Marina Bay Sands will transform into a dynamic and energetic sanctuary for the arts with the highly-anticipated return of ‘Where Art Takes Shape’. Set to enliven the integrated resort from 18-28 January 2024, this festival will present a captivating line-up of activities across property showcasing the diverse and awe-inspiring facets of art, serving as a testament to Marina Bay Sands’ commitment to fostering artistic engagement and enriching public experiences in Singapore

‘Where Art Takes Shape’ has also been crafted to complement and bolster the upcoming season of art in Singapore through exciting platforms which will inspire, captivate and deepen cultural connections. Both art enthusiasts and the broader community can look forward to discovering exceptional contemporary art from around the globe at the region’s leading international art fair ART SG, encounter unique realms within the exhibition galleries and beyond at ArtScience Museum, experience a flavourful culinary world where food becomes art, and more!

“We are excited to launch the second edition of ‘Where Art Takes Shape’ at Marina Bay Sands, which celebrates art in all its forms – from architecture and haute couture to even Michelin-starred creations. Marina Bay Sands has always sought to foster a dynamic, accessible and inclusive space where art thrives and resonates with our diverse audiences. This festival is a culmination of our dedication to cultivating a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem, and we hope visitors from all walks of life will be captivated, surprised and inspired by the many ways art can take shape,” said Mr Paul Town, Chief Operating Officer at Marina Bay Sands.

At the forefront of this cultural extravaganza is Southeast Asia’s largest art fair ART SG. Held from 18-21 January 2024, it is poised to mesmerise attendees once again with its stunning showcase of artistic excellence from the best contemporary artists and emerging talent of today. Visitors can expect a stellar line-up of over 100 leading international galleries from 33 countries and territories all in one location at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. For more information, visit artsg.com. At the same time, ArtScience Cinema at Level 4 of ArtScience Museum will be screening two new film programmes which invite visitors to embark on an adventure through the captivating landscapes of speculative imagination.

Running from 18 to 21 January, ART SG FILM: EMBODIED PRESENCES features a selection of nineteen video and film works by seventeen artists from Southeast Asia and beyond. Selected by curator Sam I-shan, these moving image works are presented across three themed compilations of short films and a special feature-length presentation. Film highlights include Waiting for Commercials by Nam June Paik and Jud Yalkut, Songs for Dying by Korakrit Arunanondchai, and Future Shock: The End of Eternity by Su Hui-Yu.

Additionally, from 19 to 28 January, visitors can delve into aspects of the 20-year career of celebrated international artist Cao Fei with the film programme Technotopias: A Cao Fei Multiverse at ArtScience Museum. Having consistently contributed to the ever-changing shape of Asian futurism, Cao Fei’s practice extends to a series of critically acclaimed moving image works that encapsulate the Asian dilemma of progress versus culture which the artist often presents in the most mundane of settings. From Asia One commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum in 2018, to the dystopic miniature dioramas of La Town and finally, her most recent sci-fi epic Nova – all of which are making their Southeast Asian premieres in this programme – Cao Fei creates worlds that are both poignant and playful. Serving as a counter to Western-centric ideals of the future, the film programme also encourages dreams of a better future in an increasingly fractured society.

During the festival, visitors can also lift off into a spectacular season of science and science fiction with two exhibitions at ArtScience Museum. Mars: The Red Mirror immerses visitors in many extraordinary worlds as they journey through 12,000 years of culture, art, history and science about Mars from ancient times to the present day, while New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed uncovers new perspectives on the sci-fi genre through the lens of 24 women artists and collectives from Asia.

Additionally, the Museum’s VR Gallery will feature Samara by artist Hsin-Chien Huang. The award-winning and acclaimed experience invites participants to explore the concept of Embodied Cognition through virtual reality and interactivity, allowing them to see the world through different points of view, and come to a new understanding of humanity’s collective existence.

Bridging culinary delight with artistry, various restaurants across Marina Bay Sands will enchant guests with an assembly of over 40 newly created, limited-time cocktails and mocktails as well as bar bites in celebration of the wondrous world of art. Enthusiasts of art and gastronomy can explore both architectural marvels and contemporary art while savouring five distinctive creative tipples at WAKUDA Restaurant & Bar, including Oriental Poppies, an artistic expression of American modernist artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s love for complex and abstract paintings of flowers, as well as the Fushimi Inari Shrine and Statue of Liberty which have placed their cities – Kyoto and New York respectively – on the world map.

Meanwhile, LAVO Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar will present a playful twist with Giotto’s palette comprising six bar bites, such as Italy’s famous Summertime vitello tonnato starring cooked veal fillet and panseared beef, served alongside complimentary breadsticks that mimic paint brushes. Guests can pair them with cocktails named after Italian artists such as Stanchi, a watermelon-based drink celebrating the still life painter whose 17th century still-life painting included remarkable depictions of pears, peaches and watermelons, as well as Arcimboldo, a fruity concoction featuring lime, orange and peach as a homage to the artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo, who is most known for his imaginative painted portraits featuring fruits and vegetables.

Thereafter, visitors can experience an enchanting odyssey through the rich tapestry of the global art and culture scene, beginning their adventure with Bread Street Kitchen & Bar’s quintessentially English gin-based cocktails such as British Clover Club and The Queen’s Guard, and KOMA Singapore’s cocktails starring Japan’s prized produce culminating in the Silk Kyoho and Umeboshi Déjà vu. Visitors can also indulge in Mott 32’s oriental cocktails including the Campari Crystal and Spiced Firewater, Renku Bar & Lounge’s tropical-inspired cocktails and Yardbird’s Caribbean espresso martini with comforting classic American bites such as jalapeño poppers and smoked brisket cradled in a Chinese bao bun.

Meanwhile, CUT and Spago by Wolfgang Puck will offer their award-winning take on eclectic cocktails with limited-time concoctions such as the Portrait Potion at CUT and ARTisan Spritz at Spago, while Black Tap will showcase Duncan’s Brewing canned beers, which are eye-grabbing for their iconic beer label. These restaurants are also extending their operating hours till late throughout the ART SG weekend (18–21 January).

The Marina Bay area is also replete with an array of large-scale art installations created by various world-renowned artists. In fact, Marina Bay Sands is home to a collection of contemporary, worldclass art, with an art path that features 11 installations created by eight internationally acclaimed artists. With a map made available online, visitors are invited to set off on a self-guided art trail that offers an engaging and insightful journey, through the appreciation of public artworks as well as sustainability features that have been embedded across the property.

This map will also spotlight art installations around the bay, with the trail leading visitors on a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade and to the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. Whether one starts from Marina Bay Sands or other locations in the bay area, they will be able to learn how these artists fuse aesthetics with function, and personal expression with socio-cultural influences, to endow beauty and artistry within this urban jungle.

Visitors can also look forward to special nightly projections during selected evenings on the façade of Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum, which will be illuminated with a myriad of colours in a jubilant celebration of art.

Where Art Takes Shape takes place around Marina Bay Sands from 18th to 28th January 2024. More information available here