Category: Arts & Entertainment Title: Our Heritage – Museum Walk

While we were having coffee on a regular meet-up to YEBBER about the everything of everyday life, we came across “THE OFFICIAL SINGAPORE GUIDE+MAP” by TTG Maps/Guides and some wild thought became some wild talk which ended in a note of enthusiasm and curiosity. Here we are, deciding to put on our ARTISITC caps and tourist face, we decided to explore the HERITAGE TRAIL and visit some Museums and Iconic landmarks, going where our feet brings us.

Tracking on VICTORIA STREET on a bright Saturday morning brought us to the NATIONAL Library where we enjoyed a good breakfast at HANS located at the outdoor foyer of the NATIONAL Library. The National library is a good looking building with some trees popping out in the middle of the building; I guess a mid-sky garden there. It houses many levels of offices and study areas. I love the empty spaces they have, easy to move around with events being able to be conducted with ease be it outdoor or the indoor corridors or foyers. The high ceilings and sound proofing fixtures are great for a good quiet read. The general borrowing section being in the basement is decked with plush arm chairs for browsing and reading as well as newspaper reading tables which are tilted at an angle for easy reading. There are a good spread of computers for searching catalogues and the rows and rows of bookshelves neatly packed housing various books from various genre and authors. I also like the signs that were put up that there are more STUDYING areas at the higher levels and if you need a place to study, you could always go on up. Borrowing books is a breeze too. Now instead of one book at a time, you could just place your entire stack of book onto the sensor at the borrowing machine and with a blink of the eye, all your books have been borrowed. For sure no embarrassing moments at the entrance sensor that beeps so loud that it makes me deaf. At higher levels, there is also a café, a performance location as well as my favorite reference sections. It’s a great place to hang out and it definitely benefits the knowledge thirsty mind.

Along the road, we also came across the colourful building of SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM (SAM) AT 8Q, which we are unable to enter to view the exhibits as installation is in progress. However we walked around the building and found 2 extremely interesting restaurants Food for thought (Left) and the Standing Sushi Bar (Right) situated at both corners of the building.

Situated a stone throw away from the Bras Basah MRT Exit and the Main SAM building, the SAM at 8Q is an experimental annex of the main museum providing a space for traditional and contemporary visual arts exhibitions and presentations from painting, sculpture, installation, film and video, photography, new media, to performance and sound art. The building, formerly belonged to the CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL is a 3 storey high squarish building with old-school classroom like corridors and situated right opposite church of St. Peters and Paul with a peek of the chapel of the former St.Joseph Institute. Somehow the nostalgic image brings forth the artistic impact from the past as we absorb in the typical 19th century French colonial religious architecture and its significance.

Walking down the road pass the entrance to Bras Basah MRT is the Singapore Arts Museum (SAM). Covered in clean white slates of paint with a brick red roof and an iconic bluish green dome, these 2 storey building houses many artistic paintings, sculptures and other art pieces from influential artist that helped shape our culture and heritage in Singapore and South East Asia. The entire museum covers a pretty large area judging by the fact that its prime land. Love the contract of the plain walls with the dome shaped opening for windows and doors as well as the tarnished metal gates and the beautiful metal lanterns hanging on the ceiling along the inner court walkway. The grayish wooden door panels that leads to the different exhibition areas, almost every scrap of details contains some historical value. We visited the rest room which might look a little eerie in the evening as it’s down the hallway with sensor fitted lightings that only lights up as you enter. It is clean and dry and fitted with regular fittings which are a sore thumb by my standards as compared to the entire historical image of the museum. We then visited the information centre which is a nice and cool location with friendly staff that provides timely information. We bought the 3 days all museum entry tickets at $20 and the friendly staff provided us with a informative floor plan indicating the areas we are able to take pictures and the criteria involved. The standard etiquette is to keep as quiet as possible, take picture in non-restricted areas with no flash and put your mobile phones in silent mode. If you have to brisk walk and do not run. There are 2 courtyards at level1, the Queen Courtyard and the Waterloo Court yard which houses a restaurant Via Mar and the Special Exhibition Gallery and a Glass Hall that is available for rental on launching, presentation and other events. The entire building houses 2 special exhibition gallery for special exhibits and 5 other galleries for regular exhibits as well as 2 learning galleries and a chapel. We visited the Credit Suisse: Innovation In Art Series President’s Young Talents which are works from artist below 35 years old and also at the learning gallery which is SAM's permanent exhibition dedicated to presenting artworks selected from the museum's collection to promote engagement and discussion of broader issues through contemporary art. The gallery also aims to nurture an appreciation for art and develop creative and analytical thinking among its visitors, including the young. The other exhibition is called people and places which showcases 20 Southeast Asian contemporary art works revolving around ideas of identity, urbanization, globalization and the environment.

The Museum Label shop residing at the ground floor of Waterloo Courtyard retails some interesting items especially the publications available. Pictures of past exhibitions and our heritage compiled into comprehensive periodicals are a piece of our artistic history you could bring home with. Together with some interesting quirky miniature museum monument and postcards which your overseas friends will love to receive. Walking though the different exhibitions are enjoyable and we have decided to catch a cup of coffee at DOME just by the WATERLOO Wing and enjoy the beautiful architecture of the place. We love the entire image of the building, the architecture, the easy nature and the monogrammed tiled floors.

Refreshed, we decided to get over to the other side of the street, across the Singapore Management University to the National Museum of Singapore. The sun was shining brightly and this even bigger museum stands tall, spreading its wings wide with a silver dome like a crown set upon its head. Its beautifully white architecture sparkles in the bright afternoon sun and every window, arched corridor and opening, pictures of horses and chariots engraved on the top of the building, wooden windows and carvings brings forth remembrance from my history books.

This is the nation’s oldest museum established in 1887 when Singapore was part of the Straits Settlements, painstakingly restored for 3 years, it opened its doors in December 2006 housing national treasures, such as the mystery-shrouded Singapore Stone and 14th century gold ornaments unearthed from nearby Fort Canning Hill. How about dining in a national monument? You can choose from the elegant European dining at NOVUS Restaurant and Bar or the authentic Cantonese dishes of Chef Chan’s Restaurant. Both serving exquisite food that pairs with the classical look and feel of this national monument is a place that is worth bringing your friends to though the hefty price tag. 3 Levels of galleries and a basement housing the gallery theatre that currently exhibiting the BEING TOGETHER: Family & Portraits by John Clang. Bridging the driveway to the entrance of the information counter is a large space called ROTUNDA while you looked above, you could see a multi-colored stained glass ring and the floor is monogrammed tiled in the colours that says 16th century. The Stairways and corridors were domes shaped with beautiful designs and engraving. Tucked at the side next to the Museum Label shop is the Stamford Gallery which exhibits the trading stories: Conversations with Six Pioneering Tradesmen. It is pretty interesting as the exhibits shows the different culture and trades of Singapore and the one thing that drew my eyes is the movie poster from the 60s.

The other galleries held a few permanent exhibits such as the The Goh Seng Choo Gallery at level 2 houses the discoveries of Sir William Farquhar who served as Resident and Commandant of Melaka from 1803 to 1818 whom made some botanical and zoological discoveries and his collection of natural history drawings. The living galleries displays the historical footprints in Films and Wayang as well as Fashion, Food and Photography unique to Singapore.

Round the corner of the museum shop, you can find the NOVUS Restaurant right next to the information and brochures corner where you could find more information on the museum and other iconic places in Singapore. The lady at the information counter is pretty helpful and under the watchful eyes of the security on duty, children there are extremely well behaved. Also there is a free museum tour at certain hours of the day, you could get more information from the counter and volunteers will bring visitors around on a free of charged guided tour whereby more information on the exhibits are explained and questions answered. The outer areas of the museum also houses a few outdoor sculptures and exhibits that speaks of our multi-cultural society artistically. Being nestled right behind the Fort Canning Park, you can find remnants of the old buildings such as an iron wrought gate and an outdoor escalator that could lead you up to higher grounds which is rare sight in parks.

Striding down Stamford road, we met the huge junction of Stamford Road and Fort Canning Tunnel towards Armenien Street where another part of this artistic adventure begins. We came across this very interesting building (VANGUARD BUILDING) which looked really familiar and seemed to have always seen it somewhere and it dawned upon one of our more educated friend that this used to be the MPH bookstore building where the entire building was once the more prominent logo of this famous chain of bookstore.

Walking by a row of shop houses where interesting restaurants, wine places, cafes resides along Armanien road, one captivating shop fascinated us. It’s a bookstore named SELECT BOOK STORE. The wooden window grills and old-style window and door boards made us walk through this overly large wooden with glass panel hinged door into a world of books. Its not a huge store but the selections are interesting. It contained many titles that our regular bookstores do not carry and mainly on the arts, history, cultures and findings of Singapore, Malaysia and parts of SouthEast Asia. We were intrigued by the collections they have and many of these are items we would like to keep to show our children and teach them about our heritage. Cosy and easy browsing, expect nobody to disturb you and though it’s a café and bookstore, I guess its more a book store as not much is served for café. It’s a one of its kind bookstore and extremely unique. Also I think they do hold regular book discussions as while we were there one of such events was going on and it look really interesting.

Further down the road, you will come to the SUBSTATION, The home for ARTs where artist gathers to discuss, exchange ideas and promote their art-work with performances, galleries and workshops. Venues such as theatre, galleries, dance studios and classrooms are available and interesting modern art, film and music is mostly performed here in which there is a BOX Office where tickets could be bought to watch a performance. Many people have fond memories of The Substation Garden, countdown concerts, and local music happened here down the years, particularly memorable for many young musicians who got themselves started from playing in the Garden. Timbre@The Substation is now resident in The Substation Garden. They are a bar and bistro which features live music every night and attracted a good pool of audiences from all walks of life. As there is an event going on and plenty of artistically dressed and hideous looking creatures lurking around the corridors and the area, we decided to bypass this place and head straight to the Paranakan Museum which is right next to it.

It’s a pretty small museum with exhibits that is awesome. Three levels on every nitty gritty things of the Paranakan Culture, this is indeed one of the most comprehensive collection of Paranakan Art you can ever find. The Paranakan culture is one that is colourful and extremely exquisite and vibrant. The everyday items such as their clothings (Kebaya) are painful stitched with flowers and bird motifs while their wedding gifts are extravagantly cladded in gold and complicated sculptures. In this humble building, you can also find a few pretty interesting details that intrigues us. While you enter the gate to the premises you can find a small cat statue at the base of the first column facing the entrance. This is the residential paranakan cat that was kept in memory. Looking up on your left a lady was looking g out from the second level corridor watching your every move with a hint of shyness and laughter. To the left and the right you can find the Museum Shop and as you enter the Lobby with the whiff of strong air-conditioning and warm lightings, the friendly staff checked our all museum tickets and advised us where to go to view the exhibits. On the left of the lobby is Gallery 1 where the origins of the Paranakan culture items are displayed. They are mainly found in Palembang, Indonesia and used in Melaka and Singapore. Up the beautiful staircase, you will find the WEDDING Gallery with all the intricate wedding items, headwear, clothing, furniture and glass beaded items such as slippers, table covers. Up the third level you can find Nonya clothings, dining items such as bowls with intricate designs, Chinese porcelain made in Paranakan colours, the religions they embraced and information on famous Paranakans such as Dr Goh Keng Swee. The entire journey was extremely education to us though none of us are Paranakans, however we do enjoy their cuisine and their culture and their influence in some of our ways of life today are obvious.

Walking further down the road pass the Bible House and The National Archives, you can find the Singapore Philatelic Museum. The Singapore Philatelic Museum, housed in a 19th century building that was formerly part of the Anglo-Chinese School, is the custodian and curator of Singapore and world treasures of philatelic history. Though the sun is setting, there are still visitors in this Museum. You can find all sorts of stamps and postal items in this museum dedicated to the arts and culture of postage. Currently the exhibition that is going on is Light Vs Dark Exhibition that is an impressive display of “Star Wars movies memorabilia and collectibles as well as costumes and philatelic materials such as stamps issued in USA. Other exhibits such as Orange Room, Purple Room and Heritage Rooms show glimpse of our heritage and the different cultures and their contributions in our country.

Our journey ended here on a good note as the sun is setting the museums are closing however we heard from the friendly staffs that the Museums will be free entry in the month of May 2013. More information could be found on their website and we look forward to visiting the museums again while we can YEBBER away to tell our friends and everybody else what interesting things you can do here in Singapore.