SINGAPORE: The year of 2016 is still edging to a close, but preparations for 2017’s Chinese New Year Street Light-Up in Chinatown are already under way.
A highlight for next year’s show: More than 4,000 handcrafted lanterns – the largest number for the event yet. The lanterns are inspired by 2017’s zodiac figure – the Rooster – and were designed in collaboration with 14 first- and second-year students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
These SUTD students are part of the team who spent five months to design and produce the lanterns. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
Forty skilled craftsmen hailing from different parts of China have already started work on the lanterns, and will continue to do so till January next year. Chinese New Year in 2017 falls on Jan 28 and 29.
The lantern displays will represent different stages of the rooster’s life and values such as filial piety. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
Speaking to Channel NewsAsia on Wednesday (Dec 14), SUTD student Jonathan Ng described how he and his team developed the design for the celebratory light-up.
“The rooster has always been the keeper of time. We wanted to explore this concept of time through five life stories. As one walks through Eu Tong Sen street, you see the rooster growing from a young chick, experiencing these different life stories and actually emerging as this 12m-tall majestic rooster,” the 22-year-old explained.
A craftsman works on a giant rooster head – part of the centrepiece for next year’s celebrations. The 12m-tall lantern will sit at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Road. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
A few of the completed chicks and peony decorations. More than 4,000 lanterns are in the works. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
Life values have also been incorporated into the light up’s design. For example, the giant rooster centrepiece will represent leadership, wisdom and maturity the rooster has gained from growing up.
This is SUTD’s sixth collaboration with Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee.
A craftsmen working on a peach blossoms lantern that will be displayed along South Bridge Road. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
Next year’s street light-up will span 600m along New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street and 280m along South Bridge Road. (Photo: Winnie Goh)
The theme of 2017’s Chinese New Year celebrations is “Rise to Good Fortune & Prosperity”. The festival light up will run along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and Garden Bridge from Jan 7 to Feb 25 next year.
