VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Foreword

In today’s ethos of honouring the human context and experience, museology has taken on a new stance. Visitors today can look forward to museums sited within communities and exhibitions with high relatability.

The National Heritage Board’s Assistant Chief Executive of Museums and Programmes, Tan Boon Hui, discusses the museology landscape today (page 22), just as the National Museum of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum unveil their revamped galleries and architecture to reflect their positions in the fabric of our country’s past, present and future. Right-siting and mediation has become key to preserving the stories behind exhibits, while providing context of artefacts in today’s milieu.

The repositioning of the Asian Civilisations Museum’s entrance is storytelling at its best. The entrance now directs visitors to the historical precinct of the representative Straits Settlements port: The Singapore River. The diverse historic sites along the Singapore River Walk bring back the memories of coolies, samsui women, lightermen, merchants and traders who toiled and made their lives by the river. There is something poignant in being able to retrace the steps of our forefathers at existing places and bridges that span our history, right after experiencing the museums (page 29).

Besides our physical and architectural monuments, stories of resilience, humble beginnings and the strength of collective efforts shine through age and time in the Heroes and Icons exhibition of WE: Defining Stories (page 15). They serve as enduring reminders of how far a young nation has come, as well as the limitless possibilities of the human spirit.

This issue includes The Singapore Journey: 50 Years through Stamps (page 5), which highlights our little ambassadors — stamps — that reflect our nation’s diversity and chronicle its journey of independence. Our modest-sized island has nurtured big ambitions, and the diminutive stamps echo them. Stamps commemorate details that matter, making their case of the ingenuity of Singapore’s people, telling their stories proudly in the quaint All rights reserved. View of writers and contributors Singapore Philatelic Museum, as highlighted in Philately: Singapore’s Story in Stamps (page do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced in 11). any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the Publisher and copyright owner. Heritage clearly lies in every aspect of our world, from stamps and artefacts within the Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, the Publisher accepts walls of evolving museum spaces, to travelling exhibitions at various community spaces no liability for damages by misinterpretation of and physical sites along the Singapore River, all of which come together to create a layered information, expressed or implied, within the pages of the magazine. narrative on Singapore’s history.

©2015 NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

Credits MUSE SG team

Front Cover Worker unloading goods from a barge at Boat Quay. The Straits Times Copyright © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.

Front Inner Cover Ewer, 9th century. Stoneware. Gongxian, China. Gift of the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat. Courtesy of John Tsantes and Robert Harrell, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

1 N 31 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Cardholder ISSN: 2424-7766 Retail Price Publisher $16.00 National Heritage Board 61 Stamford Road, #03-08, Stamford Court, Singapore 178892 Chief Executive Officer Contents Rosa Daniel

Assistant Chief Executives Tan Boon Hui 05 The Singapore Journey We (Museums & Programmes) 50 Years through Stamps Alvin Tan (Policy & Development) 11 Philately Singapore’s Story in Stamps MUSE SG team 15 WE: Defining Stories Editor-in-chief Heroes and Icons Sim Wan Hui Love 22 The Future of Our Museums Managing Editor David Chew Museology Highlight

Mini Gusset Design Consultant 29 The Singapore River Story Retail Price Ridzwan Ali Cover Story $28.00 Editorial Managers 39 Bridges into Heritage Reena Devi Singapore River’s Historical Bridges This Maggie Tan Production Manager 43 River Nights Lawrence Low Place as Poetry through the Intervention of Art “Patterns of Heritage” is a series of merchandise Layout 49 inspired by prints of the artefacts in Singapore’s Profile: Sreevidhya Venkatesh Leow Yuan Kai Scents of Singapore National Collection. The series shows the Benjamin Xue deeply-rooted concept of globalisation today 51 Education and the impact of cultural exchange. Copy-editing Hedgehog Communications Singapore’s Secrets Unveiled The design is inspired by the Tree of Life, an Printing 53 Book Review ancient concept combining the magical and Hobee Print Pte Ltd A Life By The River the real. With branches reaching to the sky and roots deep in the earth, it encompasses past Contributors 55 Book Review experiences and future wishes. Nicole Cheng David Chew 170 Years of Journalism Alvin Chua Malay Heritage Centre Priscilla Chua 57 Profile: Susheeta Manoharan 85 Sultan Gate Singapore 198501, Tel: +65 6391 0450 Reena Devi Marrying Food with Heritage Foo Ling Fang Opening hours: Lim Chye Hong 59 The Museum Roundtable Tuesdays to Sundays | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ian Tan Stefanie Tham A Powerhouse of Singapore’s Museums Closed on Mondays Qistina Aisyah Muhd L’fie Lucille Yap 63 Ayala Museum Manila’s Sanctuary for the Arts 64 What’s On October to December 2015

If you have any feedback, please email [email protected] or go to www.nhb.gov.sg

3 1 Exhibition//

The Singapore Journey 50 Years through Stamps

Text by Lucille Yap

To celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday, Singapore Philatelic Museum has curated a special exhibition of stamps, philatelic materials and artefacts.

Stamps are more than tiny pieces First Stamp as a Republic of 2 of colourful gummed paper used Singapore for postage. They are the pride of a On August 9, 1965, Singapore nation, reflecting the rich and diverse separated from Malaysia and became facets of a country. an independent Republic. As the separation came about suddenly, there Since Singapore became a Republic in was a one-year delay in the issuance 1965, every stamp issue, starting from of the first stamp. The different its first in 1966, has chronicled the elements in the stamp highlight the nation’s journey. The stamps showcase important issues of the period — Singapore’s political, economic and unemployment and workforce, public social development; vibrant multiracial housing and industrialisation. It is 3 arts and culture; flora and fauna; and the only stamp issue that states links with the world. “Republic of Singapore”.

Affixed on millions of letters and First Definitive Stamps postcards, stamps are also ambassadors These are four of the 15 stamps from that bring the Singapore Story to all the first definitive stamp collection corners of the world. since independence. The stamps feature cultural performances from This year, at a special philatelic the Malay, Chinese and Indian races. exhibition to celebrate the Jubilee With racial unrest having occurred year of independence, original stamp just four years earlier, these stamps artworks take their place as stars of were a timely and deliberate reminder the show. Most of them are on display that racial harmony would always be for the first time. a cornerstone of the new Republic.

1 & 3 Masks and Dances Definitives, December 1 and 29, 1968. Artworks by Postal Department. 2 First Anniversary of Independence: Survival in a Challenging Future in a Multiracial Society, August 9, 1966. Artwork by Ministry of Culture. 5 4 7 National Service and the Use of Lion Head Symbol This set of stamps commemorates the 20th anniversary of National Service. Introduced on March 17, 1967, over 9,000 young men born in the first six months of 1949 were conscripted for National Service. This was seen as an effective way to build a defence force without further draining the country’s resources.

This stamp issue also featured the Lion Head symbol for the first time. It has since been a permanent feature for every stamp issue.

150th Anniversary of Founding of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew took office in 1959 when the People’s Action Party won 43 out of 51 seats in the General Election. He served as the first Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990. He remained in service for another 20 years as senior 8 government advisor.

Housing the People Singapore today has one of the highest home ownership rates in the world in contrast to the 1950s and 1960s, when thousands of people were cramped in slums and squatter settlements under appalling and unsanitary living conditions. Mr Lim Kim San became the first chairman of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in 1960. Things began to change. An accelerated low-cost housing programme was initiated, coupled with the Home Ownership Programme.

5 6 Keeping Our Taps Running As Singapore became urbanised and the population grew, the demand for water increased. Fearing that the taps might run dry, Singapore expanded and diversified its water resources. Today, Singapore has 17 reservoirs, 32 rivers and 8,000 km of drains and canals to collect and channel rainwater for consumption and use. This was made possible by cleaning the waterways and rivers. The success of cleaning the Singapore and Kallang Rivers led to another ambitious water project — the Marina Barrage.

7 20 Years of National Service, July 1, 1987. Artwork by Melvin Ng PC. 8 Reservoirs of Singapore — Lower Pierce Reservoir, March 22, 2012. Artwork by Don Low.

4 First Day Cover addressed to Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, at the Prime Minister’s Office, August 9, 1969. 5 National Day — Progress of Housing Development in Singapore, June 3, 1963. Artwork by Postal Department. 6 100,000 Homes for the People, July 20, 1969. This stamp was issued to celebrate HDB’s completion of the first 100,000 homes for Singaporeans. According to records, about 600,000 people were settled in these flats. Artwork by Tay Siew Chiah.

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Greening Singapore Flora and fauna have been a recurring theme in Singapore’s stamps, emphasising the importance of Singapore as a green city. In 1963, Mr Lee Kuan Yew started the greening movement by planting a Mempat tree at Farrer Circus. The aim was to distinguish Singapore from other cities in its drive to industrialise and urbanise as the nation moved from Third to First World. Since 1971, there has been an annual Tree-Planting Day.

10 Sports Binds the Nation Conserving Our Heritage When Singapore hosts major international sports events like the latest In the race to build a modern nation in the 1960s and 1970s, much of the 28th SEA Games, Singaporeans throng the National Stadium at Kallang built-up areas in the city had to be torn down. The Urban Redevelopment to cheer on the home contingent. Like all the previous SEA Games (the Authority was set up in 1974 to plan land use and conservation. It applies the first in 1973 was known as SEAP Games) that Singapore hosted, the “3R” Principle for conservation: Maximum Retention, Sensitive Restoration atmosphere for the last SEA Games was described as electrifying with and Careful Repair. To date, more than 94 conservation areas have been all-out home support for the athletes. documented resulting in 7,000 buildings receiving conservation status.

9 Wetlands Wildlife – A stop closer to nature, August 11, 2000. The 87-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve boasts diverse habitats: mangroves, mudflats, brackish and freshwater ponds. It is home to half of Singapore’s bird species and some 500 plant species, marine life, reptiles and amphibians. Featured in this issue are Fiddler Crab, Smooth Otters, White-collared Kingfisher and Archerfish. Artwork by Eng Siak Loy. 10 Sport Series — XVII SEA Games 96 Singapore, June 12, 1993. Artwork by Leo Teck Chong. 11 Architectural Heritage Series — Conservation. Bukit Pasoh, Chinatown, January 17, 1996. Artwork by Poh Siew Wah.

9 FEATURE//

Philately Singapore’s Story in Stamps

Text by Grace Maria Adam

Tucked away on a hill, hidden among government took over the issue of King George V stamps were issued the high commercial buildings, it is stamps between 1867 and 1946. with the overprint “Malaya Borneo difficult to imagine that a red-roofed, Exhibition” to commemorate an two-storey building holds the blueprints As the mail volume and demand exhibition unveiling the budget plan to of the Singapore philately story. for postal services in the country develop reclaimed land at Telok Ayer. increased, the General Post Office The Singapore Philatelic Museum was relocated several times. The During the Japanese Occupation, is the humble abode to Singapore’s Fullerton Building, named after the Japanese used stamps as a postal history since it opened on Robert Fullerton who was the first propaganda instrument to establish August 19, 1995. It is Southeast Asia’s governor of the Straits Settlements, their sovereignty. The Japanese first philatelic museum, with main was a grand post office established recalled existing stamps throughout galleries and travelling exhibitions, as by the side of the Singapore River the country and overprinted them to well as a quirky museum shop known in 1928. It was the largest building deface the British sovereign head to be a philatelist’s playground. To the in Singapore when it was first on the stamps. They then redistributed first time visitor, the museum readily completed. the colonial stamps in Japanese. offers a rich lesson in Singapore’s Unexpectedly, the first public history and heritage with its collection The initial purpose of stamps was postage stamp design contest was of deceivingly simple stamps. purely functional, used only for organised during the Japanese everyday postal needs. They were Occupation period. A Nation’s Story in Stamps issued regularly at the post office. Before the advent of technology, mail After World War II, postal services was the main form of long-distance In 1917, the Red Cross was the first resumed under the British Military communication for the maritime port. to use the stamp to solicit funds administration. Due to the mandatory The East India Company introduced for war victims, by printing “RED one-month period to overprint the first postage stamp in Singapore CROSS — 2c” over three- and four- stamps, postal services were free of in 1854. The Straits Settlement cent stamps. In another example, charge (FOC) between September

Postcard of General Post Office, Singapore (c. 1935). Collection of Singapore Philatelic Museum. Donated by Professor Cheah Jin Seng.

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17 and October 18, 1945. Besides the by industrialisation; in 1963, blocks of the 1.3 by 1.8 inch prints, amongst necessity of the FOC grace period — of Housing Development Board other paraphernalia, in colourful, the alternative being cancelling all (HDB) flats were featured. Loosely cosy and interactive exhibitions. postage services — it was also thought speaking, the stamp designs to be a fitting way to celebrate the end were the visual manifestation of The stamp galleries are not all of the war. Singapore’s social, economic and exclusively in local flavours. In political ambitions. the recent Return to Sender — An The first set of Singapore stamps were Exhibition, the Singapore Philatelic issued in 1948, making history by Throughout the years, stamps have Museum showcased an array of featuring the word “Singapore”. The told different stories, immortalising stamps and collectibles related event was commemorated with a people, events, buildings and even to Elvis Presley. The collection, stamp design with a lion statue as its botany. In this digital age, it can that includes vinyl records and main feature. be argued that definitive stamps movie posters, was on loan from a have reached the end of an era. Singapore collector. The exhibition Beginning from the 1960s, On the other hand, just like how ended on 15 November, 2015. 2 stamps were used extensively to photographs hold memories, the commemorate significant political, collection of stamps in the Singapore Every visitor leaves the Singapore social and economic events in Philatelic Museum still holds value, Philatelic Museum with a sticker Singapore’s history. In 1960, for serving as a photo book of sorts that in the shape of a stamp. More Singapore’s historical first National narrates the Singapore story. importantly, they are taking Day, the stamp issue featured the with them a unique, educational new state flag. In 1961, the stamp Today’s Singapore Philatelic experience. Going past the red showed the joining of hands of Museum postbox (which they can mail a real four individuals from the Chinese, The Singapore Philatelic Museum has letter or postcard from) that holds Indian, Malay and Others (CMIO) been active in its mission to acquire fort at the museum entrance and ethnicity model. In 1962, skilled and exhibit postage-related artefacts, exit, one can hope that they have labour was depicted to show the and to educate the public on philately. discovered a world of priceless legacies turnaround of Singapore’s economy The public gets to enjoy the wonders in the humble two-storey abode.

This is part of a series of articles by Singapore Management University (SMU) students who are part of SMU’s Introduction to Museum Management Module.

1 Singapore Philatelic Museum. Courtesy of National Heritage Board. 2 30th Anniversary of the Independence of Singapore Stamp, 1995. Images are reproduced with permission from Singapore Philatelic Museum.

13 FEATURE//

DEFININGE STORIES

Text by Priscilla Chua and Stefanie Tham

This is the third of four chapters in WE: Defining Stories, a travelling exhibition presenting photographs that captured significant moments in Singapore’s history. A collaboration between the National Heritage Board and the Straits Times, these photographs were selected from the archives of The Straits Times and the collection of the National Museum of Singapore. It will be rotated monthly amongst various libraries across Singapore to celebrate our nation’s 50TH anniversary. For more information, turn to page 64.

Heroes and Icons when they smash records and win came the big moment for Tao Li and In this third section of WE: Defining medals in sporting events. Singapore Singapore! We cheered our beloved Stories, let us revisit the national rejoiced when our women’s table compatriot on and were delighted to icons and local heroes that made tennis team clinched the silver medal see her qualify for the semi-finals. their mark in our nation’s history at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, That moment, I felt very proud to be and have become an indelible part 48 years after weightlifter Tan Howe a Singaporean and I aspire to make of the Singapore story. Whether Liang won Singapore’s first-ever Singapore proud one day, just like how they are our sports champions, Olympic medal in 1960. Tao Li did.” (Source: The Straits Times, homegrown artistes or Ah Meng, 7 September 2012, p. B26) our most popular orang-utan, it Beyond headline-grabbing achieve- is hard not to be moved when we ments, the sports fans themselves SEA Games see our countrymen (including have their own stories of support, During the most recent 28th South one primate) fly the Singapore flag encouragement and celebration. The East Asian (SEA) Games, Singapore overseas. Our heroes can also be Kallang Roar, the thunderous wild struck a record-breaking medal haul found closer to home, such as our jubilation of tens of thousands of of 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze medical professionals holding fast football fans cheering the national medals which was impressive and to their positions of duty in critical squad at the National Stadium, is a historic. Swimming contributed situations. Witnessing their fortitude sound not many will soon forget. to the bulk of the medal haul with and successes, these stories of Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng perseverance and triumphs never fail Clare Cheng (b. 2003) was one of the Wen winning a medal in every to inspire imagination and awe. three young Singaporeans who event they competed in. These attended the London 2012 Olympic breakthrough performances also Sports Games under MacDonald’s Champions included the synchronised swimming Stories of sporting victories capture of Play programme. She said, “One of team’s first gold in the sport, in the the imagination of both young and my favourite events was swimming, team free combination event, and old. We share in the triumphs of the where I caught the great legend sprinter Shanti Pereira’s gold medal nation’s champions and celebrate Michael Phelps in action… Then in the women’s 200m finals.

Singapore’s triumphant national football team at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur after winning the Malaysia Cup for the first time in 12 years. 28 May 1977. Photo: Mak Kian Seng / The Straits Times 15 1 3 6 9

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1 Singaporean weightlifter Tan Howe Liang won an Olympic 3 Swimmers Ang Peng Siong and Junie Sng congratulate each 6 Singapore’s badminton star Ronald Susilo poses for a 9 Fandi Ahmad greeting fans after Singapore’s victory in silver medal, two Commonwealth gold medals and an Asian other during the 1983 SEA Games held in Singapore at Toa photoshoot at Naumi Hotel in 2008. the 1994 Malaysia Cup final at the Shah Alam Stadium in Games gold medal. 22 October 1966. Payoh swimming pool. 29 May 1983. Photo: Desmond Foo / The Straits Times Selangor. 17 December 1994. Photo: The Straits Times Photo: Albert Sim / The Straits Times 7 Joscelin Yeo wins the women’s 100m butterfly event at the Photo: Jerry Seh / The Straits Times 2 Victory parade by the Singapore’s South East Asian 4 Table tennis players (from left) Wang Yuegu, Feng Tianwei and 2006 SEA Games in record time. 2 December 2005. 10 The first Singapore team comprising Edwin Siew and Khoo Peninsular (SEAP) Games contingent in December 1969, led Li Jiawei with their silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo: Albert Sim / The Straits Times Swee Chiow to conquer Mount Everest in 1998. by Singaporean swimmer Patricia Chan. Chan won 10 gold These were Singapore’s first Olympic medals after 48 years. 8 Butterfly stroke specialist Joseph Schooling was the pride Photo: Singapore’s First Everest Expedition medals in the competition. 15 December 1969. Photo: Albert Sim / The Straits Times of Team Singapore when he touched home first in the men’s Photo: Mak Kian Seng / The Straits Times 5 Mohd Shariff Abdullah, dubbed “Singapore’s blade runner” for 100m final at the Asian Games in South Korea, 2014. his prosthetic leg, took part in the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run Photo: Neo Xiaobin / The Straits Times on 5 August 2010 despite fasting for Ramadan. Photo: Chew Seng Kim / The Straits Times

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12 14 Singapore Girl and Ah Meng stories that resonate with us. Today, workplaces. At the frontline of this Other local icons endear themselves many of these characters and artistes battle against SARS were the medical to us by representing Singapore have become household names for professionals who courageously stood internationally. The kebaya-clad most Singaporeans. their ground to heal the stricken and Singapore Girl of our national airline stop the spread of the disease. exemplifies elegance and quality SARS service, while Ah Meng is most loved Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Bryan Van Der Beek was one of the as the poster girl for anti-poaching or SARS, is a highly contagious, life- five photographers who participated and conservation. Right up to her threatening, flu-like viral disease that in the exhibition >38°C: Remembering death a few years ago at the ripe old overwhelms the victim’s respiratory SARS at the Singapore History Museum age of 48, she held the mantel as the system. In 2003, a global epidemic of in 2004. He said, “One takeaway from most famous orangutan in the world. SARS broke out in China and made its this whole episode is the resilience of way to Singapore via Hong Kong in not just the patients but the health- Homegrown Artistes March. Within weeks, more than 200 care workers. A large portion of them Iconic stories also light up, quite liter- people were infected, and 33 people were not locals; there were Filipinos, ally, television screens in households were dead. To contain the epidemic, and most of them were at the end across the country. Locally-produced unprecedented precautionary mea- of their contracts, they could have dramas, variety shows and sitcoms sures were taken across the country, gone home but most chose to sign to — in English, Mandarin, Malay and including quarantines, thermal continue giving aid. Being behind the Tamil — are enjoyed by a wide spec- scanning (to detect people with fever) scenes, you really gain a profound trum of Singapore society because at immigration points, and daily understanding of the amount of work they feature characters, settings and temperature checks in schools and they had to do and how difficult it is.”

11 Badminton player Wong Peng Soon takes on his opponent at 14 Singapore Girls and stewards posing on the wing of the Big the finals of the Thomas Cup in 1955. He won the match. Top airplane for photographer Pierre Boulat, a contributor for Photo: The Straits Times the Times Organisation’s ‘A Salute to Singapore’ project, 1984. 12 Singapore’s national football team, led by Quah Kim Song Photo: Tan Suan Ann / The Straits Times (seen here strumming the guitar), relaxing at the Jalan Besar 15 Celebrity orang-utan Ah Meng enjoying a drink, 1982. clubhouse before leaving for the Malaysia Cup final against Photo: Mazlan Badron / The Straits Times Selangor in 1975. 16 Singapore Zoological Gardens director Bernard Harrison Photo: Jerry Seh / The Straits Times lights a candle on a huge banana “cake” to celebrate the 13 Singapore Girls — stewardesses of Singapore Airlines (SIA) — zoo’s 10th anniversary in 1983. With him was orangutan Ah pose for SIA’s United Kingdom trishaw promotion campaign. Meng, star of the zoo. The campaign was to publicise the start of the airline’s jumbo jet service in 1973. Photo: Tan Wee Him / The Straits Times

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17 The 12 finalists of Singapore Broadcasting Corporation’s Star 19 The Quests was a popular local band of the 1960s. The 21 Communicating across glass barriers at Tan Tock Seng 23 Patients wait for their turn to be screened outside Tan Tock Search ’88, which included the future “Queen of Caldecott original quartet consisted of Jap Chong, Raymond Leong, Hospital during the SARS outbreak. May 2003. Seng Hospital. 29 March 2003. Hill” Zoe Tay on the extreme right. 26 January 1988. Henry Chua and Lim Wee Guan, who were neighbours living in Photo: Bryan Van Der Beek / Collection of National Museum of Singapore Photo: How Hwee Young / The Straits Times Photo: Tan Suan Ann / The Straits Times Tiong Bahru. 22 December 1967. 22 A nurse communicates a written message from a patient to 24 Nurse Du Yuan moved to tears at Ward 9B, Tan Tock Seng 18 Cast of the hit TV sitcom Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, (from left) Source: The Straits Times her family at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. 1 May 2003. Hospital, during the SARS outbreak. 1 May 2003. Marcus Ng, Neo Swee Lin, Tan Kheng Hua, Pierre Png, Irene 20 Runner-up Sylvester Sim (left) and host Gurmit Singh Photo: Bryan Van Der Beek / Collection of National Museum of Singapore Photo: Bryan Van Der Beek / Collection of National Museum of Singapore Ang and Gurmit Singh. 22 June 1999. congratulate Taufik Batisah (right), winner of the first season Photo: Stephanie Yeow / The Straits Times of Singapore Idol. 1 December 2004. Photo: Joyce Fang / The Straits Times

21 Feature // Museology highlight

How are museum-going visitors different today 1 and how have they changed, compared to some two decades ago, when the national museums first opened?

The Future In an era of vast change and flux, museum visitors want mediation. They want interpretation when they visit a museum, so that they can have their own take on the interpretation. The kind of historical objects or artefacts we display are not self-evident, and we should engender of Our visitors’ experiences through various platforms and means. The focus in staging such programmes should be about welcoming fresh visitors who are new to the exhibits, and not only about the people who are already familiar with Museums the content. We have to accept the reality that there are still large numbers of people who are new to the story-telling mode Text by David Chew of museums and their exhibitions. Mediation becomes very important then, especially in terms of how we facilitate MUSE SG talks to Tan Boon Hui, the National visitors’ entry and their experience throughout. This is Heritage Board’s Assistant Chief Executive also the reason why, for example, the story-telling mode in (Museums and Programmes), on the need NMS is now clearer and more technology is being brought in to facilitate and guide the encounter. to reposition museums today, and how the 2 upcoming gallery revamps will respond to With the encroachment of virtual reality and social worldwide changes in audience development media in our world today, how important is the object and the museological landscape. and artefact in museology today?

Two of our national museums, the National The research that has been done in museology so far Museum of Singapore (NMS) and the Asian shows that the artefact actually becomes more important Civilisations Museum (ACM), will revamp their — that museum experiences of visitors demonstrate that the more you virtualise, the more people want the real galleries to update their content, reflect thing. The element of authenticity has become more new research, and enhance the museum- precious, which is why objects have become more and going experience of visitors today (see more venerated. With just simulacrums of the real thing sidebox). out there, it is only in museums that people get a chance to encounter “the real thing”. The roles and positioning of museums have changed over the years, from being mere Social history is also being emphasised more now in both the NMS and ACM gallery revamps. Why is there guardians of artefacts of world heritage a need to do so? to becoming living, breathing sites engaging with contemporary society and culture. Academically, the full impact of post-colonial studies, subaltern studies and microhistories in our area of work is now being felt. Like the academic James Warren who used funeral records to reconstruct the lives of ordinary 1 Simulation of a drive-in cinema in the Voices of Singapore people such as rickshaw coolies in colonial Singapore, gallery, featuring a video installation by young Singaporean filmmaker, Eva Tang, at National Museum of Singapore. Tan Boon Hui, Assistant Chief Executive history is now also about the actual experiences of 2 Visitors at Singapore History Gallery at National Museum of (Museums and Programmes) everyday, ordinary people. Singapore.

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I think that full impact has been felt in museology, of Islamic art for example, they did a very well-known especially in history and ethnographic museums, that exhibition on the Hajj, featuring the people along the human agency should return to the museums these days. pilgrimage routes. Things didn’t happen to people, people made things happen: That is the difference. We are shifting the mode The museums are also located within specific cultural of story-telling from telling how things happened, to how precincts: The ACM in Empress Place, with its newly people made things happen. That is a crucial kind of shift revamped entrance tied to the Singapore River, and and while museums are about the past, they also hint at the the NMS in the Bras Basah precinct. All of this lends to possibilities of the future. the museums being part of a larger context.

So what will museums of the future look like in the Museums can no longer be ivory towers. They need to light of such developments? articulate their value to the local community that they are not just socially embedded but physically sited within. Museums in general will be about authenticity and human agency. This also means that it may become very difficult And you see this for example in New York, with the for museums to be just a collection of treasures. Without Whitney Museum of American Art’s recent move to human agency, museums become just that — objects in a Chelsea. That such a rarefied institution has moved into showcase. In a world where values are in flux, people are the community, to a place where its citizens are, where constantly questioning this change, especially Singapore at Americans are, is telling. I think that’s why the precinct this moment in time. and precinct building for any cultural institution become vital, because these demonstrate its value to the locale, 3 4 Museums will increasingly feel the need to be compelling, social groups and community that it is in. to capture that kind of richness of human life and human experience in true authenticity. When we say The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC), for instance, is truly authentic, it means that museums must be able to becoming more and more embedded in Kampong Glam. deal with genuine ambiguity and ambivalence because This is to the extent where the big exhibition for this year that is the lived experience. There’s a need to deal with which opened in November is actually on Kampong Glam. tentativeness and contingency, and I think museums Even though it’s a Malay heritage centre, the exhibition should work with these. on Kampong Glam will demonstrate the multicultural history of that area we call Kampong Glam today, beyond One example is the British Museum and the exhibitions the kind of textbook association of Kampong Glam with they have done in the last few years. Even though it’s the Malay community. This is an example of a cultural a museum of treasures, instead of doing an exhibition institute being located within a heritage precinct, creating a more relevant context for the centre.

1 – 3 Visitors exploring the Growing Up gallery, National Museum of Singapore. 4 Visitors engaging with immersive exhibits at the Singapore History Gallery, National Museum of Singapore.

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ACM Revamp View from Boat Quay Courtesy of Asian Civilisation Museum

What’s new: Assistant Chief Executive on the NMS and ACM gallery revamps

“The revamps of both NMS and ACM have to do with cultures, peoples and communities within and outside 2 32 bringing them up-to-date with the presentation of Asia. their content, and including new research that has been discovered or become more easily available This revamp develops the content of these galleries since the museums first opened. further and makes them clearer, by organising them around themes like trade and religion, for example. The NMS permanent galleries are on Singapore’s These themes enable us to talk about Asia in its history and culture, and with this year being SG50, 50 diverse realities, how different parts of Asia are years of national political independence will be the related to one another through time and space, and focus, along with updating content to the present day. how they are related to the world beyond Asia. An In particular, these include expanding and deepening example is how the Tang Shipwreck cargo contents, the presentation of Singapore post-World War II: which are in the Khoo Teck Puat Gallery, clearly basically the nation-building years like decolonisation, demonstrate the intense and vital links between self-government, the struggle for independence, and the region and China; the focus is not just about Federation with Malaysia. We are not forgetting the Southeast Asia but also with other parts of Asia. Temasek and post-Temasek periods as well, so we are also deepening and filling in some gaps, with the The ACM is located at the mouth of the Singapore results of up-to-date research and artefacts from River near where Raffles first landed, and where the recent excavations which give a fuller picture of life customs facilities, the goods, people and so on were, before 1819. when Singapore’s river trade flourished. In reorienting the entrance of the ACM to face the river, this allows Because NMS is transitioning to become a people’s us to rearticulate the relationship of the stories museum, the new Level 2 galleries will focus on that the museum attempts to tell, highlighting the people’s stories and their experiences of key moments connections within Asia and beyond with the ACM’s or periods in Singapore’s history. Some examples are actual physical site. how certain individuals survived or coped with the experience of the occupation under the Japanese. It’s The ACM’s reorientation towards the river is present 1 Changsha bowls, 9th century. Stoneware. Guangdong, China. Tang Shipwreck Collection, Khoo Teck Puat Gallery, Asian Civilisations Museum. not macro-history — it’s how people really lived. in terms of its content and also its physical fabric. It’s 2 Octagonal cup with musicians and a dancer, 9th century. Gold. China. a kind of porosity, and it’s no longer a self-contained Tang Shipwreck Collection, Khoo Teck Puat Gallery, Asian Civilisations Museum. The original permanent galleries of ACM were never building by the river bank but part of the fabric of that Courtesy of John Tsantes and Robert Harrell, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The Tang Shipwreck Collection was made possible by the generous donation of the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat in honour of the late Khoo Teck Puat. about self-contained regions. They were always about area and all the kind of historical resonances that 3 The artist Eng Tow working on Grains of Thought at the Contemporary Space, the interconnections and the exchanges between come with it.” Kwek Hong Png Wing, Level 1, Asian Civilisations Museum.

27 Cover story//

The Singapore River Story Text by Alvin Chua

For centuries, people have shaped the Singapore River with legends, stories and accounts ranging from the everyday to the fantastic, and in turn had their memories shaped by the river. The Singapore River Walk organically ties these elements together for an unforgettable experience of the river where it all started.

The question has been mused upon before, but remains pertinent. If the Singapore River could speak, what stories might it tell? Of the ancient majesty of Temasek, the earliest travellers from across the globe, the flocks of trading ships or the multitudes of immigrants looking to build a better life in nascent nineteenth-century Singapore?

The river has always fired the imagination: From the Orang Laut, venerating a rock in the river’s mouth shaped like a swordfish to avert misfortune when navigating the treacherous waters, to the enduring mystery of the yet-to-be deciphered Singapore Stone, through to the river’s renewal and redevelopment in the 1980s, symbolising the will and progress of modern Singapore.

In this light, the Singapore River Walk by National Heritage Board, recently launched on October 6, is simply the latest manifestation of the ways in which we celebrate the river.

The trading settlement of Temasek, existent by the fourteenth century and attested to in Chinese and Javanese accounts as well as the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), was located around the Singapore River. With its centuries-deep history, the river is archaeologically one of the richest areas on the island.

The latest excavation, conducted in 2015, found imperial-grade porcelain from the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), artefacts from the earlier Song (960 to 1279) and Yuan (1271 to 1368) dynasties, Buddhist figurines and gold coins from regional polities.

Collyer Quay in the 1900s. Collection of National Museum of Singapore.

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Collyer Quay, Singapore, c. 1900. Kwan Yue Keng Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore Clifford Pier c. 1970. Collection of National Museum of Singapore

In 1819, the British landed on the south bank of the river also the first sight of Singapore many immigrants took in In Collyer Quay, areas bestowed with conservation status families, as well as the call girls euphemistically referred and founded a trading post, which grew into a settlement from aboard their ships. today are Clifford Pier, Customs House, and Change Alley to as ‘Coca-Cola girls’, also made their way onto ships via and gradually into the city of modern Singapore. The earliest Aerial Plaza, which connects the pier area with Raffles Clifford Pier. British settlement paralleled the boundaries of old Temasek, This paved the way for development on a grander scale in Place. a point noted by the second colonial Resident, John Crawfurd, the early twentieth century, as neoclassical commercial This made for a bustling atmosphere, with stalls where as he explored the crumbling ancient city walls still evident buildings grew in tandem with the tides of commerce. Clifford Pier and Customs House coffee and teh tarik could be had for 10 cents and where in 1822. Author and historian Julian Davison remembers: “Here As a gateway for travellers and sailors, Clifford Pier was your sup kambing might have been seasoned with illicit ganja. were 1920s blockbusters: Ocean Building, the Hongkong as colourful a place as you’d expect. Opened in 1933 to Collyer Quay and Shanghai Bank, Union Building and the Fullerton replace Johnston’s Pier (constructed in 1856), Clifford Pier Magdalene Boon remembers: “Sitting on a bench at In early colonial Singapore, the Collyer Quay area was Building, so mammoth because of their cutting edge, continued the tradition of being lit with red beacons, as Clifford Pier, watching the embarking and disembarking something of an afterthought. The city centre was further lighter reinforced concrete frames and artificial stone was the case with the previous pier. of human flotsam and jetsam, from the ever-busy sampans up at the Singapore River and Raffles Place where trading cladding. Brilliant from afar was the bank’s cathedral glass, [and] motor launches, was the highlight of the week for houses, godowns and merchants clustered around the where the female figure of Commerce reigned over ships... This earned the pier and the surrounding area the colloquial me. I love the smell of the sea and listening to all the diverse goods ferried in by visiting vessels. Defined in relation Flanking either end, the skyscrapers of Asia Insurance name of Ang teng (red lamp in Hokkien) and equivalent foreign tongues wagging accompanied by the frantic hand to this hive of trading activity, Collyer Quay was a shoreline Building and the Bank of China were gigantic legs soaring names in Malay and Cantonese. The column-free gestures. [It] never [failed] to amaze me [how] people known in Hokkien as Tho kho au (Behind the godowns). to the clouds...” These developments presented an imposing Passenger Hall of the pier features Art Deco detailing, communicate, be it illiterate or not!” waterfront vanguard and drew comparisons with Shanghai’s including ribbon-like arched trusses on the roof and That all changed after 1864, when the shore was reclaimed well-known Bund. stylised sunrays on the entrance arch. Until the 1970s, koleks and other traditional watercraft and a seawall built even as the Singapore River was converged on Clifford Pier during festive occasions for becoming congested with boat traffic. Within a few years, Today, colonial-era buildings that survived include the A multitude of boats including tongkangs, twakows, jongs, regattas of boat races, displays of sailing skills and other Collyer Quay was studded with shophouses and trading Fullerton Building (the former General Post Office, once sampans, bumboats and ferries thronged Clifford Pier, games. Piloted by villagers from Pasir Panjang and outlying offices, out of which merchants scanned the sea for arriving “the most important post office in the east”, according taking passengers to ocean-going vessels further offshore, islands including Pulau Seking and Pulau Semakau, these ships with telescopes. The quay, named after Colonel to the Polish writer Joseph Conrad) and the former Asia other coastal parts of Singapore or to nearby islands. boats and their adroit handlers represented a maritime George Chancellor Collyer of the Madras Engineers, was Insurance Building. Shipping and insurance agents, suppliers, sailors and their heritage that stretched back centuries.

31 Ismail recalls: “There were so many types of different Raffles’ declaration of Singapore as a free port saw [handmade] Malay wooden boats all skillfully carved and junks from China, Siam and Indochina arriving with painted with bright colours from the Southern Islands and silk, porcelain, rice and opium, while prahus from the even the Indonesian islands too. There was much rivalry!” Indonesian islands hauled in coffee, spices and gold dust, their merchandise displayed from the sides of their ships Next to Clifford Pier is Customs House, where the 300- to attract the gaze of the merchants in their shophouses strong Harbour Division of the Customs Department once and godowns along Boat Quay. The captains made the trip kept watch over Singapore’s waterfront. From here, officers home laden with ironware, opium, steel, guns, cotton and locked on to ship-to-shore smuggling of dutiable goods such other goods. as liquor and tobacco, and contraband including narcotics. Reminiscing about his childhood in the 1950s, Chia Hearn Of a more sinister nature was human trafficking — Kok says: “When the tide of the Singapore River was at its Geraldene Lowe remembered Customs officers telling highest...you would find me joining the many boys playing stories of how “sampans would glide into Clifford Pier in the flooded streets and swimming in the river. We would in the dead of night with special cargo — hot items were be in our short pants and bare-bodied...our heads were opium and girls!” To intercept the smugglers, Customs always above water because of the stench from the animal officers would patrol the waters with speedboats and and human waste and the rubbish. One of our favourite launches. antics was to catch a ride to the Elgin Bridge on the heavily loaded tongkangs [vessels] that plied the river by climbing Boat Quay on to the rubber tyres on their sides.” Boat Quay was the vital artery that kept the famed entrepot trade of early Singapore flowing, but things could have turned Jenny Lum remembers a typical scene of the 1960s: “As my out very differently if the first British Resident William dad was a spice and rice merchant, we lived in Synagogue Farquhar had had his way. Farquhar favoured Kampong Glam Street shophouses that have now all been demolished. for the location of the settlement’s business district, while Sir When the goods arrived in the big tongkang, the head of Stamford Raffles was determined to site the district around coolies called the kepala will put a long wooden plank the Singapore River, even though most of the land there was against the tongkang and the coolies will walk up the swamp, unusable without major reclamation. plank one at a time with a piece of cloth cushioning their shoulder and carry down one gunny sack at a time...they Raffles won the day in the debate, and what was to become were being paid on the number of sacks cleared.” Boat Quay and Raffles Place formed the site of Singapore’s first land reclamation project between 1822 and 1823. Boat Quay’s days of river trade ended in the 1980s, and the Labourers were paid one rupee a day to level the small river underwent an epic clean-up that involved multiple hills, on which a number of huts occupied by Chinese government agencies and the personal intervention of our planters stood, and fill in the surrounding swampland. founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The river and The earth from the levelled hills was also used to create its surrounding areas had been polluted from the days embankments around the river, creating Boat Quay, of colonial Singapore. Perhaps the earliest clean-up had while the land formerly occupied by the hills became occurred when Farquhar ordered the removal of hundreds Commercial Square and later Raffles Place. of human skulls, the remains of the victims of ancient piracy, from the beaches. The riverine trade enabled by the development of Boat Quay grew rapidly, spawning evocative place names such By the 1980s, the waterway was choked with refuse, dead as the crescent-shaped ‘Belly of the Carp’ stretch near animals, food and industrial waste, with the inevitable the river mouth, and early merchant Alexander Laurie accompanying stench. The 10-year clean-up saw the Johnston’s Tanjong Tangkap, advantageously located to removal of pollutive trades around the river from Boat snap up the most lucrative goods. Quay to Robertson Quay, dredging of the banks and riverbed, and the clearance of tonnes of rubbish. Pre-war shophouses were conserved and Boat Quay is today a dining and nightlife destination.

Aerial view of bumboats along Boat Quay, c. 1960s. Collection of National Museum of Singapore.

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trading firms, shops of all stripes, and eateries. The many Raffles Place, Change Alley and Market Street kittangi (warehouse shops owned by the merchant financier Raffles Place stands today as the heart of Singapore’s Chettiars) on Market Street gained it the Tamil name of financial district, a towering sweep of steel and glass Chetty theruvu (Chettiar’s Street). monuments to the power of commerce. Known as Commercial Square before its renaming to honour Raffles A Multi-faceted Walk in 1858, the area quickly assumed its role as a business hub, These storied sites are just a taste of the many locations to where merchants and ship captains flocked to for news, explore around the Singapore River. Included in the river business intelligence and gossip. walk are others like Clarke Quay with its former canneries, ice houses and godowns owned by towkays (wealthy As the commercial stakes grew ever higher, so did the businessmen) like Tan Tye and “Whampoa” Hoo Ah Kay. buildings of offices, company headquarters and banks. The trail also features the River House, one of only two They reach upwards, evolving into the familiar skyscrapers traditional Chinese houses remaining in Singapore, and of the present. Some of the renowned buildings of the past the former Thong Chai Medical Institution, where free included the Chartered Bank Building, where the Standard medical treatment saved the lives of thousands of coolies. Chartered Bank Building now stands, the Mercantile Bank on the site of today’s Raffles Place Mass Rapid Transit The bridges that span the river, including Singapore’s (MRT) station, and the United Overseas Bank where UOB oldest Cavenagh Bridge, paint a picture of changing times Centre currently is. in their own right and warrant a visit. The walk also takes in Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, the oldest mosque in Raffles Place also catered to retail customers. Household Singapore, and Tan Si Chong Su Temple, which used to name department stores Robinson’s and John Little both face the former river island of Pulau Saigon. started here, while jewellers BP de Silva, textiler Gian Singh and the Honeyland Milk Bar were well-patronised. Explore these locales on the Singapore River Walk to Paul Kuah recalls: “My siblings used to bring me down to encounter the lesser-known, but equally fascinating, places 2 Raffles Place in the 1960s to shop at Robinson’s and John along the Singapore River, and you might just uncover Little. In those days, it was always a high point in my life another facet of an ever-evolving story. and I recall the old Chartered Bank building, with the friendly Sikh security guard standing outside during the The Singapore River Walk is adopted by American Express. day and who would sleep on his charpoy in front of the bank’s door by night.”

Those were mainly upmarket establishments that stocked goods for European tastes. Away from the department The memories shared in this article come from the Singapore stores, a bustling bazaar could be found at Change Alley Memory Project (SMP). The SMP is a whole-of-nation movement which aims to capture and document precious moments and between Raffles Place and Collyer Quay, with shops that memories related to Singapore; recollections not merely from thrived on bargaining. These drew locals, tourists and individual Singaporeans, but also organisations, associations, sailors, among others, with their diverse array of goods. companies and groups. This project is driven by the Ministry of Communications and Information and led by the National Library Board. For more memories, please visit www. From the early 1800s, Market Street and Chulia Street held singaporememory.sg a significant Indian presence with migrants establishing

1 Change Alley, c, 1989. Courtesy of Singapore Press Holdings Limited. 2 Shoppers at Robinson’s at Raffles Place, c. 1965. Courtesy of Singapore Press Holdings Limited.

35 he Singapore River T he Singapore traces the Walk development of the River and Singapore its surroundings the quays, through bridges and other conserved landmarks us of that remind the communities who once lived and worked by the river. Since 1819, when modern Singapore was founded, the River has Singapore served as an artery of international that drew commerce all over people from to work, the region trade and seek their fortunes on this after a island. Today, major clean-up that ended in 1983, the river continues to bustle with life. This clean and pleasant waterway now flows pass modern sky scrappers and historic buildings before ending at Marina Bay, reservoir a freshwater since 2008. River The Singapore is adopted by Walk American Express. The Singapore River Walk

37 FEATURE//

Bridges into Heritage Singapore River’s Historical Bridges

Text by Nicole Cheng and Ian Tan

As Singapore developed as a thriving Elgin Bridge Cavenagh Bridge port city, the need for overland While the current Elgin Bridge is not The oldest of the existing bridges infrastructure became apparent. The the oldest, its position at the Singapore across the Singapore River, Cavenagh opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 River has the longest history of all Bridge was constructed in 1869 to made Singapore a key British port for five bridges. Presentment Bridge was provide quicker access between the European ships to get fuel and water the first to be constructed in that spot opposing banks of the government en route to China and India. This, in 1823, to facilitate pedestrian traffic and commercial districts. The mouth coupled with the advancement in between the government district of the river had become congested steamship technology, resulted in the and the Chinese Commerce district. due to the congregation of trading construction of five historical bridges It was the only bridge that spanned houses and small boats called lighters over the Singapore River to support the river for 20 years — reflecting that facilitated the transportation of the influx of trade. the settlement’s predominant river goods from larger vessels across the transport system in its first two river’s shallow waters. Frequent reconstruction of the decades of establishment. bridges during the Crown Colony Anderson Bridge period and the successive changes What stands today was built in 1929 This was the first steel bridge in of construction materials used, from and is the fourth reconstruction of Singapore. During the early twentieth timber to iron to reinforced concrete, the bridge. In an unusual move for century, steel had replaced iron as the highlighted the increasing load and the times, a locally-based engineer, preferred material for bridges as it traffic the bridges had to handle as T.C. Hood, was employed to design offered greater strength and superior entrepot trade prospered. In the the Elgin Bridge. With a deep resistance to corrosion. Anderson absence of the bustling river trade understanding of the river, Hood Bridge was built in 1910 to alleviate and lighters, the restored bridges no was aware of the need to raise the heavy traffic on Cavenagh Bridge, longer relate to their original urban Elgin Bridge four feet higher than and to provide quick access from contexts but have become historical the previous bridge to allow for more Kampong Glam to Keppel Harbour references to the growth of the city headway during high tide. Moreover, along the coastal road. Vestiges of we know today. the technique of encasing concrete urban development then can still be around steelwork was utilised to identified today, with key landmarks prevent corrosion by sulpheretted such as the Esplanade, Clifford Pier hydrogen present in fumes emitted and Raffles Place. from factories and warehouses along the river.

Cavenagh Bridge, with Boat Quay in the background, 1950s. Collection of National Museum of Singapore. 39 1 2

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Read Bridge Ord Bridge Known colloquially as Malacca The origin of the truss girder bridge Oral history interview quotes courtesy of National Archives of Singapore Bridge, Read Bridge was constructed constructed in 1886 is unclear, but to connect Kampong Malacca to the researchers think it was possibly Chinese district and to facilitate designed to be used as an Indian the transportation of goods from Railway bridge. Like Read Bridge, it warehouses to Keppel Harbour. was designed to transport goods from 1 Read Bridge at Boat Quay. When Tan Wee Him was living the warehouses. In the 1960s and Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. on River Valley Road in the 1960s, 70s, a drink made from fermented 2 Cavenagh Bridge c. 1900. he would encounter Teochew coconut palm sap called toddy was Courtesy of Gretchen Liu Collection. 3 Dragon Dance at Anderson Bridge, 1986. storytellers on his frequent night sold at the end of Ord Bridge. These Courtesy of Ministry of Culture Collection. walks to Read Bridge: “Of course, colonial government-run stalls would majority of the people there are very sell each glass for about 20 cents — a old people and very poor people. cheap luxury for those who wanted Some of them were coolies who to drown their sorrows. Some would carried all those sacks of rice and loiter after a drink too many and rubber bales in the day time. And even lie flat on the bridge, forcing in the evening their only pastime, people to manoeuvre their cars perhaps was to sit down on a very between prone figures on the road! short wooden stool and listen to storytellers.”

41 Feature//

River Nights Place as Poetry through the Intervention of Art Text by Lim Chye Hong

Held from 23 October to 31 October 2015, Les Voyageurs by Cédric Le Borgne River Nights celebrated the Singapore River’s This installation of larger-than-life human figures made changing identity through the years — from of chicken wire invited dreamy wonder. The transparency of the material, when teamed with lighting, imbued these vital trading artery in the colonial past to sculptures with a special, ephemeral quality. The artist the current magnet for locals and visitors, viewed them as a subtle and transient connection between drawn to its history and the colourful sky and earth, between dream and reality. The work nightlife after sunset. invited contemplation and meditation by questioning the unexpected, fleeting emotions one experiences.

Organised by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) in Ocean of Flowers by Li Hongbo collaboration with the National Arts Council, National Li Hongbo’s paper sculptures breathe fresh air into Parks Board, Singapore River One and Hermès, River traditional Chinese arts and craft. Li transformed his Nights offered a new perspective that helped to reshape the medium, paper — one of the key inventions of Chinese understanding of both Empress Place and Boat Quay as the civilisation — through deconstruction and reassembly. In nexus where cultures meet. doing so, he drew attention to the hidden essence of an object’s existence. Ocean of Flowers presented a sprawling Public and private collaboration, together with the landscape made of thousands of brightly coloured ‘flowers’. pedestrianisation of the Empress Place precinct, marks a When flattened, they were revealed as weapons such as new chapter for the “belly of the carp”, as the expansive bullets, handguns, and AK 47’s. Offering a platform to stretch along the Singapore River in the historical district reconsider current ideologies and to rethink the familiar, has been coined. The area is set to become a creative the work spoke of power, peace, destruction and beauty. playground for arts and culture enthusiasts, elevating the district to its rightful place in the fabric of Singapore. 160 by Pierre & Joël Rodière Production by TETRO Nights of Wonder: Art Installations and Performances 160 was an interactive light and sound installation Programmes on both sides of the river, across Empress Place consisting of 160 light bars covering an area of about 60 and Boat Quay, inspired and delighted with nights of magic. metres. The public could take ownership of the space The selection of installation works and performances, by by playing with the light and sound to create a visually both international and local artists, included: stimulating and sensory experience. This captured

Les Voyageurs by Cédric Le Borgne

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4 5 attention, and echoed a fleeting moment from the vibrant rhythm of life alongside the Singapore River in the not-too- River Nights showcased the revitalisation of the Empress Place distant past. precinct and Boat Quay into a creative playground for both artists and visitors. One may or may not be fully aware of the experiential journeys in this metamorphosis, but it is hoped that Walter by Dawn Ng the events and installations inspired a dialogue about the area, Walter was conceived as a project to draw attention to and about “place” as poetry through the intervention of art upon human experience. commonly-overlooked and overfamiliar spaces. By popping up, guerrilla-style, across Singapore’s landscape of flats and heartland enclaves, Walter reinvigorates spaces and delights passersby. At Empress Place, Walter interacted with the old colonial buildings, inspiring thoughts of art and history, the old and the new. 1 160 by Pierre & Joël Rodière. Courtesy of Pierre & Joël Rodière.

Delight by Yves Moreaux 2 ZingO performance. Using the ACM façade and the Singapore River as a Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum. backdrop, Moreaux presented an imaginative and 3 Delight by Yves Moreaux. colourful façade light and sound show inspired by the Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum. ACM’s collections and building. 4 Ocean of Flowers by Li Hongbo. Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum. Performances 5 Meet the Artist Talk. Specially-curated performances by local groups, Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum. including the T’ang Quartet and Frontier Danceland, paid tribute to the history of the Victoria Concert Hall and celebrated its rebirth.

45 ACM PROUDLY PRESENTS

ACM PROUDLY PRESENTS CELEBRATING CELEBRATAINGSIA a Red Carpet Event a Red Carpet Event ASIA a Red Carpet Event

      

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 by P.L. Sagnter. Collection of Emile Hermès. This rare, if not unique hybrid, is an imaginative fusion of woman, flower and bird figures. The cane has an integrated parasol in pheasant feathers lined with silk. It also features an eighteenth-century Meissen porcelain “opera” handle with painted flowers set in Rococo cartouches, and the head of a female figure with ruff. The creation of its remarkable golden dome took the entire plumage of a pheasant. Courtesy of Hermès. CELEBRATE WITH US Be among the žrst to experience our new galleries, and delectable bites created by chefs at our new restaurant, Empress. is exclusive event will CELEBRATE WITH US Be among the žrst to experience our new galleries, and delectable bites eCELEBRATE Asian Civilisations WITH US Museum has embarked beBe anamong evening the of žrst celebration, to experience with ourentertainment new galleries, and and culture delectable throughout bites created by chefs at our new restaurant, Empress. is exclusive event will In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s house transformed into a museum — what better place for thecreated museum. by chefs Our at ourcurators new restaurant,will introduce Empress. you to is star exclusive pieces andevent share will independence, Hermès is pleased to invite visitors to a our container of treasures to find a home? eon a Asiancomprehensive Civilisations renewal Museum. As we has launch embarked our be an evening of celebration, with entertainment and culture throughout behind-the-scenesbe an evening of celebration, stories with of our entertainment new contemporary and culture installation,throughout special view of the private collection assembled by Émile the museum. Our curators will introduce you to star pieces and share žrston a newcomprehensive spaces, we invite renewal you. toAs join we ourlaunch journey. our treasuresthe museum. from Our China, curators and thewill famed introduce Tang you Shipwreck. to star pieces and share Original drawings from the sketchbooks of Philippe on a comprehensive renewal. As we launch our behind-the-scenes stories of our new contemporary installation, Hermès in The Little Room of Wanders at the ACM Green. behind-the-scenes stories of our new contemporary installation, Dumas accompany each object and set up an affectionate, Fundsžrst new raised spaces at, wethis invite event you will to joinsupport our journey. future treasures from China, and the famed Tang Shipwreck. žrst new spaces, we invite you to join our journey. treasures from China, and the famed Tang Shipwreck. Long before he took up the reins of the house in 1920, impishly humorous echo to the collection of his We thank you for your generosity and look forward to receiving you and exhiFundsbitions raised and at programmesthis event will that support continue future to grandfather, Émile Hermès. Funds raised at this event will support future your guests at the event. Émile Hermès began gathering ingenious and beautiful We thank you for your generosity and look forward to receiving you and objects, keeping these in his office at 24, Faubourg Saint- showcasexhibitionse masterpieces and programmes of Asian that art. continue to We thank you for your generosity and look forward to receiving you and exhibitions and programmes that continue to your guests at the event. Honoré, Paris. His first purchase was a parasol walking “Visitors have an opportunity to discover some of the your guests at the event. showcase masterpieces of Asian art. stick bought at the tender age of 12 with his first salary of treasures assembled by my great grandfather Émile showcase masterpieces of Asian art.  ¨  ©ª  «  ¬,


two francs. He did not know it then, but it was the start Hermès in his long life of collecting at ACM, where in Eligible for tax deductions 3 times their value. Donations will be The Little Room of Wanders, they are shown alongside a  ¨  ©ª  «  ¬,


of a private collection which has continued ever since, matched, ¨  giving your contribution ©ª  « even more  impact. ¬,


Eligible for tax deductions 3 times their value. Donations will be through three generations of Hermès family members number of original sketches by my uncle Philippe Dumas: Eligible for tax deductions 3 times their value. Donations will be matched, giving your contribution even more impact. that have succeeded him. The collection of paintings, a flânerie for the eye and the mind. I am happy and proud, matched, giving your contribution even more impact. equestrian objects, ingenious mechanisms, rare books in the name of Hermès, to share it with Singapore,” says and unusual curios — eclectic treasures that are blithely Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Artistic Director, Hermès. immune to fashion — have become a permanent source of inspiration for the brand’s designers. The Little Room of Wanders is organised in conjunction with River Nights, and presented by ACM. It will take place at the ACM This little room of wanders evokes the imagery of a time Green from October 25 to December 13, 2015. The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. capsule container parcel fallen off the boat from Paris — a Admission is free. For more information, check out the website flâneur’s edit of all our fanciful collecting and a tribute at lfe.hermes.com or search #hermesleatherforever. Enquiries A Museum of to the glorious exoticism of foreign ramblings. A customs Ms Karel Seow: +65 6332 3583 EnquiriesEmail: [email protected] A Museum of Enquiries A Museum of Mswww.acm.org.sg Karel Seow: +65 6332 3583 Ms Karel Seow: +65 6332 3583 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.acm.org.sg www.acm.org.sg 1 PROFILE// Text by Nicole Cheng

For the revamp of the history galleries As a perfumer, what do you think scent has the unique at the National Museum, nine scents were power to evoke? created by perfumers from Swiss perfume For me, perfumes or scents evoke memory. You don’t even realise it but it just comes — be it good or bad memories. Scents of company, Givaudan, to reinterpret chapters

of Singapore’s history and enhance the How do you see the role of these scents in the exhibits visitor experience. on Singapore history? When people walk through the museum, the purpose Singapore Visitors can now experience scents such as of the scents is to evoke stronger emotions about these the fragrance of afternoon tea in a gallery historical moments. It is about enhancing the museum that showcases colonial days in the 1920s experience by appealing to both sight and smell. Scent works especially well if you want to instil a memory, and 30s, and even the recreated odour of because the sense of smell is directly connected to the the polluted Singapore River in the 1960s and memory part of your brain. It’ll be interesting to see the 70s. Givaudan perfumer Sreevidhya Venkatesh emotions that arise from the scents. tells us more about the process of creating this experience for visitors and her scent Where did you get inspiration in developing the scents encounters in Singapore. for the project? For the Singapore River scent, we thought of all the polluted water bodies we could think of in our travels around the world. There are earthy notes in there to reflect muddy water, and a few materials that are strong and diffusive so the scent just fills up the room — like rotten cabbage or rotting fish. We even included some notes that 2 are fruity like durian.

Did anything unexpected happen during the project? We had done the sample for the polluted Singapore River scent which we wanted to give to the museum. This girl who was coordinating the delivery dropped it! The whole floor stank. The colleague who was sitting beside her called me, “Vidhya come here, come see the Singapore River!” When it’s a polluted river, the smell is not actually in the river. It’s in the air. It was exactly what I wanted.

Were there any challenges you faced working on the project? An interesting thing about Singapore came up when we were doing an after-rain scent. We have a raw material called calone. It has a watery, very marine scent that people may associate with a very fishy beach area. I’d asked some Singaporeans if there was that fishy beach smell interpretation for calone. They just looked at me and said, “No it’s not fishy; it’s not a beach.” Of course, because your beaches here are so clean! There is no smell so you cannot associate the scent with the beach!

What is the Singapore Scent to you? The favourite scent in Singapore to me is its cleanliness. A Singapore Scent to me would be very transparent, very 1 Tembusu flowers and the polluted Singapore River scents light and musky. Because of the humidity, there is a bit of at Singapore History Gallery’s Transforming the Landscape section, National Museum of Singapore. heaviness so I wouldn’t call it a citrus fresh. I would add a 2 Givaudan perfumer Sreevidhya Venkatesh. bit of lavender for warmth and freshness.

49 CITY Education// Scent Made for SG50 Singapore’s Secrets Unveiled Givaudan Text by Qistina Aisyah Muhd L’fie engage your senses

Like most 11-year-old girls, I prefer parade. I never knew that Singapura Overall, the book was easy to read reading fantasy stories, especially in the fourteenth century was such a and understand. There are wonderful those with happy endings. Or give me powerful kingdom. illustrations and drawings, and even any book on the pop boy band “One maps and tables to make it a really Direction” and I will start reading The next few chapters touched on Sir fun read. right away! So obviously, I was not Stamford Raffles, the colonial era and thrilled when my mum passed me the Japanese Occupation. Other than If you have burning questions about a copy of Secrets of Singapore by telling the history of Singapore, the Singapore’s history which have not Danger Dan and Gadget Girl. Who are book also revealed fascinating stories been answered, Danger Dan and they and what is this book about? in many areas such as transport, Gadget Girl might be able to help. housing, education, sports and food. Although Secrets of Singapore was I glanced at the back cover and saw written for children between eight to a familiar image of a fair-skinned Speaking of food, did you know that 14 years old, I am sure adults will find woman in red headgear carrying a A&W was the first fast-food restaurant it informative too. I’m going to get my heavy load. I recalled my last visit to open in Singapore? The first outlet mum to read it soon! Retailing at S$80.00 / box to Images of Singapore in Sentosa, opened at Dunearn Road in 1966 (Available only at NMS) where I learnt more about these serving hamburgers, hotdogs, waffles women who had worked hard and and its famous root beer. Other fast- National Museum of Singapore contributed to Singapore. Yes, I was food outlets like KFC and McDonald’s 93 Stamford Road. Singapore 178897 Mondays to Sundays | 10am to 6.30pm looking at a picture of a Samsui woman. only started operations in the 1970s. Oh no, not another history book, mum! Unfortunately, A&W closed all its Givaudan is a Swiss outlets in 2003, just a year before I manufacturer of flavors, But my mum assured me that this was born, so I didn’t have a chance to fragrances and active was not a usual history book. The try their yummy hotdogs. cosmetic ingredients. All proceeds will be donated to the National Museum of Singapore secret superhero duo, Danger Dan and Gadget Girl, have discovered While it was not surprising to learn With a heritage that In celebration of Singapore’s 50th Birthday, Givaudan the world’s interesting bits about Singapore’s that Singaporeans love to eat, I was stretches back over 250 leading Fragrance and Flavours company, was inspired to create a years, Givaudan has a past which are not known to many. surprised to read that Singaporeans long history of limited edition fine fragrance in partnership with the National Heritage I glanced again at the back cover: are attracted to swimming. The first innovating scents and Board and the National Museum of Singapore. Which animals have escaped from public pool in Singapore, which opened tastes. Givaudan the Singapore Zoo? Where can you in 1931 at Mount Emily, had up to 8,000 operates over 80 Evocative of the garden city’s energy and lushness, using a blend of see a tiger car? Wait, what is a tiger car? visitors each month! Sadly, many of the locations worldwide. local ingredients ranging from exotic orchids and spicy peppers to swimming activities had to stop during http://www.givaudan.com/ musky ambrette this unisex fragrance is for anyone wanting to take So I decided to read and find out. the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Singapore wherever they go!

Check our website on The book began with the founding I definitely discovered a lot about nhb.gov.sg/shop of Singapura by Sang Nila Utama, Singapore’s past from this 200-page and that reminded me of a National book and finished it faster than Education show which I attended I’d expected. I especially enjoyed Available at all major book stores, online from Epigram at shop. at the Padang this year. There was reading the trivia under Fascinating epigrambooks.sg and Closetful of a segment on him then and I could Facts, and found these sections Books at www.closetfulofbooks.com. relate what I read to what I saw at the very informative and entertaining.

51 Book Review//

A Life By The River

Text by Reena Devi

The Singapore River: A Social History trading network and its demands was their home and livelihood. As 1819-2002 examines the development for regional produce was the tipping such, The Singapore River: A Social of the Singapore River as an integral point for the burgeoning trade of History 1819-2002 illustrates the part of Singapore’s economic and lighterage. The crew of these small river as a vibrant backdrop for an physical landscape, with a primary crafts on the Singapore River, the interdependent social, political and focus on the role of the lightermen lightermen, played an important role economic ecosystem. who crewed the vessels that plied in this unique trade. its waters. The study highlights the critical role played by the river The book examines the lightermen’s and lighterman in the evolution of labour system as well as their Singapore as an entrepôt from 1819, physical and social conditions during the founding of “modern” Singapore, that period right up to the 1970s, Written by Stephen Dobbs, the book is published by NUS Press and is available to the present. allowing the reader to understand at major bookstores. the role they played in the evolving The book’s content spans 180 years geo-social landscape of the Singapore and is divided into shorter periods to River. These elements are fleshed emphasise changes along the river in out through vivid details provided relation to Singapore’s role as a port, about their lives, emphasising their mercantile centre, colonial settlement magnitude of sacrifice and endless and most recently, independent state. pursuit of financial salvation. For example, most of the lightermen It begins with Singapore’s incorporation could not take a wife in Singapore, as into the holdings of the East India they were focused on the elusive goal Company. The Singapore River had of going home wealthy. In addition, become its port centre, and the city the book examines their hobbies such a part of its expanding international as story-telling along the riverside. and regional network of commerce. Their loneliness had also led them to dabble in drugs and prostitution, The development of the Suez Canal providing a flawed yet human face to and an increase in steamships had led this trade. to the river relinquishing its central port status, with ocean-going vessels The stories of these lightermen docking at Keppel Harbour. However, and their historical contribution smaller coastal ships, large prows shed light on how the Singapore and junks still preferred to anchor at River is not a mere physical entity the river. The port’s role in the global — for these lightermen, the river

Storyteller entertaining lightermen along the Singapore River, 1936. Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. 53 Book Review//

170 Years of

Text by Stefanie Tham Journalism Photos courtesy of Singapore Press Holdings Limited

As Singapore celebrates its 50th Singapore’s past — new Housing Deputy Foreign Editor Bhagyashree birthday, The Straits Times, Board flats, bumboats along the Garekar writes, “Newspapers have Singapore’s daily English newspaper, Singapore River — are also rarer been called the first draft of history. I also marks a milestone in its visuals, such as a 1971 photograph of suppose they perform that function, publishing history as it turns 170 a young street urchin boy waddling but they are so much more. They this year. The Straits Times, with in the Singapore River, gleefully are portable, foldable, repositories the support of the National Heritage holding onto the rubber tyre of a of living history.” In learning about Board, has published an e-book to riverboat. He was part of a group The Straits Times, we inadvertently commemorate this event. Titled known as the Riverside Mates, who come to know more about Singapore Living History: 170 Years of The Straits navigated Singapore River like their through reports which have become Times, it features highlights from playground, jumping off bridges into invaluable sources of history. It is more than a century of print news. the river for sheer fun. Immortalised not possible to separate the history in print, scenes like these are intimate of The Straits Times from that of Since its inception in 1845, The glimpses into the layered histories of Singapore, and this makes the e-book Straits Times has captured many Singapore. an engaging and fascinating read. pivotal developments in Singapore through the nation’s progress. Interspersed with photographs are In celebrating the paper’s 170th also essays that illustrate the varied anniversary, the e-book brings forth roles the newspaper played as it Available through The Straits Times STAR the story of Singapore as depicted responded to local developments. E-book app which can be downloaded free on iPad and Android tablets. in print. The striking element about For instance, when The Straits this e-book is the plethora of visuals Times was still primarily written that presents both the older, bygone and read by Europeans residing era, as well as the contemporary in colonial Singapore in the early Singapore we are familiar with 1900s, Singapore was noted as a today. Over the years, photographs “haven for opium dens”. The writers have become an intrinsic part of of The Straits Times sought to journalism, with images powerfully dispel misconceptions that opium communicating what the written was the only source of pleasurable word cannot achieve. entertainment in Singapore. The paper took great effort to promote The e-book compiles notable other forms of entertainment, such photographs taken by The Straits as theatre, cricket, and — quite Times journalists and presents hilariously — even the simple them as a Times Capsule, charting enjoyment of gossiping, which the Singapore’s growth. Hidden among paper described as “a national sport more commonly known scenes of that required little exertion”.

Staff at The Straits Times Editorial department, 7 December, 1955. 55 PROFILE//

How did you come to be interested in the heritage of your community?

Recipe for Kool (serves 20) 1. Soak the odiyal flour in 6 cups of water. Stir well and let it sit until The Ceylonese heritage has always been part and parcel of the flour settles at the bottom. Pour away the water, then add growing up in a Ceylon Tamil household through its rituals Though sometimes compared to the Thai tom yam soup or the French another 6 cups of water and stir. Repeat this process two more times and cuisine. Though small in numbers, we are driven to seafood dish called bouillabaisse, kool is a distinct Jaffna Tamil dish in to remove the bitterness from the flour. Marrying achieve. Excellence and education are inculcated at a very a class of its own. This recipe is contributed by Mrs M. Sivapragasam (Kichi Mamee). 2. Put the crabs, prawns, long beans, tapioca, jackfruit seeds and young age. I see myself as part of a minority community black-eyed peas into a large aluminium, wide-mouthed pot (about that holds strongly to its roots and stays close with one 16-cup capacity). Add 12 cups of water and salt, then bring the ½ kg of long beans washed and cut into 2” long pieces mixture to a boil. another. 2 tapiocas peeled, washed and cut into 1.5” cubes ½ kg of prawns shelled and washed 3. Boil the mixture for about 15 minutes until the tapioca turns food with What makes Jaffna cuisine so meaningful to you? 1 kg of fish filleted and cut into 2” by 1.5” slices translucent, and crabs and prawns turn pink. Add the fish now and 4 crabs shelled, washed and quartered cook for 5 more minutes. Now add the cooked rice, tamarind water, What is it about food that makes it an intangible ½ kg of green jackfruit skin removed, cut into 1.5” cubes and washed chilli mixture and stir well. cultural heritage tradition? in salted water Jaffna food has its roots in South India, but has taken on ½ cup of cooked rice 4. Mix the drained odiyal flour with 3 cups of water to a smooth paste ½ cup of black-eyed peas soaked overnight and boiled till well-cooked and add it to the pot, stirring thoroughly. Let it cook for a few more heritage a distinct flavour of its own over the years. It is a blend of ½ small packet of tamarind mixed with 1 cup of water and retain minutes till the smell of the chillies disappears and the kool turns different influences and is closely tied to the produce of the liquid after straining seeds and pulp translucent. Turn off the fire. area. The city is surrounded by the Jaffna lagoon and the 20 jackfruit seeds skin removed and washed 20 dried chillies finely ground and mixed with 2 cups of water 5. Enjoy kool with your family and friends seated around the kool pot. Text by Sarah Benson and Sylvia Haliman abundance of seafood means very fresh and vibrant food Salt to taste The chilli paste can be added accordingly. Kool was traditionally is always close by. It is familiar, yet new, with an appealing 3 cups of odiyal flour served in little cones folded out of jackfruit tree leaves. smorgasbord of taste elements. NHB Grant recipient and food enthusiast Susheeta Manoharan eloquently combines Is there a particular recipe that you would like to two of her passions into a heritage cookbook share? Why is it so special? about traditional Ceylonese cuisine: From That would be kool, a nourishing seafood soup. Jaffna is a Heart to Palm: The Culinary World and coastal community and this interpretation of the French Culture of the Ceylon Tamils. bouillabaisse has fish and shellfish for its main ingredients. All the other ingredients that make up this flavoursome one-pot meal are gathered from plants that grow in a Jaffna Tamil’s backyard: tamarind, jackfruit seeds and the palmyra root. Interestingly, kool was traditionally eaten out of a cup made by folding a jackfruit leaf.

What was the most memorable part of making this cookbook? It was a communal effort. That gave each and every person involved in the making of the book, and the local Ceylon Tamils, a sense of belonging to the Singapore Ceylon Tamil society. Each and every day towards the cookbook’s fruition was a learning journey. The test kitchens saw both young and old sharing their recipes, which was heart-warming.

What is your personal philosophy on heritage? It is the knowledge of where I come from, my roots, and the customs of my community that have been passed down through the generations.

What would you tell other heritage enthusiasts about preserving their culinary heritage? It is important to reach out, gather, and document your culinary wealth and stories. Food connects across generations, and younger members long to rediscover the tastes of yesteryears. These are windows of opportunity to link the generations and preserve cultural heritage. 57 Museology Highlight//

The Museum Roundtable A Powerhouse of Singapore’s Museums

Text by Foo Ling Fang

Did you know that we have more than range of activities for members to raise assessment of three new MR 50 museums in Singapore? I certainly the standards and capabilities of the membership applications from the did not until I had an internship museum sector. It also promotes a Eurasian Heritage Centre, the Gan opportunity with the Partnerships museum-going culture among Heritage Centre and the Ministry of Division of National Heritage Board Singaporeans while positioning Education (MOE) Heritage Centre. (NHB) during my year-end term break. museums as cultural destinations. While each institution has its own During my three-month internship, I focus and storyline, they all ultimately had a very fruitful learning experience Since its inception, the MR has contribute to the Singapore story. supporting the Partnerships Division presented numerous exhibitions, in its work as the Museum Roundtable activities and programmes which The Eurasian Heritage Centre (MR) Secretariat. have been well received by the Housed in the charming Eurasian public. These include signature Community House off Ceylon Road, Established in 1996, the MR brings annual events such as the Battle the Eurasian Heritage Centre (EHC) together an array of public and private for Singapore which takes place in was established in 2003 to showcase museums, heritage galleries, and other February to commemorate the fall of the roots, history and culture of unique attractions of science and Singapore; Children’s Season which Eurasians in Singapore. The EHC discovery in Singapore. Membership runs from May to June during which hopes to reach out to the younger to this museum network is by invitation special programmes for children generation of Eurasians and raise only and applicants are required to are offered; and the MR Arts and awareness of the Eurasian heritage undergo stringent assessments to Heritage Village which takes place and culture in Singapore. Through ensure that all MR members are in August as part of the Istana Art the “Eurasian Experience Tour”, committed to upholding the standards Event for National Day. These events visitors can enjoy an immersive of the MR. Once initiated into the MR serve as showcases for MR members experience of Eurasian culture network, member organisations and allow members of the public to which includes a guided tour of the become part of a closely-knit body of enjoy the best of the outreach and galleries, an interactive showcase museums in Singapore. education activities. of a traditional Eurasian folk dance — Jinkli Nona — and a sampling As the MR Secretariat, the Partnerships During my internship, I had the of Eurasian cuisine such as sugee Division organises and coordinates a privilege to be involved in the (semolina) cake.

A guided tour of the Eurasian Heritage Centre Courtesy of Eurasian Association 59 1 2

3

The Gan Heritage Centre The MOE Heritage Centre 1 President Mr Tony Tan at the Gan Established in 2013, the Gan The MOE Heritage Centre (MOEHC) Heritage Centre booth during the 2015 Istana Art and Heritage Village Event. Heritage Centre (GHC) is situated is sited at the premises of the former Courtesy of Gan Heritage Centre. in the Gan clan building at Bukit New Town Primary School and Pasoh, Chinatown. The GHC traces was opened in 2007. It showcases 2 Schoolchildren on a guided tour of the MOE Heritage Centre. the Gans’ origins in Shandong the development of education in Courtesy of the MOE Heritage Centre. province, China, and their journey Singapore from the early nineteenth and settlement in Singapore. century to the present day. In 3 Members of the public on a guided tour of Reflections at Bukit Chandu, as Besides honouring and preserving addition to a fascinating collection part of the 2015 Battle for Singapore the clan’s history, the GHC also of artefacts such as educator tools of programme. highlights the contributions of the the past, school-issued toothbrushes, Courtesy of Reflections at Bukit Chandu. clan to Singapore’s nation-building. cups and so on, the MOEHC also It offers guided tours for school recreates historic classroom settings groups, regardless of clan origins, that invite visitors to revisit and share during which lively discussions memories of their school-going days. and sketching are used to enhance Beyond a journey of reminiscence, learning experiences. the MOEHC aims to inspire trainee teachers, promote pride in the For more information about the Museum education service and reaffirm the Roundtable, please visit www.museums. work of generations of educators who com.sg. have shaped education in Singapore.

61 1 ASEAN Museums//

Ayala Museum Manila’s Sanctuary for the Arts

Text by Reena Devi Photos courtesy of Ayala Museum

Located at the heart of the Makati well as the historical milestones and of the Prince’s School of Traditional Central Business District in the heritage of the country. Arts in the United Kingdom. Philippines, the Ayala Museum prides itself on being a sanctuary in the city. Among the museum’s highlights is its Since 2013, the Ayala Museum’s sixth A quiet and aesthetically invigorating collection of archeological artefacts, floor has become home to the Filipinas space, it sits amidst the hustle and notably the Gold of Ancestors: Pre- Heritage Library (FHL), which was bustle of Manila, a metropolitan city. Colonial Treasures in the Philippines, previously located at the historic which serve as a testament to the Nielson Tower in Makati Avenue. FHL Ayala Museum was envisioned by Filipinos’ rich ancestry and inherent now presents itself as an accessible Fernando Zobel (1924 – 1984), one of craftsmanship. The museum also modern repository of materials and 2 the founders of Ayala Foundation and has on view The Philippine Diorama references on Philippine arts, history an abstract painter, way back in the Experience, visually narrating the and culture. This also establishes 1950s. In honour of the man behind many milestones of Philippine history the museum as a contemporary arts its foundation, the Ayala Museum through 60 handcrafted dioramas. space for both visitors and those who reserves a section in its third floor Some of the dioramas are featured in are interested in researching the galleries to feature a permanent the international Google Art Project. Philippine arts scene. exhibition of Zobel’s works. This collection of the artist’s paintings, Ayala Museum also features ninth- to Ayala Museum represents and sketches, prints and photographs are sixteenth-century Asian trade ceramics defines the dynamism of the rotated regularly. The gallery also from the Roberto T. Villanueva Philippines’ heritage and cultural houses a model of his art studio in Foundation in the exhibition A history. The museum’s interwoven Cuenca, Spain, where he worked and Millennium of Contact. There is also narrative of history and culture resided in the later part of his life. Art and the Order of Nature in Indigenous creates diverse offerings for visitors Philippine Textiles, a unique showcase from all walks of life, whether they The Ayala Museum strikes a clever of indigenous Philippine textiles are casual tourists, students and balance between showcasing the donated by Mercedes Zobel, with academics, families, or arts and Philippines’ artistic developments as corresponding analyses from the artists culture enthusiasts.

1 The Ayala Museum façade in the corner of Makati Avenue and De La Rosa Street, Makati City. 2 Container from Surigao, c. 10th – 13th century. Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Treasures in the Philippines at Ayala Museum. 63 What’s on November – December 2015

Daily Join the free guided tours of GUIDED TOUR OF PLAY AT TJ Our Museum @ Taman Jurong’s PLAY AT TJ: OUR MEMORIES THE SINGAPORE JOURNEY: 50 EXHIBITION new exhibition and learn more OF RECREATIONAL SITES IN YEARS THROUGH STAMPS National Heritage Board about popular recreational sites TAMAN JURONG Singapore Philatelic Museum Our Museum @ Taman Jurong belonging to Taman Jurong’s National Heritage Board Ongoing to April 2016 Ongoing to December 31 heritage through the memories Our Museum @ Taman Jurong Monday I 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday I 3 p.m. to 9 and stories of its residents. and Taman Jurong Community Tuesday to Sunday I 9:30 a.m. to p.m. Club 7 p.m. Saturday to Sunday I 10 a.m. to For groups of more than 10 Ongoing to December 31 $6 for adults and $4 for children (3 to 12 years old). Free 6 p.m. people, please email raudha_ Monday to Friday I 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Closed on Public Holidays Saturday to Sunday I 10 a.m. to admission for Singapore Citizens [email protected] and visit 6 p.m. and Permanent Residents. www.facebook.com/OMATTJ for Closed on Public Holidays more information. Free admission Singapore stamps document the growth of the nation, Play at TJ: Our Memories of archiving trials, tribulations, Recreational Sites in Taman achievements and aspirations. WE: Defining Stories Jurong is a showcase of Journey through 50 years of our selected popular recreational nation’s progress with specially Travelling Exhibition sites belonging to Taman selected stamps, philatelic Library opening hours. Free admission. Jurong’s heritage, and how materials and rarely seen they reflect the SG50 spirit of original stamp artworks. Let Bishan Library [Sept] community and family bonding these remarkable treasures tell Tampines Regional Library [Oct] through the memories of its you the story of Singapore in a Cheng San Public Library [Nov] residents. way only they can. Bedok Public Library [Dec] For more information, please For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/ PLAY AT TJ: OUR MEMORIES OF RECREATIONAL SITES visit www.spm.org.sg and refer OMATTJ or email raudha_ IN TAMAN JURONG to page 5. [email protected] PRESIDENT’S YOUNG GREAT PERANAKANS: FIFTY GREAT PERANAKANS: FIFTY LTA PHOTO EXHIBITION TALENTS REMARKABLE LIVES REMARKABLE LIVES Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore Art Museum Peranakan Museum Ancestor portrait of Tan Kim Seng SAM at 8Q, 8 Queen Street Ongoing to April 3, 2016 Courtesy of Peranakan Museum 1 Hampshire Road, Blk 5 Level 1, Singapore Singapore 219428 Singapore 188535 Free admission for Singaporeans Ongoing to March 14, 2016 Ongoing to March 27, 2016 and Permanent Residents Daily I 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily I 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Public $10 for adults and $5 for Great Peranakans celebrates Holidays students and senior citizens. Free the achievements of 50 men Free admission. admission for Singaporeans and and women who have shaped Permanent Residents and for all Singaporean life and culture In commemoration of LTA’s on Friday from 6 p.m. over the past two centuries.

20th anniversary, the Land These pioneers made The President’s Young Transport Gallery is organising important contributions in art, Talents is Singapore’s premier an exhibition to showcase the culture, education, business, exhibition, which awards key transport milestones that governance, and public service. promising artists whose LTA has achieved in the past 20 Collectively, their stories practices chart new dimensions years, focusing on the people and more than 100 objects in Singapore contemporary art who have helped make these from their lives invite greater today. The list of finalists for Revisit Singapore’s turbulent march towards independence developments possible. contemplation of evolving and appreciate the quirks that define us as Singaporean this year’s President’s Young Peranakan and Singaporean Talents is Ang Song Ming, Bani today in this exhibition featuring photographs from the For more information, please identities. Haykal, Ezzam Rahman, Loo archives of The Straits Times and the National Museum visit www.lta.gov.sg/ltgallery/ of Singapore Collection. This travelling visual exhibition of Zihan and Ong Kian Peng. headline photographs documents significant moments of Singapore’s history, and forms a pictorial story of home and For more information, identity 50 years since independence. please visit www. For more information, please go to http://bit.ly/wedefining singaporeartmuseum.sg

65 FORT SILOSO FORT SILOSO GUIDED TOUR FORT SILOSO SURRENDER Resorts WorldTM Sentosa Resorts WorldTM Sentosa CHAMBERS Fort Siloso, Sentosa Fort Siloso, Sentosa Resorts WorldTM Sentosa Daily I 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., last Daily I 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 Fort Siloso, Sentosa admission at 5:30 p.m. p.m. to 3 p.m., 2 p.m. to 3:30 Daily I 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., last Free admission p.m., 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. admission at 5:30 p.m. $20 for adults and $7 for children $6 for adults and $4.50 for In the nineteenth century, (7 to 12 years old). Admission for children (3 to 12 years old). Singapore was an important Singaporeans and Permanent Admission for Singaporeans and sea trading port for the British. Residents is $15 for adults and Permanent Residents is $5 for To defend the island from $5 for children (7 to 12 years old). adults and $3.50 for children (3 sea invasion, Fort Siloso was to 12 years old). built at the tip of Sentosa Learn why the Fort was built, (once known as Blakang Mati). discover life as a soldier, and The tour will retrace the During World War II (WWII), explore preserved underground historically preserved remains the Japanese troops invaded ammunition stores and at the fort to discover the Fort Siloso Singapore through Malaya and WWII-era guns. Experience purpose of the various fortified the guns in Fort Siloso were the Fort with our guides in our structures and the guns they turned landwards to support 90-minute walking tour. serve, ending with a visit to the Glam as well as its significance GUIDED TOUR OF MALAY to the Malay community from VICTORIA THEATRE AND the ground troops. Surrender Chambers to witness VICTORIA CONCERT HALL: A The tour will retrace the the two historic surrender HERITAGE CENTRE our museum docents. Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) MONUMENT TO OUR HISTORY Today, Fort Siloso is a historically preserved remains moments that changed the at the fort to discover the life of the people of Singapore Registration and starting point at Tours are conducted in English HERITAGE GALLERY historical attraction being Visitor Services Counter the only preserved coastal purpose of the various fortified during WWII. and limited to 20 people per structures and the guns they Tuesday to Friday I 11 a.m. to 12:15 tour. For groups of more than fort in Singapore with a rich p.m. VICTORIA THEATRE AND memorabilia of WWII-era serve, ending with a visit to the Go back in time and experience 20 people, please book your Saturday to Sunday I 2 p.m. to tours two weeks in advance. VICTORIA CONCERT HALL: A coastal guns and remains of Surrender Chambers to witness these surrenders with our 3:15 p.m. MONUMENT TO OUR HISTORY fortified military structures and the two historic surrender guided commentary available For corporate or special needs HERITAGE GALLERY tunnels. moments that changed the every 30 minutes. Join our free guided tours of tours, please email your Preservation of Sites and life of the people of Singapore MHC’s permanent galleries and request to NHB_MHC@nhb. Monuments For more information, please during WWII. For more information, please learn more about Kampong gov.sg Victoria Concert Hall, Level 3 visit www.sentosa.com.sg visit www.sentosa.com.sg Daily I 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Maximum group size of 20 The availability of the guided guests for each tour. tours is subject to the $10 for adults and $30 for a Let’s Play! Traditional Malay Games availability of our volunteer family of four. $4 for adults, $2 For more information, please docents. for children and $12 for a family visit www.sentosa.com.sg of four for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Fort Siloso Weekly

Did you know the Victoria LET’S PLAY! TRADITIONAL Theatre and Victoria Concert MALAY GAMES Hall originated as two Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) buildings, built at different Every Tuesday I 10 a.m. to 10:45 times? Visit A Monument to Our p.m. and 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. History and learn more about this National monument’s Come and learn more about rich history and outstanding traditional Malay games at the architectural features through MHC! Learn skills you will need a display of photographs and to play capteh, main lereng memories shared by many who (wheel spinning), congkak have cherished this gem of a (traditional Malay board performance venue. game), batu seremban (five stones) and many more. This For more information, please 45-minute session will also visit www.nhb.gov.sg/psm invite participants to use their creativity as they invent new and fun games with newfound items.

67 SMW2015 ROVING SINGAPORE MARITIME TRAIL 1 SINGAPORE MARITIME TRAIL 2 STRAITS FAMILY SUNDAY EXHIBITION Maritime and Port Authority of Maritime and Port Authority of Peranakan Museum Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Singapore November 8 and December 13 Singapore Lobby of Swissotel The Stamford Second Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Woodlands Regional Library First Saturday of every month, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Free admission for Singaporeans October 19 to 30, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Free Admission and Permanent Residents National Library Free Admission November 2 to 25, 9 a.m. to 9 The Singapore Maritime Trail Explore the colourful world p.m. Take a tour of local maritime 2 takes visitors on a journey of Peranakans every second Jurong Regional Library heritage sites on Singapore that maps out progress and Sunday of each month. Make December 16, 2015 to January 15, Maritime Trail 1 — including advancement of our port, arts and crafts based on the 2016, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fort Canning and Boat Quay focusing on its history and museum’s collection, or go on Closed on Public Holidays and at — and trace the progress of the stories of the people in a special, themed tour of the 5pm on Christmas Eve and New Singapore’s maritime sector. the maritime sector who have galleries. Dress up with the Year’s Eve. Free admission contributed to the nation’s whole family in a batik shirt For Singapore Maritime Trail 1, maritime success. Launched or sarong kebaya, and enjoy The Roving Exhibition is a participants start the tour by in May 2015, this second trail a fun-filled Sunday at the scaled-down version of the boarding a bus at the lobby of is an extension of the 2014 Peranakan Museum. SMW2015 exhibition Maritime Swissotel The Stamford. Then, Singapore Maritime Trail 1, they will visit some maritime Singapore: From Trading Post which included a tour of local November to Global Hub held in April 2015 heritage sites on foot and finish maritime heritage sites. at the Event Plaza @ Marina Saturdays@ACM the tour at Harbourfront MRT AMAZING STAMPS Bay Sands. The exhibition is an station. The guided tours are open to the public and spaces are Singapore Philatelic Museum outreach initiative to the wider above. Has a minimum of 20 Monthly The guided tours are open limited. For registration, please Thursday I November 26 and community. The calendar of the participants and maximum of December 10 exhibition is shown below. to the public and spaces are call 6836 6466 (Monday to 30 participants. GALLERIES ALIVE! limited. For registration, please 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) or $15 per person. For ages 7 to 12. Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) call 6836 6466 (Monday to email [email protected]. Workshop caters to three age For enquiries, please email Traditional Malay Music I Third groups: 5 to 7 year olds, 7 to 12 Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) or Learn about the fascinating [email protected] Wednesday of every month email [email protected]. year olds and 13 years old and or call 6375 1848 (Monday to Wayang Kulit I Third Thursday of world of philately and discover Friday). every month stories about history, culture and heritage. Search for Watch MHC’s permanent philatelic treasures, put Galleries Alive!: Traditional Malay Music/Wayang Kulit Straits family sunday galleries come alive with live together stamp puzzles in the performances of traditional shortest time, take part in a music or enjoy a wayang kulit stamp designing competition performance as our dalang tells and win prizes! the stories of Sang Kancil and his adventures. For more information, please visit www.spm.org.sg For more information, please visit www.malayheritage.org.sg BALESTIER: A HUNDRED YEARS SATURDAYS@ACM Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Asian Civilisations Museum Hall November 7 and December 5 November 21, 2015 to April 24, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 2016 Free admission Tuesday to Sunday I 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us on a journey to explore, Free admission for Singaporeans discover, and create! Be and Permanent Residents. captivated by fascinating performances, journey across In conjunction with SG50, Asia with incredible storytellers, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang or make your own masterpiece. Memorial Hall is organising the Balestier: A Hundred Years special exhibition to

69 celebrate the rich heritage December treasures spanning Africa, By Appointment and multi-cultural society of Oceania, the Middle East, Singapore. This exhibition THE SPICE TRAIL as well as Europe, Asia and Only narrates the century-long Singapore Philatelic Museum the Americas, this extensive history of the Balestier precinct, Tuesday I December 1 and 8, 10 collection encompasses over MINT WORKSHOP SERIES: features the characteristics a.m. to 12 noon two million years of abundant NATURE’S PLAYGROUND and development of the $15 per person. For ages 7 to 12. culture and history. Mint Museum of Toys settlements in the area and $25 per person (Includes highlights how the different Learn about the explorers who For more information, please museum admission) communities lived and crossed the seas, the routes visit www.nationalmuseum.sg interacted in this precinct. that they took and about the Join us at the Mint Museum of spices that were discovered. Toys to celebrate and relive For more information, please Go on a walking trail to Fort MOVIE MATINEE the classic days of play and visit www.wanqingyuan.org.sg Canning Park to see spice Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial discovery. Explore nature’s plants and create a special Hall in collaboration with treasures and let the local spice craft. National Library Board bugs, critters and surprising TIME OF OTHERS Library@Chinatown, Programme plants inspire the curious Singapore Art Museum For more information, please Zone and the imaginative in you. November 21, 2015 to February WAN QING CULTUREFEST 2015 visit www.spm.org.sg December 10, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants will get to create 28, 2016 Free admission their very own handicraft toy Daily I 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. treats in an educational and Discover the world of philately too! $10 for adults and $5 for fun manner for you and your through exciting activities and TREASURES OF THE WORLD How do movies contribute students and senior citizens. Free family! competitions! Learn about the FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM to our understanding of the Workshop caters to three age admission for Singaporeans and ”King of Hobbies” and enjoy the National Museum of Singapore socio-historical setting of groups: 5 to 7 year olds, 7 to 12 Permanent Residents and for all All activities are free of charge rare opportunity of sleeping December 5, 2015 to May 29, Republican China and its road year olds and 13 years old and on Friday from 6 p.m. but registration may be needed among the philatelic exhibits! 2016. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to modernisation? Check out above. Has a minimum of 20 for some. Bring along a sleeping bag, our movie matinees and find participants and maximum of Time of Others will feature For more information, please jacket, pyjamas, fresh change Explore the finest artefacts out for yourself during the pre- 30 participants. works of artists responding visit www.wanqingyuan.org.sg of clothing and toiletries. the world has to offer at this movie screening presentation! to social, historical and Includes: dinner, supper and highly-anticipated exhibition For more information, please geopolitical concerns at this breakfast. from the British Museum! Please register at library email [email protected] or call present juncture of living MAILBOX WORKSHOP Featuring stunning relics eKiosks or at www.nlb.gov.sg/ 6339 0660. in a more interconnected Singapore Philatelic Museum For more information, please from ancient civilisations and golibrary/programme/Arts.aspx world today, where notions Wednesdays I November 25 and visit www.spm.org.sg of boundary, difference and December 9, 10 a.m. to 12 noon Otherness have also become $30.00 per person. For ages 7 TREASURES OF THE WORLD FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM more complex. to 12. SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL The Three Crosses, Rembrandt, AD 1653 © 2015 the Trustees of the British Museum FILM FESTIVAL For more information, please Have you ever wondered what Gallery Theatre, National visit www.singaporeartmuseum.sg the inside of a post box looks Museum of Singapore like? View miniature post boxes November 26 to December 6 from around the world, discover WAN QING CULTUREFEST interesting facts about post The Singapore International 2015 boxes and find out how mail is Film Festival (SGIFF) is the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial delivered. You can also paint largest and longest-running Hall and decorate your very own tin film event in Singapore. The November 21 to December 6 mailbox! Festival focuses on showcasing If you wish to feature your Tuesday to Sunday I 10 a.m. to international films and events, please email us at 5 p.m. For more information, please providing a global platform for [email protected] Free admission visit www.spm.org.sg the best of Singapore cinema.

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial All details and information For more information, please Hall proudly presents Wan were correct at time of OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE visit to www.sgiff.com Qing CultureFest 2015. Keep Singapore Philatelic Museum publishing but could be a lookout for an exciting Thursday to Friday I November subject to change. You may line-up of performances by 26, 6 p.m. to November 27, 9 a.m. wish to check with event local artists, public lectures, Wednesday to Thursday I organisers before setting craft demonstrations, movie December 2, 6 p.m. to December off. NHB cannot accept screenings and more as we 3, 9 a.m. responsibility for any errors deliver memorable cultural $90 per person. For ages 7 to 12. or omissions.

71 The Museum Roundtable (MR) The Army Museum Chinese Heritage Centre2 Grassroots Heritage Centre1 Lee Kong Chian Natural National Museum of Republic of Singapore Navy Singapore Maritime Gallery1 is an initiative led by National of Singapore2 Nanyang Technological National Community Leaders History Museum Singapore2 Museum1 Marina South Pier Heritage Board since 1996. It 520 Upper Jurong Road University Institute 2 Conservatory Drive 93 Stamford Road 112 Tanah Merah Coast Road Level 2 represents and comprises a Singapore 638367 12 Nanyang Drive 70 South Buona Vista Road Singapore 117377 Singapore 178897 Singapore 498794 31 Marina Coastal Drive collective of public and private +65 6861 3651 Singapore 637721 Singapore 118176 +65 6516 5082 +65 6332 3659 +65 6544 5147 Singapore 018988 +65 6513 8157 +65 6672 5200 lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg nationalmuseum.sg mindef.gov.sg/content/imindef/ +65 6325 5707 museums, heritage galleries, 1 and unique attractions of Art Retreat Museum* chc.ntu.edu.sg nacli.pa.gov.sg/grassroots- mindef_websites/atozlistings/ maritimegallery.sg 10 Ubi Crescent heritage-centre.html 1 science and discovery in NEWater Visitor Centre navymuseum/home.html Lobby C Civil Defence Heritage Singapore Philatelic Museum2 Singapore. With more than fifty 20 Koh Sek Lim Road #01-45/47 Gallery1 Malay Heritage Centre2 Singapore 486593 Republic of Singapore Air 23-B Coleman Street members currently, the MR Ubi Techpark 62 Hill Street 85 Sultan Gate +65 6546 7874 Force Museum1 Singapore 179807 strives to develop a stronger Singapore 498564 Singapore 179367 HDB Gallery1 Singapore 198501 www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/ 400 Airport Road +65 6337 3888 museum-going culture in +65 6749 0880 +65 6332 2996 HDB Hub +65 6391 0450 visitors/Pages/default.aspx Paya Lebar Airbase spm.org.sg Singapore while positioning artretreatmuseum.com www.scdf.gov.sg/community- Basement 1 malayheritage.org.sg Singapore 534234 museums as unique and volunteers/visit-scdf- 480 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 Ngee Ann Cultural Centre1 +65 6461 8507 Singapore Sports Museum2 fascinating destinations. Please ArtScience Museum establishments/cd-heritage- Singapore 310480 Marina Barrage1 97 Tank Road mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_ 6 Stadium Walk visit www.museums.com.sg for 10 Bayfront Avenue gallery hdb.gov.sg/hdbgallery 8 Marina Gardens Drive Teochew Building websites/atozlistings/air_force/ Singapore 397698 more information. Singapore 018956 Singapore 018951 Singapore 238066 about/museum.html +65 6653 9710 +65 6688 8826 The Changi Museum1 HealthZone +65 6514 5959 +65 6737 9555 sportshub.com.sg/venues/ marinabaysands.com/museum. 1000 Upper Changi Road North Level 2 pub.gov.sg/Marina/Pages/ ngeeann.com.sg/en/ngee-ann- Pages/singapore-sports- html Singapore 507707 Health Promotion Board Sustainable-Singapore-Gallery. cultural-centre museum.aspx +65 6214 2451 3 Second Hospital Avenue aspx Science Centre Singapore2 Asian Civilisations Museum2 changimuseum.com.sg Singapore 168937 NUS Museum1 15 Science Centre Road Sun Yat Sen Nanyang 1 Empress Place 1800 435 3616 Memories at Old Ford University Cultural Centre Singapore 609081 Memorial Hall2 Singapore 179555 hpb.gov.sg/healthzone/ Factory2 50 Kent Ridge Crescent +65 6425 2500 12 Tai Gin Road +65 6332 7798 351 Upper Bukit Timah Road Singapore 119279 science.edu.sg Singapore 327874 acm.org.sg Eurasian Heritage Centre Home Team Gallery*1 Singapore 588192 +65 6516 8817 +65 6256 7377 139 Ceylon Road 501 Old Choa Chu Kang Road +65 6462 6724 nus.edu.sg/museum The SGH Museum1 wanqingyuan.org.sg Singapore 429744 Singapore 698928 nas.gov.sg/moff Bowyer Block +65 6447 1578 +65 6465 3726 11 Third Hospital Avenue Baba House*1 eurasians.org.sg/eurasians-in- Ministry of Education Singapore 168751 157 Neil Road singapore/eurasian-heritage- Heritage Centre Peranakan Museum2 +65 6326 5294 Tan Tock Seng Hospital Singapore 088883 centre/ 402 Commonwealth Drive 39 Armenian Street sgh.com.sg/about-us/sgh- Heritage Museum1 +65 6227 5731 iExperience Centre Singapore 149599 Singapore 179941 museum/Pages/SGH-Museum. 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng nus.edu.sg/museum/baba B1-10/19 Esplanade Xchange +65 6838 1614 +65 6332 7591 aspx Level 1 90 Bras Basah Road moeheritagecentre.sg/ peranakanmuseum.org.sg Singapore 308433 The Battle Box3 Fort Siloso Singapore 189562 Singapore Art Museum2 +65 6357 8266 2 Cox Terrace Sentosa Island +65 6820 6880 MINT Museum of Toys Police Heritage Centre*1 71 Bras Basah Road ttsh.com.sg/TTSH-Heritage- Singapore 179622 Siloso Point iexperience.sg 26 Seah Street Police Headquarters Singapore 189555 Museum +65 6338 6144 Singapore 099981 Singapore 188382 New Phoenix Park +65 6589 9580 1 1800 736 8672 The Intan* +65 6339 0660 28 Irrawaddy Road singaporeartmuseum.sg The Building & Construction sentosa.com.sg 69 Joo Chiat Terrace emint.com Singapore 329560 Authority Gallery*3 Singapore 427231 +65 6478 2123 Singapore City Gallery1 Woodbridge Museum1 200 Braddell Road Fu Tak Chi Museum2,3 +65 6440 1148 police.gov.sg/spfheritage 45 Maxwell Road 10 Buangkok Green Singapore 579700 76 Telok Ayer Street the-intan.com The URA Centre Buangkok Green Medical Park +65 6248 9930 Singapore 048464 National Healthcare Group Singapore 069118 Singapore 539747 1 bcaa.edu.sg/learning-journey- +65 6580 2888 IRAS Gallery Polyclinics’ Gallery of +65 6321 8321 +65 6389 2000 1 sites/bca-gallery fareastsquare.com.sg Revenue House Level 1 Memories1 Red Dot Design Museum ura.gov.sg/uol/citygallery 55 Newton Road Level 3 of Bukit Batok Polyclinic Ground Floor Singapore 307987 50 Bukit Batok West Avenue 3 Red Dot Traffic Building Singapore Coins and Notes C +65 6351 2076 28 Maxwell Road Museum 1 Singapore 659164 Chinatown Heritage Centre3 Gan Heritage Centre* iras.gov.sg/irashome/irasgallery. +65 6355 3000 Singapore 069120 20 Teban Gardens Crescent 48 Pagoda Street 18 Bukit Pasoh Road aspx nhgp.com.sg +65 6327 8027 Singapore 608928 Singapore 059207 Singapore 089832 museum.red-dot.sg +65 6895 0288 +65 6534 8942 +65 6223 0739 National Library Gallery1 scnm.com.sg chinatownheritagecentre.sg ganclan.sg Reflections at Bukit Chandu2 1 100 Victoria Street Land Transport Gallery Singapore 188064 31-K Pepys Road Singapore Discovery Centre 1 Hampshire Road +65 6332 3255 Singapore 118458 510 Upper Jurong Road *By Appointment Only Block 1 Level 1 nlb.gov.sg/golibrary/exhibitions. +65 6375 2510 Singapore 638365 1 Free Singapore 219428 aspx www.nhb.gov.sg/ +65 6792 6188 2 Free for Singapore Citizens +65 6396 2550 NHBPortal/Museums/ sdc.com.sg lta.gov.sg/ltgallery/index.html ReflectionsatBukitChandu and Permanent Residents 3 Opening soon

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