Marina Bay Sands celebrates ART
Find out how Marina Bay Sands weaved art into every corner of the integrated resort during the inaugural ART SG
Where Art Takes Shape at Marina Bay Sands
Welcoming over 42,0001 visitors in attendance, Southeast Asia’s largest ever art fair, ART SG, made its highly anticipated Singapore debut at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 12 January 2023.
The four-day exhibition was launched during the annual Singapore Art Week – a signature event celebrating the diverse and vibrant arts community in Singapore – which brought together 164 of the world’s leading galleries from 30 countries to showcase various artworks including digital and blockchain art, paintings and sculpture.
 |  |
Exhibitions from ART SG at Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Singapore was chosen as the destination of choice for ART SG due to its excellent track record for hosting prominent events in Asia. That one of its landmarks, Marina Bay Sands, weaved art into its architectural process made it an ideal location for the exhibition.
Held across two floors at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, ART SG brought together six different sectors with each dedicated to different artistic interpretations created by different artist demographics. The seventh sector – FILM – was a showcase of the latest film-making techniques and practices by artists from the Asia-Pacific region. Titled FABRICATED REALITIES, these works touched upon the various aspects of the human relationship with non-human, nature, and technology. To showcase the works in the highest quality possible, the organiser worked with ArtScience Museum, screening the films daily at ArtScience Cinema. This collaboration shows the extent of Marina Bay Sands’ commitment to providing the best experience to both organisers and visitors through its meticulous planning efforts.
Where Art Takes Shape: Enhancing the experience across the integrated resort
Cyril Kongo in front of his final six-metre-long artwork reflecting “The World Is Yours”
Embracing the theme of art and creativity, ART SG goers and visitors to Marina Bay Sands during Singapore Art Week were also able to partake in several art-filled experiences organised by the integrated resort.
At the Event Plaza, renowned French-Vietnamese graffiti artist Cyril Kongo conducted a live painting demonstration on a six-metre-long panel. With his passion to help the younger generation appreciate art, Cyril was joined by more than 20 young beneficiaries from the Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BTBAF) to paint the canvas. The aspiring artists were given free rein to showcase their artistic flair on the panel, leaving their mark on the same canvas painted by Cyril. The beneficiaries also received a guided tour of an exhibition of Cyril’s works which included his collaboration with various luxury brands such as BE@RBRICK, Richard Mille, Hermes, and Chanel as well as Alphabets Safari – Cyril Kongo’s digital art. The exhibition was also open to the public for free during Singapore Art week.
Janice Wong painting the three-metre chocolate wall
Over at RISE restaurant, award-winning local pastry chef and owner of 2am:dessertbar, Janice Wong, kick-started the art celebration with a three-metre-tall chocolate wall which she constructed live.
January’s spotlight on Art is part of a renewed journey as Marina Bay Sands strives to bolster its status as a cultural landmark by deepening engagement with visitors. By celebrating cultural themes and amplifying marquee events taking place on property and around Singapore, the integrated resort will be offering multiple immersive experiences throughout the year as part of ‘Festivalisation’.
In the coming months, the Festivalisation calendar will revolve around themes such as wellness, food and wine, music and fashion, and more.
1According to ART SG website.