Singapore Tourism Board

In August 2017, Singapore Tourism Board launched the destination brand Passion Made Possible. In India, XXL and St+art India Foundation contributed to this worldwide campaign by conceptualising an immersive experience through the most unconventional sides of Singapore. Art, dance, music, food became the core elements of a three days participative and inclusive cultural programming hosted in the frame of Sassoon Dock Art Project.

Client: Singapore Tourism Board

Location: Mumbai

Artist(s): Multiple

ART

An abandoned warehouse by the sea was converted into an experiential exhibition for two months. Along with artists from across the world, Singaporean artists offered the spirit of what ‘Passion Made Possible’ means through their site specific installations.

Australian-Singaporean duo, Yok and Sheryo, created a multi-media installation, which celebrated a crossover between India and Asia by giving a bold contemporary twist to ancient folklores. Tan Zi Xi brought her installation ‘Plastic Ocean’, offering an immersive and sensorial experience - where all fish underwater were choked by plastic. Singaporean Darren Soh showcased his series on Singapore’s high rise buildings alternated in an ‘Urban Symmetry’ with Vibhor Yadav's series on Mumbai’s aerial landscape. 

The Yok & Sheryo, Varuna’s Vessel

Tan Zi Xi, Plastic Ocean

Darren Soh + Vibhor Yadav, Urban Symmetry

DOCK JAM 

In the spirit of collaboration and cultural exchange, the world renown hip-hop crew from Singapore, Radical Forze animated the public for 2 hours in a battle with the local crew Slum Godz from Dharavi. The battle came alive with beats by turntablist and producer DJ Koflow and his Indian counterpart DJ Uri; while the crowd danced till the night.

ZINE FEST

We invited Singaporean riso print masters, Knuckles and Notch to set up a pop-up exhibition in collaboration with the independent zine makers of Mumbai, Bombay Underground and Bombay Duck Designs. They have been contemporising modern day Singapore and Mumbai through their radical design styles, print techniques and ideas. Displayed in a DIY format, the art prints, zines and merchandise became a new medium to connect Indian audiences with Singapore, while at the same time celebrate alternate artistic voices from both cities.

WORKSHOPS & TALKS

The invited guests artists had moments of open exchanges with the public through workshops and talks. Yok and Sheryo curated a workshop that led to creation of red and black furniture pieces which became a permanent part of the exhibition. Knuckles and Kotch facilitated a screen printing workshop creating a moment of sharing with young art enthusiasts from the city. While the break dancers and rappers from Radical Forze and SlumGodz led a discussion on how hip-hop continues to contribute to the cultural fabric of their cities, connecting communities across borders.

SECRET DINNER

Directly from Artichoke, a funky restaurant in the heart of Singapore’s Arts and Heritage district, Bjorn Shen came to India with his bold flavours and passion for street art, which is seen all around the walls of his restaurant. 

No one better than Gresham Fernandes - chef of Impresario and Social - to match and build on this unusual tasting experience for a very selected crowd of Mumbai trend setting palates. The venue: the historical gate of Sassoon Dock that after 20 years of being shut opened its scenographic set for a six course secret dinner.

INAUGURATION AT SOCIAL

Over the years, Social has become the hub for urban India’s nightlife by curating cultural events that explore the alternate sides of music, dance, art and of course food. With a cutting edge aesthetic, it was the perfect venue for the inauguration of Passion Made Possible in Mumbai. A special Singaporean menu created by Bjorn Shen and Gresham Fernandes was launched on the beats of Dj Koflow and Dj Skip. This menu was available for the Social's tribe for a duration of 2 weeks. From the Antisocial Khar venue to the menu, everything was designed and tailored in STB’s new brand identity.