The Theme

A New Wave

Light is a wave, which expands and radiates in all directions. It transmits diverse energy and momentum which in turn, determines how we see space. Yet, light is also a language – a system of communication, resulting in a spectrum of emotions and habitual associations. This spectrum of colours in visible light is superimposed over five editions of i Light Singapore, with a different segment of hues for each year. The Festival becomes a medium which refracts the diversity of the light spectrum, dispersing it into colours of creativity.

As the second year of i Light Singapore’s Visible Light narrative, the 2023 edition will explore the colour blue of the light spectrum. Blue wavelengths are ever-present in nature, as of the unclouded skies and in the reflections of the waters (the seas). Visually, the cool tones of blue can symbolise and induce varying states of emotion – often associated with calmness and serenity. Reflecting on our renewed condition, how do we relate blue to a new era of healing and advancement?

Our cognition allows us to acquire knowledge and perspectives through thought, senses and perception. In colour psychology, blue encourages introspection, which solidifies our understanding of ourselves in the world. Blue also represents intelligence, where interpretations and conclusions can be derived through observation and exploration of data and phenomena around us. Blue is also inextricably linked to technology, where innovation opens up new paradigms of experience and wonder.

As Asia’s leading sustainable light festival, i Light Singapore illuminates Marina Bay with a constellation of light artworks to transmit waves of excitement and interactions. The curatorial theme of i Light Singapore 2023 presented by DBS, A New Wave, calls for innovative light art installations that encompass associations with the colour blue - the limitless potential of technology to create novel experiences beyond the physical, and the synergy between nature and technology. How can technology manifest in our natural environment? Has technological intelligence improved our lives? A New Wave encourages creative methods and ideas that reflect the energy of blue to inspire connections in the city, refresh people’s senses and immerse visitors in new realms.