Media Release- Kampong Gelam a Journey Thru Time.Pdf
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A Heritage Institution of MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release KAMPONG GELAM – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME The Malay Heritage Centre presents Kampong Gelam’s past and present with a special exhibition on the precinct, and a fete of arts and culture at Malay CultureFest 2015 Singapore, 4 November 2015 – This November, dive beyond the surface and immerse yourself in the heart and soul of one of Singapore’s most vibrant, and well-loved, historical precincts – Kampong Gelam – as the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) presents its annual special exhibition and its iconic Malay CultureFest (MCF) 2015. Take a closer look at Kampong Gelam from the 60s until today at this year’s special exhibition, titled Kampong Gelam: Beyond the Port Town; and then, sit back and enjoy both traditional and contemporary Malay cultural performances at the festival. Centered around MHC’s theme for 2015 of Bangsa (or Nation), both the exhibition and MCF reflect the diversity of the Malay community in Singapore, and by extension, Singapore’s rich multicultural population. 2. Kampong Gelam: Beyond the Port Town, and the Malay CultureFest 2015 will be officially launched by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, on Saturday 7 November 2015, 8.30pm. Please refer to Annex A for a calendar of events and details on the launch. 3. “MHC’s theme of bangsa is very appropriate for 2015, Singapore’s Golden Jubilee year. Too often, we are not fully aware, nor do we appreciate, the cultural backdrop of a neighbourhood even if we visit it weekly for brunch at our favourite café. MHC’s exhibition will help us gain a deeper insight into how place history also reflects a nation’s history, while the exciting line-up of programmes at the Malay CultureFest reminds us of the many different ways we can get to know and enjoy Singapore’s multiculturalism”, said Ms Trudy Loh, director for Heritage Institutions at the National Heritage Board (NHB). Kampong Gelam – traversing beyond the port town 4. The Kampong Gelam area was once well-known as a bustling port town. This started in the 1800s when the British East India Company, Sultan Hussein and Temenggong Abdul Rahman signed a treaty that introduced free trade policies and establishment of ports and factories at Kampong Gelam. The Sultan’s presence attracted regional trade, and this continued well into the 20th century with ships bearing goods from the region docking along Beach Road until the 1970s. 5. MHC’s special exhibition traces the growth and changes in Kampong Gelam from 1965 into the new millennium. Through a showcase of multimedia exhibits and artefacts, visitors gain an understanding of Kampong Gelam through the eyes of residents, shopkeepers and visitors to the area, and what it means to them. The exhibition highlights the cross-cultural interactions that defined the lives of those who lived, worked and played within the precinct, and those who still are deeply involved with the area today. 6. Visitors to the exhibition can experience a juxtaposition of Kampong Gelam’s past and present through recollections of former residents, tradesmen and patrons, current business-owners and visitors; as well as a specially created visual showcase of archival and modern images of Kampong Gelam. The latter features the photography of award-winning Singapore artist, Noor Iskandar, whose works have been exhibited in London, Valencia, A Heritage Institution of Pingyao, Belfast and Bandung. In addition, 36 artefacts, including personal keepsakes on loan from former residents and business-owners of Kampong Gelam, further support the exhibition and offer glimpse into the multicultural, social and commercial life in the precinct. Please refer to Annex B for a list of the exhibition highlights. 7. The exhibition runs from 8 November 2015 to 3 April 2016. It also marks the first time that MHC and its sister Heritage Institution, the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, are staging exhibitions which look into the background of the neighbourhoods in which they reside, namely Kampong Gelam and Balestier. Kampong Gelam - an ode to the nation 8. The exhibition is held in conjunction with MHC’s iconic annual Malay CultureFest. This year’s CultureFest will see more than 12 performing groups from Singapore and the region take the stage at MHC, enlivening the precinct over a period of four weeks, from 7 to 27 November 2015. Visitors can also look forward to workshops, talks and movie screenings. 9. Curated along the theme of Bangsa, the festival showcases the diasporic communities from throughout Nusantara (the Malay Archipelago) who have built their lives in Singapore and contributed towards nation building. Kicking off the festival is an overture by Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS), the only orchestra in Singapore which performs Malay music with both traditional and modern instruments. Teaming up with household names such as Jatt Ali, Hasnah Kana and R. Ismail, OMS will take audiences on a musical journey through the history of Kampong Gelam, and by extension, the Malay community in Singapore. The performance will cover popular genres such as folk songs (1950s – 60s), popular radio songs such as Pop Yeh Yeh and Rock (1970s – 80s), and an interpretation of modern songs to reflect the Singapore of today. 10. Festival highlights this year showcase up-and-coming local talents, namely performing arts group Kaizen M.D. and NADI Singapura who specialize in drumming and percussion. Kaizen M.D’s The Path to Revival is an emotional multi-sensory performance combining dance, live music, vocals and film, on how the songs and dances of Aceh have helped its inhabitants deal with the ravages of war, internal conflict and the 2006 tsunami. NADI Singapura leads 9 Kotak 9 Rentak, a commissioned piece on the drumming traditions from throughout the Nusantara (the Malay archipelago). This rousing performance is the closing highlight of the festival. As always, the festival continues to work also with regional partners through programmes such as Lintas Nusantara – a cultural collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore dancers via masterclasses and performances. 11. In addition, the festival promises an intriguing range of activities for all ages including live performances of traditional music, wayang kulit and story-telling in MHC’s permanent galleries; Fonik Ria, a creative phonics course for pre-schoolers who are taking Malay as a second language; a Dikir Barat workshop; and a perfume workshop led by Johari Kazura, a third-generation perfumer from the Kampong Gelam area. Also, enjoy performances by young angklung players from Sri Warisan, and student groups from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Please refer to www.malayheritage.org.sg and Annex C for a list of programmes and performances in the festival. - End - A Heritage Institution of For media queries, please contact: Keith Kay DID: 6220 5010 Mobile: 9628 4263 Email: [email protected] About the Malay Heritage Centre Officially re-opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in September 2012, the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) showcases the history, culture and contributions of the Malay community within the context of Singapore’s history and multi-cultural society. MHC’s permanent galleries focus on the history of Kampong Gelam and showcase an interesting collecting of artefacts from the National Collection and the Malay community. Through its exhibitions and programmes, the centre aspires to be a vibrant destination of historical and cultural significance for both Singaporeans and international visitors. MHC is under the management of the National Heritage Board in partnership with the Malay Heritage Foundation. About the National Heritage Board The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit. NHB’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the national museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. NHB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information. A Heritage Institution of ANNEX A Calendar of Events A quick look at important events for Kampong Gelam: Beyond the Port Town and highlights of the Malay CultureFest. All events are open to media. Date Event Details Wed, 4 Nov 2015 Media Preview Media event – a briefing of Kg Gelam: Beyond the Port Town and Malay Kampong Gelam: CultureFest 2015, an advanced tour of Beyond the Port the exhibition, meet the curator, people Town involved in the exhibition, and programmes manager. Malay CultureFest 2015 Sat, 7 Nov 2015 Launch of The launch of Kampong Gelam: Beyond Kampong Gelam: the Port Town and the Malay Media registration Beyond the Port CultureFest 2015 will be officiated by Mr 8.00pm Town Special Masagos Zulkifli, Minister/MEWR. Exhibition and Programme Malay CultureFest Photo Opportunities of GOH with the begins welcome procession, at the launch of the 8.30pm Performances Festival & exhibition, and during the Orkestra Melayu guided tour of the exhibition. Singapura Dian Dancers Jatt Ali R. Ismail Hasna Kana Sat & Sun The Path to Media preview/Meet-the-performer 14 & 15 Nov 2015 Revival by Kaizen M.D Thursday, 12 November 2015 8.30pm 8.30pm Fri & Sat Lintas Nusantara Media preview/Meet-the-performers 20 & 21 Nov 2015 Showcase Monday, 16 November 2015 8.00pm 12.00noon Fri, 27 Nov 2015 9 Kotak, 9 Rentak Media preview/Meet-the-performers 8.30pm Wednesday, 25 November 2015 7.30pm ANNEX B A Heritage Institution of Kampong Gelam: Beyond the Port Town Special Exhibition 8 November 2015 – 3 April 2016 Malay Heritage Centre Galleries 1 and 2 Free admission Kampong Gelam: Beyond the Port Town examines the ways in which the precinct has influenced and transformed the lives of those who have lived, worked, played and visited the area.