UOB Plaza Projection: Singapore’s Record-Breaking Light Show

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Photo Credit: https://www.shout.sg/

Singapore’s Central Business District has been set aglow by a truly astonishing feat of projection mapping: the UOB Plaza Projection that runs nightly from 28 June to 9 August 2025. This immersive six-minute show animates the 280-metre‐tall UOB Plaza 1 with vivid storytelling, cultural motifs and artworks, earning three Guinness World Records for its scale, brightness and technical precision. The installation marks UOB’s 90th anniversary alongside Singapore’s 60th year of independence, offering residents and visitors a free spectacle that blends innovation, heritage and community spirit.

Record-Breaking Projection Mapping

The UOB Plaza Projection has rewritten the record books with three distinct world records:

  • Highest Projection on a Building: Utterly transforming all 66 floors of UOB Plaza 1 into a seamless canvas.
  • Largest Light Output in a Projected Image: Pumping out an astonishing 5.85 million lumens to bathe Marina Bay in colour.
  • Longest Temporary Architectural Projection: Running nightly for six weeks straight, clocking thousands of cumulative projection minutes.

This technology far outstrips a typical television’s 2.1 million pixels, using some 250 million individually addressable pixels to ensure razor-sharp animations wrap flawlessly around every architectural contour.

The “UNITY” Narrative

At its heart lies “UNITY,” a bespoke six-minute animation directed by Benjamin Tan of B Events Network. Divided into three acts—Time, Transformation and Tomorrow—the narrative weaves together UOB’s storied past and ASEAN’s shared future.

  • Time: Opens with traditional Wayang Kulit silhouettes and antique bonsai, evoking Asia’s artistic heritage.
  • Transformation: Transitions through scenes of Singapore’s rapid urban growth, underpinned by sustainable innovations and community milestones.
  • Tomorrow: Concludes with a vibrant vision of regional collaboration, green technology and social harmony.

Each scene aligns with UOB’s values—community, resilience and forward-thinking—while Benjamin Tan’s background in Singapore’s National Day Parade productions ensures every frame captures national pride.

Technical Mastery by Hexogon Solution

Powering this epic display is Hexogon Solution Pte Ltd, a renowned local integrator specialising in audiovisual and lighting shows since 2008. Their bespoke projection-mapping software achieves millimetre-level alignment, compensating for every window recess and façade angle to create lifelike depth and motion. HD laser projectors stationed around UOB Plaza 1 deliver uniform brightness, while real-time servers synchronise visuals with perfectly timed audio cues.

Celebrating Local Art through UOB Painting of the Year

Beyond “UNITY,” the projection features curated pieces from the UOB Painting of the Year competition—Southeast Asia’s longest-running art contest founded in 1982. Thirty winning artworks spanning:

  • Timeless Collection: Prize winners from 2015 and earlier
  • Contemporary Collection I: Works from 2016–2020
  • Contemporary Collection II: Winners from 2021–2024

These paintings—ranging from evocative landscapes to abstract expressions—are projected in vivid detail, giving local artists an unprecedented platform in Singapore’s iconic skyline.

Showtimes and Best Viewing Spots

Shows run Monday–Saturday evenings:

  • Weeknights (Mon–Thu): 10:45 pm and 11:00 pm
  • Weekends (Fri–Sat): 9:06 pm, 9:46 pm and 10:26 pm

No show on Sundays, ensuring equipment maintenance. Prime vantage points include Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge and the riverfront outside the Asian Civilisations Museum, where unobstructed views let spectators absorb every dazzling sequence.

Integration with National Day Celebrations

Select Saturday performances between late June and early August tie in with Singapore’s National Day Parade 2025. UOB Plaza 1 becomes an extended stage that synchronises with fireworks over Marina Bay and live parade elements at the Padang, reinforcing the “Majulah Singapura” theme and engaging audiences city-wide.

Cultural and Economic Impact

More than a light show, the UOB Plaza Projection symbolises Singapore’s harmonious blend of tradition and technological prowess. The free display draws locals and tourists alike into the CBD after dark, boosting foot traffic for nearby eateries, galleries and shops. It also fortifies UOB’s community engagement, showcasing how a corporate milestone can translate into a public celebration of art and history.

Looking Ahead

As the UOB Plaza Projection continues until 9 August 2025, it sets a new benchmark for urban projection mapping. Its fusion of record-setting technology, cultural storytelling and community participation offers a template for future large-scale public art installations across Asia. By illuminating both Singapore’s skyline and its creative heritage, the project underscores the nation’s status as a dynamic smart city that honours its past while boldly embracing the future.

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