Stuart WoodLondoners have a chance this month to journey through Singapore’s history, via a garden installation filled with immersive experiences that integrate nature with the modern world.
Music, plants, food, drinks and cultural exploration will all come together to commemorate the 2019 Singapore Bicentennial.
2019 is the 200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ landing in Singapore in 1819 – a key turning point in the country’s history.
As part of the commemoration, Singapore is landing in London intent on taking visitors on a techno-natural odyssey at Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate, 13–15 June 2019.
The event is curated by Singaporean and UK creative agencies, In The Wild and Bompas & Parr. Together, they will cast a wider lens on the spirit of discovery and openness of exchange in a dynamic city, which has enduring relations with the UK.
Visitors will be offered a slice of Singapore’s arts, music, dining and cocktail scene and there is a line-up of Singaporean artists, chefs and mixologists.
The techno-garden will depict what Singapore has experienced over 700 years – from the 14th century to the 21st century – and how key events in 1819 began a lifelong love affair between Singapore and the UK.
Visitors are urged to arrive early to get the chance to try Michelin starred chef Malcolm Lee’s inspired Peranakan dishes – flavours and tastes that are unique to Singapore along with botanical cocktails from a creative collaboration between Native (No.13 in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2018 and recently voted No. 4 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019) and Lyaness, one of London’s finest drinking establishments. There will also be an opportunity to try the classic Singapore Sling from Raffles Hotel Singapore, which reopens its doors in August this year.
What to expect at Singapore: Where Explorers Meet
– Experience a tropical imaginarium created by leading Singaporean botanical designers, Humid House.
– A unique haptic plant soundscape created by British and Singaporean artists Mileece and .gif.
– Enjoy music from producer and DJ, Kiat (Syndicate.SG), one of South-East Asia’s pioneers in drum and bass sounds, Syndicate has featured on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1XTRA.
– Throughout the installation, NY-based Singaporean photographer, Lenne Chai, presents an exploration of the faces and stories that have been part of Singapore’s transformation over the past 200 years.
– Visitors will also get the chance to experience the Kaleidoscope – an artwork installation by Singapore-based artists Esther Goh, in collaboration with OuterEdit.
– Explore the city in a garden with Singapore’s City of Possibilities – an interactive experience which will allow visitors to virtually visit eight landmarks via an avatar to have a 360° video tour to find out more about their particular passion.
– A chance to explore the cuisine of Chef Malcolm Lee, chef-owner of Candlenut, the world’s first and only Michelin starred Peranakan establishment. Lee will be serving his world renowned ‘Buah Keluak ice cream’, which combines savoury black nuts & chocolate. Explorers will also get to try his ‘crab curry with blue pea flower rice’ and his ‘Ye Ye Chicken Curry’ that was featured on ITV Saturday Morning with James Martin earlier this year.
– Old Chang Kee will present their famous curry puffs, a local delight in Singapore. Legend has it that chefs who worked for the British back in Singapore in the 1800s had reinvented the Cornish pasty with Singapore’s native herbs and spices, giving rise to this heritage pastry.
More information: www.stb.gov.sg / www.visitsingapore.com or follow on Twitter @VisitSG_UK