Artwalk Festival from Jan 6 to 15 will showcase artwork at Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat

After being held in online and hybrid formats for two years, the Artwalk Festival will return in full physical form from Jan 6 to 15, 2023. 

Organised by LASALLE College of the Arts and the Singapore Tourism Board, this will be the ninth edition of the annual festival.

The festival will take place in Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat and feature local artists specialising in various disciplines.

Here’s a look at some of the things you can look forward to seeing at the festival:

Origin, a performance led by Mark Nicodemus Tan, will involve music, dance, poetry and theatre at different stops in the Little India district. The performance will bring mythical characters to life. 

Also in Little India, Liminal States is a performance by LASALLE Diploma Dance students and senior fellow artist Milenko Prvački.

It is an experimental piece that acts as both a fixed installation and the focal point of the performance.

Liminal States reflects the constant state of transition and highlights the liminal nature of interactions with strangers, and the idea that spaces are made by the people.

Kamini Ramachandran, a LASALLE alumnus, will give visitors an immersive cultural tour and experience.

In celebration of Pongal, a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community that takes place on Jan 15, visitors can have a gastronomic experience at Village Curry.

They can try out different Pongal rice dishes and learn about the spices and intricate detail that go into making each dish. 

They can also soak in the atmosphere and murals while on a walking tour of Little India.

Mural Lingo, a Singapore-based studio that works at the intersection of arts and technology, will showcase their work titled Tapestry of Saree 2040. 

The piece reimagines the traditional method of making sarees.

Mural Lingo aims to create a socially and environmentally conscious society, one wall at a time. 

They have previously been commissioned by the National Arts Council and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Their piece will be located at 68 Serangoon Road.

Vijaya Mihan will host a Rangoli Workshop where participants can learn the history and significance of the origins of this art form, as well as the common practices associated with it.

The word Rangoli is derived from Rangavalli, rang meaning colours and valli meaning creepers, so Rangavalli means a row of colourful creepers.

It is generally believed that Rangoli/Kolam is drawn to welcome Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth into the house and also to ward off evil spirits. 

Artworks by Soph O, Zulkarnaen Othman, commonly known as Zero and Laurie Maravilla, better known as SPAZ, will also be displayed during the festival.

Soph O’s abstract mural titled  “Anatomical Reverberation; Recollections of you from a distance” celebrates the ambiguities and randomness of life.

The mural will be located at 471 Joo Chiat Road.

Zero’s piece, Dekat di mata, Jauh di hati, which translates to “close to the eyes, far from the heart”, reflects the changes to Joo Chiat over time, and an acceptance of its inevitability.

His artwork is located at 266 Joo Chiat Road.

Last but not least, SPAZ’s piece Baoli Reverb explores the unseen side of cultural and heritage work as well as the importance of a proper, organised human intervention.

Her work is located at the Indian Heritage Centre.

The full programme lineup will be announced closer to the date of the festival via Artwalk’s website and socials.