SINGAPORE, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 10th edition of Singapore's art festival "Light to Night" opened on Friday, inviting the public to engage with art installations, large-scale light projections and art programs across the city's historic Civic District and selected locations.
Organized by the National Gallery Singapore and running until Jan. 31, this year's festival brings together artists from Singapore and the region, and marks the longest edition of Light to Night to date.
Held under the theme "The Power in Us," the festival encourages audiences to reflect on history and local culture through site-specific works.
One such example is presented at the Padang, a large open field in front of the National Gallery, whose name means "field" or "open ground" in Malay. There, visitors encounter part of an installation titled Coastal Home, which draws on materials traditionally used in coastal dwellings and reimagines the legacy, displacement and resilience of Singapore's indigenous Orang Laut communities.
The Padang has historically served as a venue for sporting events, social interaction, and major public celebrations. It forms part of the Civic District, an area that houses some of Singapore's most prominent historic buildings and civic spaces, including the former Supreme Court and City Hall, the Old Parliament House, and the Padang itself.
Another key highlight of the festival is a series of facade projections that illuminate iconic buildings across the Civic District. Animated light works, accompanied by music, transform building exteriors into visual narratives that reflect the stories and experiences of diverse communities.
Ong Zhen Min, executive director of Light to Night Singapore 2026, said this year's edition highlights how shared authorship, dialogue, and reflection can deepen connections and foster a sense of collective ownership among the public. ■