Night Festival 2012: Feel younger at heart this weekend at the festival

Mylar - FUERZABRUTA
Image credit: Ozono Producciones.

Last weekend, the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct was transformed into a dazzling and spectacular playground, thanks to the Night Festival 2012 presented by the National Heritage Board.

After hours of partying at the festival last weekend, will there be any more good reason to visit the Night Festival 2012 again this upcoming weekend?

The answer is clearly a "Yes". The new programmes at this upcoming weekend's Night Festival 2012 with their extravagance and novelty are likely to influence the audience to feel younger at heart. Find your way to the Night Festival on 31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012!

One of the performers from Ozono Producciones.
Image credit: Derrick See

If it helps you in your endeavours to feel younger at heart, please make your way to the following programmes at the Night Festival this weekend:

FUERZABRUTA
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
Mylar | 8.45 p.m., 9.45 p.m., 10.45 p.m.
Corredoras | 8.30 p.m., 9.30 p.m., 10.30 p.m.
Venue: Singapore Management University Green
These performances by Ozono Producciones (Argentina) are set to break free from the confines of the spoken language and theatrical convention. The mind-blowing visual effects and the powerful experiences will prove to remind the young at heart that taking calculated risks and experimenting beyond the conventional could be worthwhile in the long-run.

In Mylar, four dancers slip and slide in rapturous motions in a translucent 15-metre pool that will be suspended eventually just inches above the heads of the audience.

Mylar - FUERZABRUTA
Image credit: National Heritage Board.

For an experience of a magical stage where two elegant dancers somersault and dive at a fast speed across a large silver screen, be sure to watch Corredoras.

Corredoras - FUERZABRUTA.
Image credit: National Heritage Board.

Corredoras - FUERZABRUTA.
Image credit: Ozone Producciones.

FUERZABRUTA - La Argentina. 
The Analog Girl | Kiat | Dharni | Bloco Singapura 
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
8.30 p.m., 9.30 p.m., 10.30 p.m.
Venue: Armenian Street
If celebrating through music and dances entices you, find your way to the Armenian Street (where there will be road closures from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m.) and re-experience how it would have been during the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Argentinean Independence. Feel joyful. This is one of the gifts of being younger at heart!

In the performance that is named La Argentina, a crane holds an athletic dancer in the air. Nearby, musicians from Bloco Singapura pound and strum on the drums. The music is likely to get people to start dancing with the beat. Isn't this a great way to feel younger at heart?

Tip: To enjoy the music from these engaging performances better, it will help to bring along a pair of good earplugs to protect the ears. It will also help to wear comfortable shoes so as to keep up with the pace of the performance when it moves from one part of Armenian Street to another.

Fuerzabruta - La Argentina.
Night Festival 2012.

Flying in the air! La Argentina.
Image credit: Derrick See.

La Argentina. Be transported to a land of fantasy and movement.
Image credit: Derrick See.

Night Painting | Cast in Light
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012 
8.30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m.
Venue: Vanguard Builing, 71 - 77 Stamford Road, Singapore.
This performance will add a touch of artistic flair to the historical Vanguard Building, which used to be the former MPH Building. Imagine the two performers - one in darkness, one in light - exploring and interacting with the architecture of the building and the office-like spaces in their voyeuristic adventure.

To appreciate this performance, it is essential to have a youthful outlook to appreciate the interesting sense of humour that the two performers, Li Cassidy-Peet and Terry Wee, have. Thankfully, being young at heart does not mean that one has to abandon one's memories of the former MPH building.

Night Painting. At Vanguard Building.
Night Festival 2012.

Vanguard Building. Former MPH Building.

Fish Tank at No. 8 
Venue: No. 8 at SAM at 8Q, 8 Queen Street.
This is a light installation that people are likely to smile and to delight in. This live virtual aquarium with its giant red fishes looks so life-like that it will earn a heartfelt smile from each of its visitors. Laughter and smiles could potentially help a person feel younger at heart. Why not consider catching this light installation even though it is not new to this year's Night Festival?

Fish Tank at No. 8.

Free Running
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.
Venue: Handy Road Open Park, in front of The Cathay. 2 Handy Road.
If you have missed this last weekend, there is still a chance to do so this weekend. Phenomenal free runners of Ashton Movements Agency will entertain audiences with awe-inspiring moves involving rolling, climbing, jumping through obstacles with creative manoeuvres and more.

Before watching the performance, the young and enthusiastic ones may like to be registered for the special workshops to learn the fundamentals of free running. This workshop will be conducted by the finest practitioners in Singapore.

In these workshops which will take place from 6.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. during the Night Festival, participants will learn the basics such as landing and the fastest way to overcome a wall. To register, please email askme@thepresentingcompany.com or call Tel: 6438-6466/ 8139-4766.

Night Festival 2012. Free Running. Handy Road Open Park.

Essentially, it is possible to feel younger at heart this weekend simply by attending the Night Festival 2012!

On the other hand, if you prefer to reminisce and to be nostalgic, please visit this link for some ideas: Interesting Night Festival 2012 programmes for the nostalgic folks.

***
To help you to plan your time at the Night Festival, here is a suggested itinerary for your consideration:

8.00 p.m.: Free Running.
8.15 p.m.: Start walking to Singapore Management University Green.
8.30 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – Corredoras
8.45 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – Mylar
9.15 p.m.: Start walking to Armenian Street.
9.30 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – La Argentina |The Analog Girl | Kiat | Dharni | Bloco Singapura 
10.00 p.m. or 11 p.m.: Night Painting | Cast in Light

Updates (1 Sep 2012): Based on my personal observations at the Night Festival 2012, the actual performance timings for Mylar and La Argentina may vary slightly from the published information (about 15 to 30 minutes difference).

***
Night Festival 2012
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Free admission
For more details, please visit: http://www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival

Nearest MRT stations: Bras Basah, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut.

Night Festival 2012: Interesting programmes for the nostalgic folks

These two weekends, witness the transformation of the urban landscape of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct into a dazzling and spectacular playground filled with performances and interesting surprises.

Presented by the National Heritage Board, Night Festival 2012 with its vibrancy and hype, provides the opportunities for people to come together to create new shared memories through the various engaging experiences at the festival. A careful scrutiny of the programme for Night Festival 2012 revealed that there are many interesting programmes that encourage visitors to recollect nostalgic moments, reflect on memories from the past and to reconnect with loved ones in this vibrant occasion.

For the people who are nostalgic at heart, here are some of the programmes that you may not want to miss:

Book Launch for Apache Over Singapore: The Story of Singapore Sixties Music - Vol. 1 by Joseph Pereira
31 Aug 2012 
7.30 p.m.
Select Books, 51 Armenian Street, Singapore 179939.

For the people who are inspired by the exciting pop scene in Singapore in the 1960s, join author, Joseph Pereira, who is one of Singapore's music veterans, in a book launch of the book Apache Over Singapore: The Story of Singapore Sixties Music - Vol. 1. At this book launch, Joseph Pereira shall share some very personal experiences and relive the heydays of the Singapore music scene! This is the event to attend if you love the music from the 1960s Singapore. I have a strong hunch that this event could provide the opportunity for music enthusiasts to rub shoulders with music veterans from that period.

Night Painting | Cast in Light
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012 
8.30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m.
Venue: Vanguard Builing, 71 - 77 Stamford Road, Singapore.
This performance will draw the patronage of people like yours truly who fondly misses the glorious days of the former MPH Building. I fondly remember the times when I use to visit the MPH Bookstore that used to be located in the MPH Building to browse for a book to purchase. "Built in 1908, the MPH Building was originally known as the Methodist Publishing House but was later renamed Malaya Publishing House" (source: infopedia).

In this performance, performers Li Cassidy-Peet and Terry Wee explore and interact with the architecture and office-like spaces in an voyeuristic adventure and leave their mark.

I have no idea what mark they would make, but I now recall the wonderful aroma of coffee that used to linger in the air when I was visiting the former MPH Building more than a decade ago. What are your memories of the former MPH Building?

Vanguard Building. Former MPH Building.

Night Photobooth Analogue Style @ Peek!
24 and 25 Aug
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012 
7.30 p.m. - 12 midnight
Venue: 36 Armenian Street, #01-04/ 02-04, Singapore 179934 (opposite the Peranakan Museum).
Get your picture taken, the photo booth Analogue style! I thought it was a nostalgic way to capture the images of ourselves the analogue way. Night Festival goers can choose to get their picture taken with a range of Lomography cameras, a carefully refurbished Polaroid camera from The Impossible Project and so forth. This is a great reason to stay away from digital cameras for a brief moment.

The photo-taking sessions are free-of-charge. The photographs will be uploaded digitally onto the Facebook page of Peek! If you are lucky, you can request to take a photograph of yourself and your friends with a Polaroid camera so that you have a physical photograph of a treasured moment to keep as a memento.

Night Photobooth Analogue Style at Peek! Night Festival 2012.

Flash Tales in a Night by Singapore Footprints

24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012

31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012

8.30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Venue: Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business, along Stamford Road and Roving.

If you wish to re-experience one of the forms of entertainment before television became common, comb the Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business and along Stamford Road to look for the extravagantly dressed story-teller who is busking on the streets. Be captivated by his entertaining stories and animated speech. If he has ended his story-telling abruptly, it could be because the joss stick that the story-teller is using to gauge the duration of each story-telling session has stopped burning.

Flash Tales in a Night. Courtesy of Singapore Footprints.

Nestle 1930s Street Stall
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Stamford Green (outside the museum building).
If you are nearby Stamford Green while searching for the roving story-teller who tells Flash Tales in a Night, look for the Nestle booth that features a street stall of the 1930s. This will surely transport you back in time.

The Nestle 1930s Street Stall offers each of its visitors a free cup of delicious NESCAFE White Coffee. If you are very lucky, the roving KIT KAT girls in old school uniforms may give out KIT KAT treats to you when you are nearby the stall.

At the Nestle booth, visitors can also relive some fond childhood memories through traditional games like five-stones and chapteh (feathered shuttlecock).

Nestle 1930s Street Stall. Night Festival.

The roving KIT KAT girls who have so kindly posed for a photograph so that you can know how to recognize them.

WE THE PEOPLE by Brian Gothong Tan (Facade Projection)
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Venue: National Museum of Singapore.
This facade projection by Brian Gothong Tan combines film, motion graphics and experimental animation, Brian's complex yet playful work, with soundscapes by award-winning composer Philip Tan. Suitable for all ages. Do not be surprised to see visual images on the projection that trigger memories of the past and of moments in Singapore's history.

WE THE PEOPLE. Night Festival 2012.

One Fine Day by Paper Monkey Theatre (Singapore)
24 and 25 Aug 2012 
8 p.m., 9 p.m., 9.30 p.m., and 10 p.m.
Duration: 10 minutes per show
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Glass Atrium (2nd level).
Return to the days of watching puppet performances while sitting on the ground. The modern twist is that you can do so in the comfort of an air-conditioned environment! Paper Monkey Theatre presents One Fine Day, a shadow puppetry performance. The storyline is set in the context of the Singapore HDB (Housing and Development Board) flat. Take a peek into the homes of families living in the same HDB flat when it is 6 a.m. in the morning.

If shadow puppetry interests you, you may also like to join the shadow puppetry-making workshop that is at the other end of the Glass Atrium from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Night Festival 2012. Shadow-puppetry workshop. 24 and 25 Aug 2012.

The Wedding Dress: 200 Years of Wedding Fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
Free admission from 6 p.m. till 2 a.m. 
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement.
Complete your quest for nostalgia by visiting the exhibition, The Wedding Dress: 200 Years of Wedding Fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum. During the Night Festival, from 6 p.m. till 2 a.m., admission to this special exhibition will be free! Be enchanted by the superb collection of wedding dresses from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The wedding dresses can date back to as early as the 1800s Victorian era. Wedding dresses by celebrated designers, including Charles Frederick Worth, Charles James, Christian Lacroix, John Galliano, Norman Hartnell, Vera Wang, Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes are also being showcased at this exhibition.

***
Night Festival 2012
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Free admission
For more details, please visit: http://www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival

Nearest MRT stations: Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall.

Night Festival 2012: Highlights to enjoy within an hour

Image courtesy of National Heritage Board.

When the sun sets and the skies darken these upcoming two weekends (24 Aug and 25 Aug, 31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012), people in Singapore can expect to experience the hype and extravaganza of spectacular aerial performances, music, dance and installation artworks at the heart of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct.

This year's Night Festival will be bigger than the previous night festivals. Stakeholders and partners from the Bras Basah.Bugis Arts and Heritage precinct community have come together to make this festival a success.

As arts and culture spill onto the streets at the Night Festival these two weekends, get ready to contain the splendor and excitement with your open-hearted presence.

There are numerous fascinating performances and events at this year's Night Festival. The festival stretches from Cathay building to Armenian Street. With such a wide spectrum of activities to choose from, here are some of the highlights to consider if you should only have an hour, or less, to spare this weekend.

WE THE PEOPLE by Brian Gothong Tan (Facade Projection)
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Venue: National Museum of Singapore (Building facade).
Brian Gothong Tan is one of the local contemporary artists to look out. I had the pleasure to see some of his previous art installations and found him to have a playful sense of humour.

This facade projection combines film, motion graphics and experimental animation, Brian's complex yet playful work, with soundscapes by award-winning composer Philip Tan. Suitable for all ages if you are ready to go for a colourful and surreal journey. This is a positive example of Night Festival 2012 providing commissions and platforms for local artists and musicians to showcase their art.

Night Festival 2012. WE THE PEOPLE.

One Fine Day by Paper Monkey Theatre (Singapore)
24 and 25 Aug 2012 
8 p.m., 9 p.m., 9.30 p.m., and 10 p.m.
Duration: 10 minutes per show
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Glass Atrium (2nd level). 

The storyline of this shadow puppetry performance is set in the context of the Singapore HDB (Housing and Development Board) flat. Presented by Paper Monkey Theatre, the performance takes audience to a peek into the homes of families living in the same HDB flat when it is 6 a.m. in the morning. Watch how the puppets come alive to tell a story with a Singapore flavour in this performance. Please be prepared to sit on the floor for ten minutes to get a better view of the puppetry performance.

If shadow puppetry interests you and there is more time to spare, you may also like to join the shadow puppetry-making workshop that is nearby, from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

One Fine Day by Paper Monkey Theatre.

An example of a shadow puppet.

Circus Swingapore
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012 (Circus Kids)
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012 (Circus Swingapore Performers)
7.30 p.m., 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.
Duration: 15 mins per show
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, The Platform (2nd level).

Be entertained by the aerial spectacles performed by the Circus Kids and Circus Swingapore. I learnt that Circus Swingapore is Singapore's only School of Circus Arts with students ranging from 7 to 50 years old!

Circus Kids. Night Festival 2012. Photograph courtesy of Belinda Tan.

Circus Swingapore. Night Festival 2012.

Nestle 1930s Street Stall
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Stamford Green (outside the museum building).

On the way travelling from the National Museum of Singapore to the Singapore Art Museum, transport yourself back in time as you walk past the Nestle booth that features a street stall of the 1930s. Depending on the popularity of this street stall, you can hopefully spend minimal time to queue for and indulge in a free cup of delicious NESCAFE White Coffee.

If you are very lucky, the roving KIT KAT girls in old school uniforms may give out KIT KAT treats to you. While savouring the white coffee and KIT KAT treats, visitors can also relive some fond childhood memories through traditional games like five-stones and chapteh (feathered shuttlecock).

Nestle 1930s Street Stall. Night Festival.

The roving KIT KAT girls who have so kindly posed for a photograph so that you can know how to recognize them.

Mimoid II by Stephane Beve, Milosh Luczynski and Philippe Rizzotti
Music Composed by Vuk Krakovic
Mixed and SFX designed by Ctrl Fre@k (Jeffrey Yue)
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Venue: Singapore Art Museum (Building facade).

Experience the artists' vision of the possible future of the Singapore Art Museum. This light installation presents a constantly evolving architecture of the Singapore Art Museum's building. Each transformation is said to be based on the building's history and structure. Perhaps one of the interesting experience to watching this light installation is to listen to how sound and visual elements combine seamlessly to present an artistic installation.

Night Festival 2012. Singapore Art Museum.

Children's Dreams by Jérôme Donna and Public Lighting Department to City of Lyon, France
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Venue: School of the Arts (SOTA)

This light installation which is designed by Jérôme Donna, a lighting designer at Public Lighting Department to City of Lyon, presents larger-than-life illuminated drawings by children representing characters from fairytales such as The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. Each of the choreographed lighting sequence is seven minutes in duration.

May you have fun making good guesses which fairy-tale characters each of the illuminated drawings is intended to depict.

Night Festival 2012.

A gentle reminder:
There are so many other interesting programmes that are noteworthy to attend in this year's Night Festival such that visitors are likely to be carried away and spend more than an hour at the festival. As such, please remember to wear or to bring along a reliable time-telling device to keep a good watch of time if you could only spend less than an hour at this festival!

***
Night Festival 2012
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Free admission
For more details, please visit: http://www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival

Nearest MRT stations: Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall.

Make a date with a museum guide when you visit Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine

Marvellous. A reproduction of a pectoral from the 4th century BCE.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

What makes gold such a sought-after precious metal? I did not have much of a clue until I visited the exhibition, Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine earlier this year. While artifacts made from iron have corroded over time, artifacts made from gold could retain its shiny lustre even after many centuries. The significance of gold probably lies in its physical qualities of durability, incorruptibility and rarity.

Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine which is held at the National Museum of Singapore will be ending on 26 Aug 2012. This exhibition was possibly organized to celebrate twenty years of diplomatic ties between Ukraine and Singapore. The collection on display at this exhibition is on loan from the National Museum of the History of Ukraine and the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine. 

A brilliant Gorytus cover from the 4th century BCE.
A gorytus was a bow and quiver case.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

When I had first visited the exhibition on 28 May 2012 during the launch of the exhibition, I was most impressed by the excellent craftsmanship. Even as early as 8th century BCE, the gold techniques that were used were already very remarkable. In addition, somehow, I was drawn to the idea of visiting Ukraine after attending the exhibition.

Sword and scabbard with boar head.
4th century BCE (Scythians).
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

However, during my first visit to the exhibition, I was pretty overwhelmed by the collection of 260 pieces of jewellery, weapons, coins, household and religious artifacts that were on display. I have had no clue how to make sense of the entire exhibition. 

Thankfully, on my third visit to the exhibition on 28 Jul 2012, I had the pleasure to attend one of the guided tours by one of museum guides. This gave me a better overview to the entire exhibition as well as a glimpse of the history of the area which is now present day Ukraine.

My wonderful guide shared with me and the other visitors on the guided tour a brief history of present day Ukraine. I could better picture the location of Ukraine on the world map. He also shared with us the diplomatic ties that exist between Singapore and Ukraine. Thanks to the diplomatic ties, the residents in Singapore can enjoy a glimpse of Ukraine's heritage right here in Singapore.

A stele.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

The first exhibit in the exhibition features a stone stele from 6th century BCE. Across Central Asia in antiquity, it was a common practice to place such stone steles on the top of burial mounds known as kurgans. Thanks to wikipedia, I learnt that kurgans are mounds of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Subsequently, the first section of the exhibition revealed to us more artifacts that were found in Scythian burial grounds. The Scythians were a group of people who had dominated the Pontic-Caspian steppe from about the 7th century BCE.

The gold plaques on the vessels are original, although the organic parts of the vessels such as the horn of the Rhyton (drinking horn) were reconstructed. Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

During my first visit to the exhibition, I was struggling to appreciate the various nomadic groups of people who have lived in the region near the Black Sea. Admittedly, I am still rather confused by the descriptions on the various nomadic groups of people who have lived in the region. Thankfully, after attending one of the guided tours, I realized that as long as I have appreciated that there were various nomadic groups of people who have lived in and interacted with one another in the region near the Black Sea, I would have gotten the quite a bit out of my visits to the exhibition.

Medallion. From the early to mid 12th century CE (Byzantine) period.
This medallion is said to be possibly bearing the image of a warrior saint, Theodore.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

The next section of the exhibition shared about the lives of the settlers. I learnt that the acceptance of Orthodox Christianity in Kyivan Rus' has in some ways encouraged the nomads in the region to choose to live as settlers instead. I was attracted to some of the artifacts in this section.

Gospel in silver casing.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

The final section of the exhibition showcases gold from the Southeast Asia and Singapore. It also lends visitors an appreciation to the development of gold-smithing and the flourishing of goldsmith shops in 20th century Singapore. I was rather attracted to an exhibition panel that discusses the unit of purity (carat) for gold alloys. The tour group started discussing about purple gold. Purple gold is actually a gold alloy that composed of about 80% pure gold and 20% of other metal components. Our diligent tour guide also shared with us why it may be necessary to add other metal components into gold in some situations.

A peep into the development of gold-smithing in Singapore.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

Classical Javanese Gold.
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine.

Finally, after the guided tour, I could better appreciate what the exhibition was about. If schedule permits, please make a date with one of the museum guides and attend the guided tour.

I had rented one of the audio guides during my second visit to the exhibition as well. The audio guides are available for rent at $3 each. While the audio guides are very informative, I personally prefer the guided tour because it gave me a clearer overview of the exhibition. Furthermore, I could ask the tour guide questions! However, if for some reasons the free guided tour of the exhibition is not available during your visit, the audio guide is possibly the next best way to better appreciate this exhibition.

***
Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine

National Museum of Singapore

93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897

29 May - 26 Aug 2012

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tickets are priced at S$11 (includes SISTIC handling fees)

Details of guided tour can be found here: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/ExhibitionDetail.aspx?id=68&cat=2

***
Please take note:


On 20 Aug 2012, admission to this exhibition and the rest of the National Museum of Singapore is free.

In addition, from 21 - 26 Aug 2012, entry to Gold Rush: Treasures of the Ukraine is at a discounted rate of S$6 for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Source: http://www.nhb.gov.sg/www/aug12promo.html

The innovative Great Singapore Souvenirs

The launch of the Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

Have you ever wish you could know where to get innovative and meaningful Singapore souvenirs for your friends who are residing overseas?

I did.

Many years ago, I had wished that Singapore souvenirs could be more innovative. I felt bored to end up buying Singapore souvenirs with the ubiquitous images of the Merlion, the orchid and the Changi Airport. I was very sure that there could be more meaningful and iconic souvenirs that could better reflect Singapore's heritage, culture and the Singapore identity.

It was dream come true when I chanced upon an exhibition entitled GSS. The Exhibition. when I was visiting the National Museum of Singapore on the late evening of 7 Aug 2012.

GSS. The Exhibition.
This photograph was taken on 16 Aug 2012.

It was the Bak Chang Five Stones that had captured my attention. These five stones resemble the looks of the traditional Chinese dumpling made from glutinous rice and wrapped in reed leaves.

Bak Chang Five Stones. S$12 per set.
Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

The Bak Chang Five Stones immediately reminded me of the days during when I was a Primary School student. During those years, one of the common activities to occupy our time after the school's examinations was to play the traditional local game called 'five stones'. I was told that the game 'five stones' was originally played with real stones or pebbles. Subsequently, I suppose people improvised the game so that instead of using stones, five small triangular cloth bags that were filled with rice, sand or saga seeds were used. I thought that it was very innovative that the five stones have been repackaged to look like the traditional Chines dumplings.

I became curious to know more about the GSS. The Exhibition. It turned out that GSS is the acronym for Great Singapore Souvenirs! I am sorry if you had thought that GSS is the acronym for the Great Singapore Sales, an annual shopping season in Singapore, that many of the locals are familiar with.

Great Singapore Souvenirs is a collection of merchandise that celebrates Singapore through the exploration of local quirks and habits. I sensed that the designers who have designed this collection have a good sense of humour. The collection re-interprets the Singapore's quirks and habits into meaningful and iconic souvenirs that everyone can shop for and have fun with.

Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

***
Here are some of the innovative souvenirs from the Great Singapore Souvenirs collection that I think may be tempting to buy as gifts:

Kan Cheong Spider Watch. S$36 each.
Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

The Kan Cheong Spider Watch appears to be one of the most popular souvenirs in the Great Singapore Souvenirs collection. Admittedly, I was straining my ears to listen out for what were the favourite souvenirs of the visitors. I could not appreciate it until I learnt that the colloquial term "kan cheong spider" is used in the local context to describe a person who is always anxious and constantly on their toes.

Please do not ask me why spiders are described to be "kan cheong" (anxious). Anyway, this watch can be a very apt gift for any friend or colleague who is literally chasing time and timelines. The recipient who receives the gift may feel very pleased that this fun timepiece will help ensure that he keeps up with the time and be reminded to be punctual for all the timelines!

***

Choy Charm.
Leather Key Strap at S$10 each.
Key Chain at S$10 each.
Necklace at S$12 each.
Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

Have you shouted "Touchwood" or "Choy" to ward off a negative consequence but wished you had access to a block of wood to dispel and neutralize the unlucky omens or evil consequences? Choy Charm provides the perfect solution. It is very aware that some Singaporeans would shout "Choy" and/or "Touchwood" as a superstitious action to ward off bad luck after some recent action they have taken.

The Choy Charm is cleverly made from solid wood to provide omnipresent access to a block of wood to dispel and neutralize unlucky omens at any time. This is a thoughtful gift to signify that good luck shall go with the recipient anytime, any day and anywhere.

***

National Day Tote Bag. S$23 each.
Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS)

August is the perfect time to launch the National Day Tote Bag. Did you observe that it is fairly common to see the people of Singapore carrying the official tote bags given out at National Day parades? The National Day Tote Bag pays tribute to this phenomenon by celebrating and reminding us the very day of Singapore's independence day on 9 Aug 1965. Did you know that 9 Aug 1965 fall on a Monday and was in the year of the Snake? I like the design which made reference to the iconic Chinese Almanac calendar.

***

Fish Bone Bowl Notepad.
A5 notepad at S$6 each.
A4 notepad at S$9 each.
Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS).

For the price-conscious and practical people, the Fish Bone Bowl Notepad may be a feasible gift to get for friends and loved ones. This souvenir reminded me of the common practice for locals to fold a piece of scrap paper into an origami 'bowl' for discarding bones and scraps of food during meals at home. This notepad can be used for taking down notes. In addition, it is incorporated with folding instructions which will guide the recipient to create his very own origami fish bone bowl.

***

Chope! Umbrella.

The Chope! Umbrella is designed to celebrate the ingenuity of the local phehonmenon of using umbrellas and tissue packets to reserve tables at crowded coffeeshops or hawker centres. At the moment, only exhibition prototypes of the umbrella is available for viewing. If there is enough requests received for this item, it may be produced for retail.

***
You can imagine a very delighted look on my face after I went through all the souvenirs on display at GSS. The Exhibition. Finally, I have found a place where I can get innovative and well-designed Singapore souvenirs to be given as gifts. 

Even if getting Singapore souvenirs is not your cup of tea, it can be an amusing and interesting experience visiting GSS. The Exhibition with your friends and family members as if you were going for an art exhibition. These innovative Great Singapore Souvenirs seem to have the power to engage its visitors and potential consumers to start interesting conversations related to the Singapore's culture and the Singaporean identity. If you do not believe me, please simply make your way to the exhibition with an open mind to put my observations to test.

GSS. The Exhibition.
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
8 Aug 2012 - 20 Aug 2012. At the Rotunda.
21 Aug 2012 - 9 Sep 2012. At the Gallery Theater Foyer. Basement.
Free admission.

The Great Singapore Souvenirs (GSS) is a collaboration between MUSEUM LABEL, SINGAPORE Souvenirs and FARMSTORE.