Experience

Every exhibition in National Museum of Singapore has their own specialty and uniqueness. The Singapore History Gallery has all the 4 phases in Singapore history, from the year 1299 to the present. In the year of 1299 to 1818, Singapore was known to be a thriving port where Chinese call it Temasek, while in Malay Annals, it was called Singapura. As it is known to be the thriving port, it is common that they trade items like ceramics and hornbill casque. Rhinoceros

 

The picture above, on the left, will be the Rhinoceros Hornbill and the one on the right is Great Pied Hornbill. The large bony crests or casques in between their eyes are solid enough to be carved, like ivory. This is one of the most outstanding artefacts in that is found in the first phase of Singapore. There was also a screen showing the daily lifestyle.

After this phase of Singapore history, it will be the Crown Colony. From the year 1819 to 1941, it is the history where most of us have learnt in primary school but in this museum, the story of the history is in depth. It is when Sir Stamford Raffles and Major William Farquhar arrived in Singapore in 1819. This is the moment I realise that what I have learnt when I was younger, came alive. The first thing that was outstanding was two huge portraits of Sir Stamford Raffles. Sir Stamford Raffles studied the Malay history and was inspired to revive the legendary Malay capital, Temasek. Sir Stamford Raffles and Major William Farquhar struck a deal with local Malay rulers to set up a British trading port. By the 1750s, Singapore was the centre of trade in Southeast Asia.

In the middle of the entire area of Crown Colony, there was a Rickshaw that was the centre of attention. Rickshaws are the cheapest public transport in Singapore when it came in 1880. They were originated in Japan, called jinrikisha. It is either imported from Japan or made locally. However, the latter will be of lower quality when it is made locally. Thousands of Chinese sojourner migrants in Singapore worked as pulling rickshaws. They work up to 12 hours shift, earning about 30 to 40 cents. It is something that no Singaporeans of this generation have seen before. It was a popular mode of public transport from 1880 until the 1930s

Syonan-To is the phase of Singapore History, was a whole lot of different experience. This is similar to Surviving Syonan exhibition. Both exhibitions give a threatening and dark ambience with aeroplanes and jet sounds, as a core product of experiencing the times back in 1942-1945. It was the time of the year where it was during World War II. The story of Elizabeth Choy was what that touched me the most in the entire gallery, I had my full concentration listening to Elizabeth Choy interview regarding the Prisoners of Wars. She was detained, interrogated and tortured. It was a traumatic experience to Elizabeth Choy.

Lastly, Singapore gain independence in the year 1965. We separate ways with Malaysia. Then Singapore slowly grows as a country up till now. There was a montage of the different two different years. To show the differences back in the 1960s and 1970s such as the photo below. The photo below is the changing landscape where the one on the left was during 1968-1970 and the one on the right is in 1978. This may be a nostalgic montage and experience for the elder generations.

Other exhibitions that I've visited will be the 'Life in Singapore: The Past 100 Years". The exhibitions are separated into 4 different exhibitions. Firstly, the Surviving Syonan, we were greeted with an augmented product as there were a loud aeroplane and bomb sound. It was a dull atmosphere, there were at least two quotes by the survivors.

The following exhibition was the Modern Colony, where the ambience was much more old-fashion but high class. This exhibition also focuses on Singapore progressiveness in the evolution of women's identity and their enhanced social status during this period. The first thing I sensed when I enter the exhibition, there was a perfumed smell.

After the Modern Colony, the next exhibition is Growing Up. There was an engaging multimedia activity that was displayed, the multimedia requires us to play a guessing game then followed by voting of our favourite game while we younger. Then, they will show us the result of the votes. Being there makes me feel nostalgic as majority of the toys found in that gallery was what I used to play when I was younger. Also, there was an artefact that moves rapidly to make a video visual effect when we press the button. I feel that it is also cost efficient and it helps saves electric by pressing a button to make it moves. Thus, a great invention to save costs.

The last exhibition of "Life in Singapore: The Past 100 Years" will be the Voices of Singapore where there were touch screens and headphones. We are allowed to choose which audio that we'd like to hear. The features that interest me was the old school cameras and the drive-in theatre. It gives us a feel of what it was back then when there was a drive-in theatre because they provided the tangible product for visitors allow us to experience at that moment when we there. 

The Magic and Menace was an interesting exhibition as in it not something that everyone has seen often. There were preserved animals and a bag that was made out of a crocodile skin. Magic and Menace. This exhibition is to explore the world of magic and supernatural beliefs. There were also smell senses in a way to engage the audiences such as lavender and durian. 

Glass Rotunda was the one that gave me an excitement feeling when we were required to enter  a dark room filled with projector projecting flowers falling from the sky it was beautiful to watch. Then followed by the art piece that was made alive. At the end of it there was a room surrounded by the projector projecting the animals, trees and the flowers and flower petals flowing down to the ground, many were taking pictures and lying down to appreciate it. I feel that, it was a masterpiece that I would really take my time and observe everything and appreciating it.

 

In all the exhibitions, the one that excites me the most was the Glass Rotunda whereby I can lie down and stare at the ceiling all day long. It was really relaxing, the ambience is really calm and peaceful. It relieves my stress just by watching the flowers falling, it felt so real. However, what disappoints me will be the drive-in theater. This is because of what I have experienced on the day that I've visited the National Museum of Singapore with my friends. The area was dirty and the car seat that I sat on had an unpleasant smell. It was a discomforting experience in there. I only manage to stay there for a minute because the unpleasant smell was really strong.