More than the Birkins, Kellys, and Haut à Courroies bags, Hermès prides itself on the art of craftsmanship (fashion and beyond) and showcasing them to the public through unique experiences. We've had variations of them over the years in Singapore—from a literal display of the breadth of its artisanship, to an innovative wellness experience using Hermès leather goods and accessories. This year, Hermès combines the crafts of cinema and performance art with On the Wings of Hermès.
"This work metaphorically illustrates the lightness that is omnipresent at Hermès: in the delicate hands of our craftspeople sewing with two needles at once, in the elegance of materials and in the subtle notes of a perfume. It is an experience which sparks the imagination, designed by the artisans of dreams," says Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermès.
On the Wings of Hermès is the collective effort of Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael and choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey, with the Astragales dance company. It had already made its run in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Singapore is the latest stop in its world tour.
Visitors will experience the entire performance within a film studio format where seven vignettes that blend dance, object theatre, music and cinema, come together to tell the story of the mythical winged horse Pegasus and his seven foals. Each of the seven parts are set against its own backdrop consisting of Hermès objects, and figurines gliding to choreography. Live dancers and choreographers work together with image and lighting technicians—they're captured in real time by Van Dormael and projected up onto a giant screen.
A screening of a 35-minute film of the same name (inspired by the performance) completes the entire experience of cinematic poetry in motion.
On the Wings of Hermès is scheduled to open on 19 July and will run until 28 July 2024. Bookings are now open and can be made online.
Here's something to do over the weekend. The fellas who added "hypebeast" to the lexicon are adding something different to their portfolio: a concert on our shores. Called Hypebeast Live, this concert will occur 23 March from 4pm-10.30pm at Somerset Skate Park and TRIFECTA SINGAPORE. We are talking a line-up of live music, DJ sets, arts and food; the event promises a night filled with partying and fun. And if music doesn't do it for you, there are always the activities at TRIFECTA SINGAPORE... but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Here's what you can expect at Hypebeast Live.
Courtesy of HighHouse, the music event will be headlined by regional act Autograf, an electronic dance music duo from Chicago. Having performed at big events such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, Autograf knows how to get a crowd moving. Helping them keep the energy going, two musicians presented by WILD Entertainment will join them—local singer, Haven, and KIARA, a versatile DJ renowned for her eclectic music style.
The line-up concludes with DJs from Sivilian Affairs, including Nicolette, HBN, Sivanesh, TropicLab, and DONN. All the acts will also be livestreamed on the official Hypebeast Youtube channel, providing international fans a virtual front row to the shows.
It's not just about the music. It's about the culture. And nothing enlivens the culture than with a permitted graffiti presentation. Helmed by artist Clogtwo, who will work on a large mural artwork called "Canvas" on-site at TRIFECTA SINGAPORE. See the process as it starts from basic sketches and transformed into a colourful finished work. For some extra sugar, a giveaway will be held, gifting winners with an exclusive t-shirt designed by Clogtwo.
There will be pop-up stores as well like ASICS, Don Julio, Guinness, Häagen-Dazs, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Rip Curl and more.
Capping off the night is an intimate afterparty held at HighHouse. Ticket holders of Hypebeast Live are entitled complimentary access to this restaurant-bar, where Autograf will deliver another exceptional performance.
Tickets for Hypebeast Live are available for purchase here.
You’ve heard of VR games and concerts but what about VR dance shows? The first of its kind, LE BAL de PARIS de Blanca Li is a multi-sensory virtual experience. A show that seamlessly integrates music and dance to give audiences an award-winning theatrical spectacle. As an audience member, you are part of the act. Operating in a virtual space, the audience partakes in a storyline of unrequited love filled with anthropomorphic animals.
Created by the world-renowned choreographer and filmmaker, Blanca Li, the immersive and participatory experience is made possible with a room-scale virtual reality. Unlike most VR applications which allow stationary users to engage with their virtual surroundings, a room-scale VR allows for users to manoeuvre around a physical space. Think of it as playing a video game. But the controller is your body in a physical space: you move your right foot forward and your avatar echoes the action.
Running for about 35 minutes, the show is brought to life through the use of the HTC Vive Focus 3 and HTC Vive Trackers (for full body tracking). CHANEL provides the outfits your avatars will don during the session. Players are presented with a line-up of 15 CHANEL outfits to choose from in a virtual dressing room. Once chosen, players are outfitted in a garb that's fitting for a grand Parisian ball. And yes, you can even crossdress, no judgment in a virtual space. In the VR world, you can admire your duds in the mirror and you can see your hands and feet in the space as well.
At each show, 10 audience members can indulge in this shared experience. Due to the nature of the show, interaction among audience members is enforced. You're encouraged to dance or move within the space as music and audio is played through the VR headset. Follow along the story of two lovers, Adèle and Pierre. We meet them in a crowded grand ballroom and then transported to a hedge maze. There's even a travel across a lake on a boat and a jaunty ride on a tram. All these and more, within the confines of a room and in the expense of the imagination.
LE BAL de PARIS de Blanca Li brings its grandeur to Singapore's Infinite Studios and runs until 17 March 2024. Tickets are priced at SGD73 for weekdays and SGD87 for weekends. Get your tickets here.
Remember the highs at a concert? The exhilarating anticipation when the lights dim at a live music show? Especially after the lockdown, the yen for live entertainment exploded since the start of the year. Are ticket prices too high? Yeah. But we're making up for pandemic time. Our shores look like it will be graced with some choice acts. Here's a list of some of the upcoming acts that we've compiled.
The 1975 will finally be performing in Singapore after four years. Despite recent controversy surrounding the lead singer’s problematic comments on a podcast, the concert announcement has been received well. They will be performing their latest record Being Funny in a Foreign Language as well as their hit songs like “Robbers” and many more.
The 1975 At Their Very Best Tour will be happening at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 18th July.
The Japanese-American Singer-songwriter will be making a stop by Singapore for their Asia tour for the first time. Their name quickly rose to fame in 2018 with their song "Remember Me" quickly making an impact in the R&B genre. Performing their debut album Forest in the City, they explore themes of self-discovery and relationship dynamics. All while experimenting with unique instrumentations that differentiate it from their previous work. Catch Umi at the Capitol Theatre on 26th August.
If you're not familiar with Peach Tree Rascals, think of that TikTok dance to the popular song "Mariposa", Yep, that's them. Beyond their viral hit, The Peach Tree Rascals are also known for making music described as car-worthy tunes to listen to while the windows are down. Look forward to hearing their debut album Camp Nowhere where they blend different genres while singing about love and vulnerability live at the Hard Rock Singapore on 19th July.
The Grammy-winning quintet is set to showcase their new sound from their 2020 release, The New Abnormal which ventures away from their renowned rock style. With glitchy electronic synthesisers and expansive guitar riffs, the band will surely make an impactful first performance in Singapore. Don't miss the chance to rock out and headbang to their songs at the Capitol Theatre on 2nd August.
Following the recent release of his latest album Never Enough, the self-made musician announced the Superpowers tour. Having recorded the album predominantly during the pandemic, it allowed him to take bold creative leaps with this new release, diverging from his usual R&B style. With auto-tuned pitched-down vocals that complement his heartfelt love songs, and heart-wrenching ballads that transport you back to past heartbreaks. Catch him live at the Star Theatre on July 17th.
The songsmith well-known for making soul-soothing ballads like "Nothing" and "Easily" will be making his return to Singapore. Originally a Jazz musician, Major started a name for himself after his debut album A Song for Every Moon heavily focusing on the R&B genre. He will be performing his classic hits along with his 2023 releases, "We Were Never Really Friends" and "Tell Her". Don't miss the chance to sway along to his melodic voice at the Capitol Theatre on 17th August.
As part of their Asia tour, Kodaline will be stopping by Singapore to showcase their latest release Our Roots Run Deep. The live stripped-down album highlights that raw bond between their music and the listeners, a testament to their community. Alongside showcasing their new release, the Irish rock band will also be performing beloved classics from their discography. Experience their intimate and raw performance at the Star Theatre on 3rd September.
Rex Orange County, also known as Alex O'Connor will be returning on the road again marking his comeback after a period of controversy surrounding an alleged sexual assault case. Known for his viral hit "Television/So Far So Good" , the singer will be performing his latest release Who Cares filled with captivating hooks and guitar instrumentations. Despite the challenges faced due to the aforementioned allegations the singer is now making his first strides forward, embracing this opportunity to reconnect with his fans. He will be performing at the Star Theatre on 17th October.
