Last year, Singapasar was organized to help celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday. It was meant to be a onetime event, but response to the festival was so overwhelming positive — thousands of people attended and bought uniquely Singaporean objets d’arte — that organizers decided to bring it back for a second year. Singapasar is one of the best festivals all year for visitors to snap up gorgeous works of art by Singapore artists and with a love for Singapore in mind.
Organizers of Singapasar say it’s important for them to include and promote Singaporean artists producing products that remind and inspire people about Singapore. All of the vendors and craftsmen participating in Singapasar must design and make their products locally, ideally with an emphasis on a Singaporean message or story.
Some of the artisans who will be on hand for the festival include a printmaking shop specializing in prints reminiscent of Singapore. Others will be a chocolate maker who will be creating a special batch of flavors specifically for the event, including a chai chocolate and a salted egg variety. Another vendor produces bags and T-shirts with old Singapore images emblazoned on them, reminiscent of a bygone era. While many of these vendors are well established in Singapore, there are still more that are making their official debut at Singapasar, taking advantage of an opportunity to get immediate feedback on the product they’re working to develop. One of the new vendors is a design group that makes printed wallpaper, fabric, and other products for the home. In an appreciative nod to the event for helping launch the business and give it visibility, the group will be presenting a never-before-seen pattern inspired by Singapasar. The pattern, which will be available in both fabrics and tiles, was inspired by the design group leader’s memories of watching parades with his grandfather. The pattern features designs reminiscent of Singapore’s public housing projects. Another design group will be premiering a keychain with a merlion, one of Singapore’s classic cultural symbols, which everyone will now be able to tote around.
One of the hopes from both vendors and organizers alike for Singapasar is that it expands from a yearly festival and takes advantage of the demand for such unique products year round. Organizers say they can see the chance for expansion in pop-up events several different times throughout the year to give everyone the opportunity to catch the vendors and their special products.
Given the right mindset and skills, everything can be art — from handmade T-shirts to cookware painted with fun designs. Explore your artistic side by enrolling in an art class today. Visit SGArtClass.com to see all of the different art classes you can choose to take. Whether you enroll in decorative painting or oil painting, you’ll be sure to get an artistic education that will extend far into your future.
To read more about the Design Pasar Malam, go to http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/love-sg-buy-sg.