VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 ISSN: 1793-5261 JANUARY - MARCH 2012 Nº18 Nº18 INSIDE January-March 2012 EDITOR’S MUSEINGS Volume 5, Issue 1. HOW INDIAN TEXTILES SHAPED HISTORY editor-in-chief It is the start of a new year, and a very special one indeed as it Thangamma Karthigesu » p.06 marks the passing of 70 years since the start of World War II in Southeast Asia and the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. While editor Cheryl Sim THE NEW COLLECTION we have came a long way since then, vivid memories of this OF SARONG KEBAYA pivotal phase in Singapore’s history lives on. project co-ordinator AT THE PERANAKAN Lim Huey Wen, Amelia This issue of BeMUSE commemorates this important chapter MUSEUM of the Singapore story by bringing readers through a journey into senior designer » p.14 the past. We will show you monuments where wartime events Ridzwan Ali took place and the memorial sites to honour the war dead. There contributors TECHNOLOGY you will see the many other deep imprints left on the landscape David Chew, Foo Min Li, David MEETS ART by the battle for Singapore and the three years eight months of Henkel, Iskander Mydin, Soh Gek » p.16 Han, Cheryl Sim, Jackie Yoong Japanese Occupation, as well as the contribution of this darkest chapter in Singapore’s history to the nation’s independence in front cover THERE’S NO PLACE Japanese Occupation - The War in 1965. progress. Military Allied Defence. LIKE HOME At the same time, as we welcome 2012, we hope all our National Museum of Singapore » p.22 readers will take a little time off their busy schedules to explore Collection. the many hidden treasures in Singapore’s heritage landscape. A 68 CAIRNHILL ROAD: back cover good starting point will be to take part in the events organised Japanese Occupation - The War in A NEW LEASE OF LIFE by the National Heritage Board and various partners, in com- progress. Military Allied Defence. » p.38 memoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle for Singapore. National Museum of Singapore Collection. Take a guided tour through a pre-war air raid shelter in Tiong STORIES THEY TELL: Bahru, and make a journey through the World War II Trail. Visit printed and bound by MONUMENTS AND Oxford Graphic Printers Pte Ltd the exhibition at the National Library Gallery to view World War SINGAPORE DURING II artefacts uncovered during an archaeological excavation at THE JAPANESE Adam Park. Over a hundred pieces of artwork depicting life in OCCUPATION the prisoner-of-war camps, will also be on display at the National » p.44 Library Gallery. These works from the National Archives of Singapore’s Haxworth Collection were created by ex-prisoner-of- 1942 AND THE FALL war and accomplished artist William Haxworth. OF SINGAPORE: For the generation who has lived through 1942 and the Japa- 70 YEARS LATER nese Occupation, emotions are raw and memories are deep. And » p.54 for the many readers who are born well after this darkest period in Singapore, we hope that the monuments, shared memories, and numerous other forms of remembrance are more than just history lessons; but serve as valuable resources to explore and engage in this important past at an emotional level, deepening MUSELIFE our appreciation of what Singapore is today while preserving this » p.03 vital part of Singapore’s heritage. On the lighter side of things, the 2012 calendar will be filled MUSESHOP with numerous interesting exhibitions and exciting events by the BeMuse is published by the » p.33 Education and Outreach National Heritage Board and its museums. Take a journey back in Division of the National time at the Asian Civilisations Museum to the era when superior Heritage Board. MUSECALENDAR quality India textile dominated the world. Be intrigued by » p.35 If you have any feedback or artworks of an emerging generation of Singapore contemporary wish to contribute an article, artists at The Singapore Show: Future Proof held at the Singapore please email: Art Museum. [email protected] or We hope that the contents offered by BeMUSE, together with go to www.nhb.gov.sg the many exhibitions and events by the National Hertiage Board and its museums, will enrich the life of every reader in this new year. Last but not least, all of us at BeMUSE would like to wish all our readers a peaceful, rewarding and happy 2012! Thangamma Karthigesu © National Heritage Board, 2012. editor-in-chief All rights reserved. View of writers and contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the Publisher and copyright owner. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, the Publisher accepts no liability for damages by misinterpretation of information, expressed or implied, within the pages of the magazine. NODDING HEAD PARSI CHINA, PROBABLY GUANGZHOU ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MERCHANT (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CANTON), MUSEUM 19TH CENTURY PAINTED CLAY HEIGHT: 39.4CM LEE FOUNDATION ATRIUM Heritage Hop-About at 2011-01505 AT THE SINGAPORE Explore Singapore! 2011 . E PHILATELIC MUSEUM Visitors explored and discovered F Singapore’s colourful past, rich I This moustached figure has been appearance of the face indicates that it L heritage, exciting art and vibrant identified as a Parsi – possibly a was modelled on a real person. Miniature cultures through 17 museums, 27 merchant – because of his paghri, a figures like these became popular in the Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Information, Com- national monuments and over 20 traditional male Parsi headgear. He mid-18th century. They were produced munications and the Arts, officiated the Naming Ceremony activities, island-wide, in just two RY. of the Lee Foundation Atrium at the Singapore Philatelic wears a belted tunic and pantaloons mainly in Guangzhou, the mandatory MUSE weeks! E under his coat, a common outfit for men base for most foreign merchants in Museum on 7 October 2011. The atrium was named after the Explore Singapore! 2011 started from the late-17th century onwards. The those days, either for the export market Lee Foundation, in recognition of its $1.2 million donation to on 21 November 2011 with a hop, weighted head rests on the neck, and or on commission from interested the museum from 2007 to 2010. The donation enabled the skip and jump! For the first time, nods when the figure is moved. buyers. Figures portraying European and museum to organise 24 exhibitions during this period, includ- GALL the Preservation of Monuments Asian traders, or Chinese merchants, ing “Dragons, Treasures and Masterpieces” and “Comics and Board (PMB) worked with both The figure was modelled by hand from officials, and workers have survived in Superheroes”. The museum also organised school programmes public and private monument own- clay, fired, and then painted. The life-like large numbers, but depictions of Parsi which benefited 77,000 students, as well as free programmes on ers to open up 27 historical build- open house days which attracted 296,000 visitors from 2007 MUSE merchants are rare. These portraits of ings that have been designated workers and artisans in their everyday to 2010. by PMB as national monuments. life were popular souvenirs bought Special tours were conducted by by foreign travellers. Many of these (Below from left to right) Mr Michael Koh, CEO, National Heritage Board; heritage ambassadors, Mark Lee figures are humorous, often bordering Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and and Suhaimi Yusof, who infused the Arts; Mr Daniel Teo, Chairman, Singapore Philatelic Museum; on caricature, which was and still is an Ms Tresnawati Prihadi, General Manager, Singapore Philatelic Museum fun and excitement into this learn- essential part of their appeal as novelty ing journey. collectibles. At the same time, interactive educational tours were conducted The Parsis descend from the by members of the Museum Round- Zoroastrians, who as early as the eighth table such as Sentosa, Singapore City century left Islamic Iran for India to Gallery and the IRAS (Inland Rev- avoid religious persecution. Both groups enue Authority of Singapore) Gal- followed Spitaman Zarathushtra, the lery. Heritage enthusiasts enjoyed Iranian prophet also known as Zoroaster, night tours at Fort Siloso, and were who lived some time between 6000 brought on a journey through the and 600 BCE. During the 17th century, clans in Chinatown. The public was many Parsis migrated to Bombay also entertained by interactive tours (Mumbai) at the invitation of the East on tax matters and its evolution over India Company. There they prospered as the past 20 years, and were given a shipping tycoons, international traders glimpse into Singapore’s history at and brokers. Parsi families arrived in the National Museum of Singapore Singapore by the mid-19th century. As through the eyes of a ‘visiting foreign merchants and philanthropists, they journalist’. contributed to the country’s prosperity. Families enjoyed two weeks of Some of their names and legacies non-stop fun-filled heritage and remain familiar to many Singaporeans cultural activities. today. Explore Singapore! 2011 ended with a big bang on 4 December 2011, as the public enjoyed open house on that weekend at the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Singapore Philatelic Museum, the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and the Singapore Art Mu- seum. A wide range of programmes and activities, with Singapore’s yesteryears as themes, were held at these museums, including movie screenings, a showcase of vintage cars, gallery viewings, musical performances, as well as old time games such as five stones and chap-teh.