Huat with large and lustrous pineapples, bags of gold and supersized mahjong tiles as the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre transforms its Roof Garden into a festive wonderland to usher in a prosperous Chinese New Year (CNY). A highlight of the celebrations is the Cultural Centre’s highly anticipated red packets which places a spotlight on works by local artists each year. This year, award-winning illustrator Lee
Xin Li will present a refreshing rendition of CNY celebrations in the heartlands, which are
further brought to life by local creative technology studio MeshMinds, making it Asia’s first interactive Augmented Reality (AR) red packet powered by Spark AR from Facebook.
a youth research survey commissioned this year, we learnt that celebrating Chinese festivals and learning about Chinese traditions and customs are excellent entry points to engage with Chinese Singaporean culture. With Chinese New Year being a time of reunion with family and friends, we hope that our Huat Huat Land and interactive AR red packet will delight and enable families and friends to bond together.”
Land promises Instagram-worthy moments for the family with larger-than-life pineapple
installations that span up to 3-metres in height, illuminated in gold as night falls. One can also shuffle gigantic mahjong tiles and even sit on a pile of gold for that perfect photo-opportunity. Completing the Huat Huat Land experience, one can get close to lit-up murals of CNY celebrations designed by illustrator Lee Xin Li.
packet is inspired by the sights and sounds that one experiences during Chinese New Year while visiting relatives – from lion dances at the coffeeshop and children of various ethnic backgrounds playing downstairs, to the aromas of freshly peeled mandarin oranges and chicken curry. I hope that the artwork brought to life by MeshMinds and the murals at Huat Huat Land will deepen appreciation for the local flavours and multicultural landscape that makes spending Chinese New Year in Singapore special.”
SCCC red packet will cast a spotlight on local Chinese New Year traditions, such as the
exchange of Mandarin oranges, lohei and boisterous lion dance performances. One can
simply scan a QR code on the red packet and watch these traditions spring to life, together with an informative write-up on the origins of these traditions, made possible by Spark AR from Facebook.
we have worked closely with the award-winning Singaporean artist, Lee Xin Li, and the
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre to realise an innovative, interactive and informative AR experience. At MeshMinds, we are firm believers that culture is both an enabler and a driver of sustainable development. Not only does this red packet of the future have artistic value, it is the first time that Spark AR from Facebook has been employed to shine a light on Chinese culture and traditions in an engaging and educational way. We hope that the magic of augmented reality can revitalise the way we give and receive red packets and by using this technology, we can feel more connected through sharing each other’s cultures and practices.”
by posting of photo of themselves at Huat Huat Land on their Facebook, Instagram or WeChat platforms from 1 January 2020. The National Art Council will also distribute the red packets through contest giveaways and event participation during Singapore Art Week. Huat Huat Land will take place at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Roof Garden, from 1 January to 8 February 2020. Admission is free.
- A selection of healthy deserts to usher in the Lunar New Year
- Celebrate CNY2020 over a feast of special menus for all
- Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2020
