SINGAPORE - A ghostly, shimmering 19th century boat docked in Marina Bay will greet passers-by from next week (Jan 28).

This holographic art installation, installed as part of the upcoming i Light Singapore - Bicentennial Edition festival, was inspired by the sampan panjang (long dwelling boat), used by the the Orang Laut sea nomads, and its racing boat variations.

Members of the public will be able to see Sails Aloft from The Promontory and Mist Walk near the Marina Bay waterfront. Depending on the wind and the angle from which it is viewed, there might be one, two, four or even six boats neck-to-neck.

"The artwork itself isn't tangible, yet it does work as a sculpture," says Mr Mihai Baba, one of two artists from Estonia-based Biangle Studio who created the installation.

It is one of 33 artworks that will go on display next week as part of the annual i Light festival, which runs from Jan 28 to Feb 24.

The sustainable light art festival, previously known as i Light Marina Bay, has been organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) since 2010 to add vibrancy to the Marina Bay precinct and encourage sustainable lifestyles. Last year's festival drew two million visitors.

This year, on display are sustainable light art installations and a multimedia show, created by artists from 15 countries, including Singapore.​

The festival, which kicks off islandwide bicentennial activities to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles, will expand beyond the usual Marina Bay area to include the Civic District, Singapore River and Raffles Terrace at Fort Canning Park.

In keeping with this year's festival theme, Bridges Of Time, artworks will be installed on six bridges at the Singapore River and Marina Bay area - Elgin Bridge, Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge, Esplanade Bridge, Jubilee Bridge and The Helix bridge.

Aside from artworks, there will be more than 20 programmes for the public, such as music performances, upcycling workshops, and the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival.

Festival director Jason Chen, who is also URA's director for place management, says: "This special edition is especially meaningful as it forms part of the Singapore Bicentennial commemoration. The artwork line-up collectively reflects the Festival's desire to bridge people, cultures and ideas through art and sustainability.

"The light art installations will be strategically placed along the Festival route to bring everyone on the development journey of Singapore since the arrival of its earliest communities at the Singapore River."

Here are some of the artworks on display:

1. FACEY THING

WHAT: As passers-by get in range of the camera, facial tracking will identify their faces and blow them up on the screen. As they move closer to the screen, they can "paint" their faces virtually. This interactive artwork was designed by New Zealand-based Uji Studios.

WHERE: Marina Bay Waterfront promenade

2. SHADOWS EXPOSED

WHAT: Walk in front of a large screen stretched along Mist Walk, and your shadow will reveal images from Singapore through the ages in this installation by Korean-American artist and film-maker Judy K. Suh and Chicago-based arts technology company Visual Feeder.

WHERE: Mist Walk (next to Red Dot Design Museum)

3. WITH A VIEW

WHAT: Parallel mirrors in the shape of shophouse windows are part of this installation by Singapore creative design agency Superiore Design Associates. This creates a series of smaller and smaller reflections that seem to recede infinitely into the distance.

WHERE: River Promenade along Parliament House

4. CENOTAPH FOR A STONE

WHAT: This reinterpretation of the Singapore Stone - a slab of sandstone from a boulder that was blown up in 1843 to widen the mouth of the Singapore River - consists of 51 "rock fragments" on steel pedestals. The 52nd pedestal has been left empty, hinting at the piece that now resides in the National Museum of Singapore. Cenotaph For A Stone, which won the inaugural i Light Student Award, was created by National University of Singapore students Bryan Joseph Cadag, Loo Quan Le and Zulkarnain Mohd Zin.

WHERE: Waterboat House Garden, Fullerton Road

5. KEYS OF LIGHT

WHAT: Visitors tinkling the keys of this interactive piano installation will conjure animated flowers projected onto a lighthouse. No two performances are the same in this artwork by the Netherlands-based projection art studio Mr.Beam.

WHERE: Raffles Terrace, Fort Canning Park

6. SAILS ALOFT

WHAT: This holographic art installation was inspired by the sampan panjang (long dwelling boat) of the Orang Laut sea nomads and its racing boat variations. Depending on the wind and the angle from which you view this installation by Estonia-based Biangle Studio, you might see one, two, four or even six boats neck-to-neck.

WHERE: Visible from The Promontory and Mist Walk