Bedok Town Square transforms from polling station to arts venue
Bedok Town Square was a polling station (left) during Singapore's general election on May 3 and transformed for the Singapore International Festival of Arts, as pictured on May 16. ST PHOTOS: DESMOND WEE, MARK CHEONG
SINGAPORE – The bustling commuter hub of Bedok Town Square has undergone chameleonic changes in three short weeks.
On May 3, the square hosted a polling station as Singaporeans turned out to vote in the general election. The set-up was minimal, steel frames and plastic tape delineating the outlines of the space and simple booths for voters.
Two days later, another crew had moved into the space and transformed it in 11 days into the setting for the Singapore International Festival of Arts (Sifa). Artist Wang Roubing's Beneath Tide, Running Water is a giant kinetic installation that also serves as the stage for Singapore Ballet dancers, who performed Christina Chan's Pact Of Water.
As part of the show, the Orchestra of Music Makers played composer Philip Tan's Ode To The Sea while multidisciplinary artist Brian Gothong Tan's Speculative F(r)ictions unfolded on the screens.
It is the first time the annual arts extravaganza has commissioned an opening work that premiered in the heartland and is free for all audiences.
The show brought a different vibe to the space, which opened in 2016 and was envisioned by HDB as the first new-generation town plaza. Similarly, the neighbourhood setting, with a clangorous hawker centre and delicious food scents, lent unexpected savour to the Sifa show.
The Sifa pavilion will host more free events and performances until the festival ends on June 1. Look out for Nadi Singapura and Drama Box's performances as well as weaving and singing workshops.
Go to sifa.sg/sifa-2025/sifa-pavilion for more information.
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