture different radio wavelengths and playing them out.
Coupled with video projections and accompanying musicians, an eerily beautiful abstract experience is produced.
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Paraboles 2.0 was not the only thing to look forward to for the festival. There are many other acts and performances from artists all over the world.
Take for example: (No)Bleeding Hearts Club is a non-media based platform aiming to involve audiences through the use of video, sound and visual installations. Putho! is a circus act from Cambodia which put up an exciting performance with acrobats flying gracefully through the air as they used stunts to illustrate a story.
One can visit the cheeky carnival-like Abusement Park at the SAM. Drink from the blood-red Fountain of Youth and explore the dungeons where artworks by NAFA Arts students were displayed. They even had their own currency there.
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“I hope that sponsors allow more events like this. Orchard Road is a little dead after hours and it would be more interesting if there are more extensive events like this,” commented one visitor as she sat with her sister beside The World’s Slowest SMS Billboard.
It never gets boring with so many things to see and experience. The Peranakan Museum hosted interesting workshops for people of all ages and The Substation put up music gigs by local bands. Take a break and try out the Peranakan food sold outside the Peranakan Museum.
Catch Roving Artists, artists like Andree Weschler set up random performances anywhere and anytime outside The Substation. Take up a spray can or painting brush and unleash your creativity on the canvas between the Museum and Substation for the Community Mural Project.
Catch Roving Artists, artists like Andree Weschler set up random performances anywhere and anytime outside The Substation. Take up a spray can or painting brush and unleash your creativity on the canvas between the Museum and Substation for the Community Mural Project.
Colourful sights and interactive performances are what dominated the festival.
“It was such a good performance that no words can describe it. I personally felt that people should learn to appreciate these kinds of art performances more. There were a lot of camera flashes and it was disturbing for others who want experience the performance,” said a rather disgruntled Ms Goh as after squeezing out of the crowds streaming away from a successful performance of Paraboles 2.0.
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