Leela is part of iLight Singapore! A truly international event!

 

Tara told me that Leela is in Singapore. The sponsors had sent her a ticket. I knew she was involved with a project while doing a semester at NTU. Back in Vancouver, her team mates informed her that their project was selected and she began working with the group from Vancouver! It was nice the sponsors thought of getting her back to Singapore, to be part of the event!

Leela, in reply to my question, said that she was doing 'A bit of everything! So just a designer is a good umbrella term:). It was a team effort! I was mainly assisting with this project, in whatever cases my group members needed! We all worked on conceptualization. I did the UX and was mainly assisting from here as it was hard to be 100% involved from Vancouver!

Leela volunteered more info as I asked for more!

'I was in Singapore studying at NTU -Nanyang Technological University. One of my required courses was called interactive 1, however, I was on the waitlist during the first week so I only entered the classroom in the second week. I was one of the first persons in the class so I took a random seat, but this happened to be the seat in which my future group member was sitting in. Because of our close proximity they let me join their group, which was what the project we were assigned needed.'

'The project was to create a prototype and pitch for i Light Singapore’s prompt “to gather” we worked on this project in September and were encouraged to submit an application for the real event. We only found out we had been selected in February, so the turnaround time was very quick. As I was in Vancouver and my partners were in Singapore it was quite tough to bring it into life. Our pitch originally included sound which I was going to tackle but because of a limited budget we had to focus on other aspects that catered to the main subject matter of the piece. The actual piece was created in a very short time frame of 3 weeks and requires constant monitoring and oversight. In our original pitch we had outlined things that may not have been as realistic, so a few things needed to be changed like sourcing materials and quantities'.

Here is the concept of the project:

“In Tandem explores harmony and human connection through the rhythm of our heartbeats.

When its sensors are touched by two or more visitors, it seamlessly synchronises their interactions, creating a unified light show that pulses in tandem.

In Tandem illustrates the scientific concept of cardiac physiological synchrony, when heart rate activity finds shared rhythm between interacting individuals who share a meaningful connection, such that proximity creates harmony. It reveals how humans tune in to one another unconsciously and how separate lives can, however briefly, share a common pulse.”

I was very impressed to read about the project Leela and her friends were involved.  A truly international effort!

 iLight Singapore is Asia’s leading light festival to be held in Marina Bay and neighbouring precincts from 29 May to 21 June 2025.

First held in 2010, i Light Singapore showcases light art installations created by Singaporean and international artists. These artworks are designed with energy-saving lightings and/or environmentally-friendly materials to encourage festival goers and the general public to adopt sustainable habits in their everyday lives. The Festival also features a diverse range of fringe activities for visitors to enjoy, bringing vibrancy to public spaces in our city centre.

Festival Light-Up Timings

Sun to Thu: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Fri & Sat: 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM

https://www.ilightsingapore.gov.sg/about/the-festival/

https://www.ilightsingapore.gov.sg/installations/in-tandem/

Rohini added:

Last year Leela went to Singapore for a semester for an exchange program at NTU. It was diametrically opposite to Emily Carr University in Vancouver

.…a big campus, technology focused, dorm life, hot weather and thousands of miles away from home. She loved it! 

She teamed up with 2 other girls and worked on an interactive light installation. In February,  they learned that their project was selected by iLight. Leela, back home by then, helped as much as she could, remotely, and they managed to get things done. Kudos to her team mates Heidi & Rae, who worked on the installation, featured at the iconic Marina Bay Sands area!

Leela was super thrilled to fly back to Singapore for the opening. A great opportunity to meet all the other artists and see her project in person! Super proud of her! 

So are we, her Grandparents and the family!

Inside the sphere. Feels like a space ship..

View in the morning .

Hi Leela I shared the blog to my group of blog friends. Most of them have congratulated YOU, the team  and us. I have just shared some!

Pati also shared with her friends. She has already shared the comments received with you. It was fun writing about you and your friends participation in such a big and popular event. I noticed Tandem is featured in many promotional videos. 

It is on till 20 June. A lot of hard work! All the best!

The team Rae, Leela and Heidi 

Leela I just wonder how the leaders of 

warring nations will react to your Tandem installation !...Nidhi Tata