The annual Singapore Art Week (SAW) is just right around the corner. This is one of my favourite Singaporean festivals, so I’m so excited to participate again—and to convince others to join in as well. 

SAW is a ten-day celebration, from January 17 to January 26, 2025. This is the 13th year of the festival, and several locations are participating, namely

• Singapore Art Museum 
• Tanjong Pagar Distripark
• Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center
• National Gallery Singapore
• Civic District
• New Bahru Factory
• Aliwal Arts Center
• Gillman Barracks

SAW celebrates the visual arts created by both local and international talents, and each year has its own theme. This year’s tagline is “Art Takes Over,” which is all about embracing diverse artistic expressions across different mediums and disciplines.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Singapore Art Week (@sgartweek)

From: sgartweek

Expect to find over 130 events spanning different locations for this year’s SAW. One of my most anticipated events is “Yee I-Lann: Mansau Ansau,” which explores Southeast Asian Indigenous narratives. 

There will also be exhibitions held at the Singapore Art Museum that I’m excited about. In particular, I’m looking forward to “Seeing Forest” because it’s supposed to be an immersive commentary on Singapore’s ecology and environmental history. 

There’s also the “We’re Happy. Are You Happy?” gallery by well-renowned artist Teo Eng Seng (born 1938). This gallery is said to compose a variety of his creations, reflecting his tongue-in-cheek takes on his life and global issues.

You might also want to check out Civic District at night because it will be lit up with light projections! Of course, the district will also have small art installations and fun programs to engage in.

During the tail end of the festival, on January 24 and 25, “Art After Dark” will be held at Gillman Barracks’ Carpark B. This is a concert featuring several local artists, so you can let loose and dance until dawn. 

There are still many things to be excited about for SAW, so better mark it on your calendar. The best part is that most of the events are free! You only have to pay a small fee for select exhibitions, such as the one by Teo Eng Seng.