Hi Huneybees,
In its fifth edition, ARTWALK Little India, an annual multi-disciplinary public art project set in Singapore’s iconic Little India precinct, returns with this year’s theme of Image and Sound of Fragrance.
Take a walk on the streets of Little India and rediscover the vicinity through multisensorial artworks as the walls of Little India gets washed with new bright colours, giving it the vibrancy with the celebration of the arts.
From 18 January to 2 February (the longest run of the festival to date), there will be performances by Kathak guru Jyotika Joshi, an exhibition by various artists at UltraSuperNew Gallery, dance performances by Kathak guru Jyotika Joshi, theatrical storytelling by Kamini Ramachandran and mural paintings and artworks by students of LASALLE this year to bring to life the rich sights, smells and sounds of the community.
Many of the performances and workshops are free, and the popular guided tours by Monster Day Tours are nearly fully booked! Huney'Z World did a preview of the festival highlights and here's a little highlight to help you plan what your route around Little India...
1. In the Clouds (Park 22 Hotel – 60 Kerbau Road, Singapore 219184)
Take Exit E from Little India MRT Station, and turn two rights into Kerbau Road, where many colourful shophouses lie. At the back of the black-and-white colonial-style Park 22 Hotel is this sprawling, similarly monochromatic mural. Created by an individual local artist who goes by the name “Speak Cryptic,” “In the Clouds” intertwines flowers often used in Indian garlands with the patterns commonly found on sarees, making an intricately beautiful forest out of the Indian women’s traditional outfit.
2. A Scent of Lights (20 Clive Street, Singapore 209778)
Located near the Indian Heritage Centre is a towering mural that beautifully captures the burst of life that is Little India. Can you smell the flowers, the spices, and the incense, still burning in little flames? Can you hear the gold bangles clinking?
3. Tracing the Line (POLI Site, Clive Street)
You can find “Tracing the Line” placed just beside the mural from 2017 of a young woman in a dupatta scarf. Step into this cart-like work and take a look around. Archival photographs from the early years of Little India are repurposed into new images detailing the history of migration and labour in the community. There will also be performances happening and interacting with the art – dancers from LASALLE will put on interpretative pieces to embody the stories told by the artwork.
4. Little India Sound Sculptures (UltraSuperNew Gallery – 107 Rowell Road, Singapore 208031)
End your walking tour on a high note by visiting UltraSuperNew Gallery, a recently opened art gallery space with a bar and restaurant. For the festival, it’s hosting a special exhibition of artworks again integrating all the vibrant sensory experiences of Little India. Right at the door, you’ll be greeted by this majestic sculpture piece by award-winning artist Dipali Gupta. Through 3D modelling, printing and heat moulding, she captures the shapeless memories and cacophonies of Little India in unique waves and slopes.
5. Traditional Trades of Little India (Belilios Lane)
Head over to busy Belilios Lane and it’s hard to miss this very large piece by Psyfool called Traditional Trades of Little India which features various Indian tradesmen that can be found in this area. There is the parrot astrologer who uses a parrot to pick fortunes, a garland maker who makes these fragrant flower chains, Kacang Puteh man who sells the street snacks, and of course the dhobis – washermen and women for which the Dhoby Ghaut area was named for!
Take a walk on the streets of Little India and rediscover the vicinity through multisensorial artworks as the walls of Little India gets washed with new bright colours, giving it the vibrancy with the celebration of the arts.
From 18 January to 2 February (the longest run of the festival to date), there will be performances by Kathak guru Jyotika Joshi, an exhibition by various artists at UltraSuperNew Gallery, dance performances by Kathak guru Jyotika Joshi, theatrical storytelling by Kamini Ramachandran and mural paintings and artworks by students of LASALLE this year to bring to life the rich sights, smells and sounds of the community.
Many of the performances and workshops are free, and the popular guided tours by Monster Day Tours are nearly fully booked! Huney'Z World did a preview of the festival highlights and here's a little highlight to help you plan what your route around Little India...
Take Exit E from Little India MRT Station, and turn two rights into Kerbau Road, where many colourful shophouses lie. At the back of the black-and-white colonial-style Park 22 Hotel is this sprawling, similarly monochromatic mural. Created by an individual local artist who goes by the name “Speak Cryptic,” “In the Clouds” intertwines flowers often used in Indian garlands with the patterns commonly found on sarees, making an intricately beautiful forest out of the Indian women’s traditional outfit.
2. A Scent of Lights (20 Clive Street, Singapore 209778)
Located near the Indian Heritage Centre is a towering mural that beautifully captures the burst of life that is Little India. Can you smell the flowers, the spices, and the incense, still burning in little flames? Can you hear the gold bangles clinking?
You can find “Tracing the Line” placed just beside the mural from 2017 of a young woman in a dupatta scarf. Step into this cart-like work and take a look around. Archival photographs from the early years of Little India are repurposed into new images detailing the history of migration and labour in the community. There will also be performances happening and interacting with the art – dancers from LASALLE will put on interpretative pieces to embody the stories told by the artwork.
4. Little India Sound Sculptures (UltraSuperNew Gallery – 107 Rowell Road, Singapore 208031)
End your walking tour on a high note by visiting UltraSuperNew Gallery, a recently opened art gallery space with a bar and restaurant. For the festival, it’s hosting a special exhibition of artworks again integrating all the vibrant sensory experiences of Little India. Right at the door, you’ll be greeted by this majestic sculpture piece by award-winning artist Dipali Gupta. Through 3D modelling, printing and heat moulding, she captures the shapeless memories and cacophonies of Little India in unique waves and slopes.
Head over to busy Belilios Lane and it’s hard to miss this very large piece by Psyfool called Traditional Trades of Little India which features various Indian tradesmen that can be found in this area. There is the parrot astrologer who uses a parrot to pick fortunes, a garland maker who makes these fragrant flower chains, Kacang Puteh man who sells the street snacks, and of course the dhobis – washermen and women for which the Dhoby Ghaut area was named for!
6. I Am Still Here by Dyn (5 Clive Street)
ARTWALK Little India 2019 runs from 18 January – 2 February 2019, with programmes and activities happening on Fridays and Saturdays, 6:00pm – 9:30pm. Details can be found on http://artwalklittleindia.sg, where a digital version of the festival guide is also available for download. Members of the public can pick up a copy of the festival guide at the Indian Heritage Centre or Sate Kelinci Pak (event main ground).
Guided Tours by Monster Day Tours: Sign up at https://artwalklittleindia2019.peatix.com/
Self-guided tours: Available through the Locomole app on mobile devices, on both the App Store and Google Play store.
Self-guided tours: Available through the Locomole app on mobile devices, on both the App Store and Google Play store.
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