“The good news is it’s not too late to turn things around.”
Nothing is surprising about Marine Pollution anymore. Pretty much everyone is aware of the grave situation marine life is facing. But if we were to investigate the timeline of someone being vocal about environmental issues, it would be like; Noah’s Ark – Greta Thunberg – Thanos wiping half the human population – today. Even the world’s greatest supervillain wanted a greener, healthier planet. From tons of plastic wastes sedimenting on sea floors to bodies of aquatic fauna washing up dead on shores, there is an alarming need for humans to take things seriously. But what does it take? It’s like the baby shark cannot do-do-do anymore since papa and mommy sharks are taking shelter because it’s a sea of synthetic organic polymer down there.
But since Greta had to clear her high school to be taken seriously, someone had to step up. Hence, speaking of being vocal about the environment, the i Light Festival has become a massive success this June 2022 in showcasing the struggles of aquatic plants and animals. It also addresses the pressing environmental issues through some of the most quirky and creative artworks. Majorly incorporating plastic wastes, the artists have done a fantastic job portraying egregious environmental concerns.
This article will be the loudest microphone for everything the iLight Singapore 2022 had to say. The festival was undoubtedly one of the most vibrant, sustainable light carnivals humanity has ever witnessed.
Table of contents
What is i Light Singapore?
Source – Dejiki
i Light Singapore Festival is said to be Asia’s most pre-eminent outdoor holographic visual art presentation that incorporates sustainability as its fundamental theme. With artists worldwide leaving their mark with extraordinary creation of ocular treats, merely using plastic wastes, recycled materials, and of course, lights, this mega event demonstrated clever innovation. The first edition of this light carnival was held in 2010 at Marina Bay. It had been taking its guests on an awe-spiring visual experience whilst implanting the seed of concern for the environment in people’s minds every damn time. Initially planned as a mere reference point to promote tourism in Marina Bay, it soon became a major platform for environmentalists to advance their distress in the most creative way possible.
The first look into the holographic light installations, one will probably have a flashback from one of those Rick and Morty’s parallel universes.
What i Light SG have for Spectators in 2022?
Source – iLight Singapore
After a two-year breather, i Light Singapore was back again this June with its fascinating three-dimensional open-air luminous installations and vibrant exhibits at Marina Bay. This year’s theme was a Spark of Light, with its primary colour being Violet. Why Violet? Well, violet has the maximum wavelength in the colour spectrum, creating the circumstance to enable an appalling and strong visual delight. And that symbolises a sense of awakening. The festival hosted 20 staggering light art installations that depicted various marine life struggles and ignited a strong sense of distress. The event also staged many delicious local and international cuisines and live performances.
Here is a snippet of the 20 i Light Singapore 2022 artworks.
Mother EARTH Climate Change Data Sculpture
Source – Mustsharenews
An invigorating standout artwork that incorporates machine learning and A.I. algorithms. The Mother EARTH themed Climate Change Data Sculpture effortlessly turns mundane publicly available environmental data alive. This is facilitated by transforming them into a remarkable visual amusement of dancing lights, colours, and sounds.
Plastic Whale
Source – Dejiki
Perhaps one of the most striking exhibitions, Plastic Whale is lit with an array of shades of light, commanded to appear at distinct intervals. This powerfully portrays the whale’s grapple for survival as it attempts to breathe amidst the sea of plastic trash soaked with used plastic bottles, scraps, and other plastic garbage. This life-sized installation highlights the condition of whales in particular and aquatic life in general.
Here and There
Source – Harper’s Bazaar Singapore
Like the seesaw, Here and There encourages you to shift and work with others within a circle. This activates lighting that changes according to the degree of tilt, triggering various sensors and fun lighting effects.
see also – Milan Design Week 2022: A Panorama of Design
Eyes of the Sea
Source – Thesmartlocal
Betwixt the verge of the sea and the horizon, the mesmerising view of scenic ripples is as cathartic as it is endearing. Perfect enough to plan a Baywatch remake with the view as a backdrop. However, we cannot say the same for the oceanic fauna. Eyes of the Sea is a suspended installation that displays the alarming situation of discarded plastics obstructing the sea surface and endangering the precious marine ecosystem.
Ruffled Ice
Source – Dejiki
Turning towards the gravelling issue of excessive abuse of plastic bags and wrappers, Ruffled Ice transforms this discarded garbage into art, parading the melting icebergs and ice cavities. Sculpted from discarded plastic wrapping materials, the Ruffled Ice showcases the humongous scarring these plastic materials inflict on our environment. This installation is in collaboration with Sunray Woodcraft Construction, Plaspulp Union Pte Ltd, Lim Kim Hai Electric Co (S) Pte Ltd, and EPM Consultants Pte Ltd.
Light Canvas
Source – Thesmartlocal
You can be a part of this delightful Light Canvas as you can create your artwork using the flash from your mobile device. Given the fun elements of this installation, there is more to it. The display motivates one to delve into more profound unsolved questions. These may include “Oh god! What have we done to Mobey Dick’s grandkids? Seriously! Whyyy?
Alone Together
Source – Prestigeonline
Remember the pandemic we just faced together? Well, we are kind of sort of still in it. As a gentle reminder, Alone Together documented our living situation. To be precise, the isolation during the covid-19 pandemic. Showcasing the perspective of residential apartments in Singapore, it gave everyone a sneak peek through the people’s living conditions and expressed a story that the whole world faced. Guests can partake in real-time interactions with fellow spectators leaving a mark of shared memory.
Collective Memory
Source – Dejiki
Collective Memory captivates the integrity of advancement of digital storage by crafting regenerated Compact Discs into a gleaming landscape of light reflection. Spectators were immersed in a novel experience as each of these suspended discs marries with others and singularly reflects through their reflective surfaces. With an array of captivating recollections these storage tools once held, the Collective Memory had grabbed the attention of strollers with its magnificence.
Keep on Moving
Source – XinhuaNews
“Keep on Moving” is a striking ode to running. This installation is inspired by Chrono photography, an antique photography technique that captures frame-by-frame movement. The artwork not only exhibits a ubiquitous site at marina bay but also resembles plastic mannequins that retail stores prevalent in an increasingly consumerist society.
Shish-Ka-Buoy
Source – Dejiki
Shish-Ka-Buoy is a visual delight giving off a magical glow during the day and being lit with a whirl of colourful LED lights during the night. Made of fully recyclable marine buoys and standing close to four meters tall, this installation is positioned in a cluster to create a dynamic light scene.
Firefly Field
Source – Mustsharenews
Firefly Field is an utterly enchanting visual displayed by artificial fireflies that fields themselves simulated by the mesmerising bioluminescence that they take to the atmosphere by sunset. Flying in an effortless electronic swarm of lights, these 500 alternating light points resemble fireflies by creating a dynamic glow that seems to trigger curiosity in awe of the natural world.
Fallen
Source – Dejiki
This is straight from the most depressing fantasies the world can swallow. It portrays a Fallen story of a metaphysical jellyfish that floats around the galaxy in search of celestial bodies to absorb. This rambler, unfortunately, consumed a pile of space trash and satellites mistaking it for a star. Even though its insatiable hunger subsided, for the time being, the jellyfish’s body started to boil. It did not take much time for the entity to crash on the earth’s surface leaving everyone questionably jaw-dropped pertaining to its survival. Watch this giant jellyfish as it takes its final breath of survival. Thanks, Elon Musk, for all those satellites!
SWANS
Source – Trevallog
Composed of recycled satellite dishes, Swans resemble life-like swans floating on water. The materials used in this installation describe the trash regenerated out of the growing demand of consumers. Visitors admired these graceful swans floating peacefully in the pond and blending perfectly into the environment.
Florescentia
Source – Dejiki
The term used here ‘Florescentia’ has its etymological roots in Latin which means blossoming. This artwork exhibits an animated model created out of recycled carbon-neutral polypropylene. This depicts the process of photosynthesis while the artist takes the inspiration of aesthetics from one of Dr. Suess’s books titled ‘Florescentia’. This amazing display portrays light colours that radiate an aura suitable enough for quiet meditation and relaxation. Spectators thoroughly enjoyed their reflective time under the umbrella-like delightful botanical exhibit.
Scribble Jam
Source – iLight Singapore
Scribble Jam is an unorthodox graffiti artwork that extensively incorporates interactive projection mapping techniques. Crafted on Marina Bay Bridge, this exhibition manages to turn a city outlook into a humongous display of canvas efficiently accompanied by a musical experience.
Re-Act
Source – Sunnycitykids
Re-Act is another reflective exhibition that effectively showcases environmental and climatic problems. This installation replicates the spilling of toxic pollutants into the sea which destroys the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, the installation effectively symbolises cracks and crevices that have been forming in the icebergs owing to global warming. It definitely makes us reconsider our approach to our battle against the climate crisis.
Bondfire
Source – i Light Singapore
Bondfire is an assemblage of glowing columns where light from a single point is refracted within a clear tube. Shrouded in a clear fog cluster of light pillars, this innovative installation resembles the experience of being by a bonfire.
Underworld
Source – Dejiki
Underworld is an alluring visual of gigantic lanterns and musicals that takes one to an imaginary undersea settlement and makes them observe the mess humans have created. It’s probably because Aquaman made it clear that we need to ask the sea for mercy. The artwork was inspired by the conservation efforts of the local community from a small fishing village. What is fascinating is that this exhibit is created out of abandoned fishing nets. All of this is for people to get their heads around marine life being sensitive and fragile. We need to take more care of it.
Meet Me Under the Moon
Source – Dejiki
The next exhibit is titled “Meet Me Under the Moon”. This seamlessly portrays the magnificence and poetry of the full moon during the mid-autumn festival. The spectators had the provision to be seated on cloud-like benches while gazing upon the well-lit artwork in a collective effort. The breathtaking rhythm of the moon respiring makes you feel as if all the depression from watching 2001: A Space Oddessey is seeping back in.
Waste Not, Want Not
Source – Dejiki
The final exhibit titled “Waste Not, Want Not” advocates the reconciliation of dingy eatables with irregular shapes. This one consists of four huge structures designed in a peculiar fashion celebrating the natural variety of shapes that produce comes in through having no fewer benefits than their beautiful counterparts.
see also – Falling Water: Feting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Greatest Creation
So What Did We Learn?
Okay, let’s jot down the pointers we learned from this blog. Firstly, Baywatch needs to be remade with the exhibit “Eye of the Sea” with its backdrop. And they need to cast Pamela Anderson again. We mean, she has a great personality. No? Secondly, if Aquaman was real, he would probably be furious. With his ‘something-something-trident”, he would already be preparing to do some serious damage to humans. With that said, whatever the i Light Singapore Light Festival had for its spectators, it was more serious than we can merely joke about. Unfortunately, we live on this planet but are failing to keep it clean for our fellow life forms. And if it requires a spectacular and striking light festival to send the message, then so be it.
Fin.
