Mark your calendars! On 27 January 2024, the Aliwal Urban Art Festival (AUAF) is returning to the streets of Kampong Gelam, Singapore, as part of the vibrant Singapore Art Week 2024 (SAW 2024). Organised by local creatives and communities, the eighth edition of this electrifying event promises to celebrate the growth of urban art in Singapore.
Celebrating the Growth of Urban Art
The festival has long been a platform for celebrating Singapore's unique urban art scene, and 2024 is no exception. This year, the festival puts the spotlight on the evolution of urban art, particularly the graffiti and street art movement that has been gaining momentum in Singapore.
Urban art collective and Aliwal Arts Centre (AAC) tenant, RSCLS (pronounced ras-kuhls), presents a special exhibition titled The 10 Year Series - Retrospective of 10 Years of AUAF Art, Solidarity Movement, Rebel Daughters. This exhibition offers a decade's worth of archival works and images, providing visitors with a retrospective view of RSCLS' past programmes and collaborations with other artists and collectives. Check out the video below for a taste of their energy and approach to urban art.
1. Live Graffiti Battles and Street Art Galore
One of the festival's most anticipated events is GraffFIGHT X, a graffiti competition where finalists will battle it out for supremacy in live painting sessions. The AAC grounds will come alive with vibrant and dynamic artwork, creating an immersive experience for attendees. Additionally, the popular D’Tour returns, offering an alternative walking tour through the Kampong Gelam precinct, where larger-than-life murals and street art installations await exploration.
2. A Diverse Palette of Performances
The festival will be a feast for the senses, with a diverse range of urban art activities spanning visual arts, dance, and music. Energetic performances by percussion ensemble NADI Singapura and improvisational theatre group The Improv Company will grace the three-storey arts centre. Furthermore, dance performances by Kalpavriksha Fine Arts and Chowk Productions will captivate audiences, followed by post-performance artist talks.
For those eager to explore self-expression through theatre, movement, and art, workshops led by Nine Years Theatre, The Improv Company, Chowk Productions, and DASSAD are available to participants. Additionally, AAC tenants will open their studios to curious visitors, offering insights into their practices and creative works.
3. Pop-Up Market and Hip-Hop Beats
Visitors can also explore the Pop-Up Market, where a curated selection of one-of-a-kind creations by local artists and creatives await discovery. As night falls, the festival shifts into high gear with hip-hop music acts that groove to the beats of dynamic street dance duo ScRach MarcS, who will close out the night with their Re:Union Party, set against the backdrop of Kampong Gelam's graffiti and street art.
Part of a packed visual arts calendar that includes SAW 2024, AUAF is a celebration of the rich and diverse urban art scene in Kampong Gelam. There’s no better way to spend the last Saturday of January!
You can find more information on AUAF 2024 and the complete programme lineup here.
All images are credited to Arts House Limited.
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