Mention museums and the imagery that invariably comes to mind are that of imposing spaces filled with regal artwork from paintings to sculptures or ceramics. And that’s simply because an academic bias of certain material mediums exists, says Jackie Yoong, curator at Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). But the 35-yearold is hoping to help change that perspective. In early 2020, ACM will be opening two permanent galleries: one on fashion and textiles, helmed by Jackie; and the other on jewellery, by Naomi Wang, 30.
Occupying the third floor of ACM, both galleries will explore Asian histories, cultures and identities. The fashion and textiles wing will kick off with an exhibition on Chinese dress from the late Qing dynasty to the end of the Cultural Revolution, while the jewellery one will begin with exquisite pieces from South-east Asia, with an emphasis on the Indonesian archipelago.
The theme of Chinese dress is in line with the museum’s ongoing season of Chinese Art that runs till mid 2020. Rotations in the fashion and textiles gallery will rely on these broad themes, which are refreshed yearly. The jewellery gallery exhibition, on the other hand, is slated to be permanent, with rotations conducted on a more opportunistic basis.
The duo have been working in parallel towards the launch, but they share common goals for the two new permanent galleries. Not only do they hope to attract a younger audience to the museum, including students and enthusiasts of the respective fields, they also want to reveal the amalgamation and interactions of various Asian cultures through the objects they curate. “Nationalism is an artificially constructed idea. Physical borders exist only because they are imposed,” says Naomi. “South-east Asia is actually very connected, and more similar than dissimilar.”
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2019-Ausgabe von Her World Singapore.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2019-Ausgabe von Her World Singapore.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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TREASURE ISLAND
When plans to demolish the Merlion Tower on Sentosa were announced in 2019, some Singaporeans were sad to see one of the island's most iconic attractions go. After all, the quirky creature – with the head of a lion and the body of a fish – had been a significant part of their memories of Sentosa.The 37m-tall, 12-storey structure, completed in 1996 and designed by Australian sculptor James Martin, was a focal point for laser light shows and projections that transformed its ivory facade into a vibrant display of colours.The Merlion Tower was a popular attraction for families. Singaporean couple Anand and Vrunda Patel would often take their children there for outings. Vrunda, now 50, fondly recalls climbing the structure and admiring the views of Sentosa from the Merlion's mouth. “Outside the Merlion, there was a beautiful step garden with flowing water. I used to love walking there,” she shares.Years later, the statue, covered in dirt and grime, required a refresh. The demolition was not only part of a larger vision to connect Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in the north to the three beaches (Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso) on the island's south, it was also the start of a massive rebranding project to transform Sentosa from a recreational family destination to a premier lifestyle attraction.Today, Sentosa Sensoryscape stands in its place. Set within a lush landscape, the 30,000 sqm attraction features a 350m-long connector that leads visitors to six sensory gardens – where they can explore the gardens’ massive vessel-like sculptures, observe the various flora and fauna inhabiting the space, and interact with Instagrammable light displays through an augmented reality app after nightfall.“To attract younger visitors, our additional focus is on creating more authentic and immersive experiences, recognising that this demographic seeks deeper, more engaging interactions with the places they visit,” says Thien Kwee Eng, CEO, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).Just as Sensoryscape is designed to create an otherworldly atmosphere after dark, the Sentosa Night Mode campaign, launched in August, aims to introduce the island as a day-to-night destination for both locals and tourists, who would typically only make day trips to Sentosa. In addition to more nightlife events – such as the recent Waterbomb Festival, which saw about 10,000 revellers partying to a live K-pop line-up – the initiative includes extended operating hours at key attractions, along with street performances and dining promotions.It’s a move that has boosted visitorship to the island, with total numbers reaching 16 million this year.“This is a 20 per cent increase in the number of visitors as compared to the same period last year,” reveals Kwee Eng.
TAKING THE LEAP
It’s 10 am on a Monday, and Gan Guoyi, 40, walks into Jigger & Pony with a set of dry-cleaned clothes – a picture of calm amid the aftermath of last night’s chaos. The Singapore bar recently secured a spot in the Top 5 of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, announced in Madrid on Oct 23. To celebrate, she threw a three-night promotion from Nov 10, where customers enjoyed five premium cocktails for just $5 each at select bars like Gibson, Live Twice, Sugarhall, Como Pony Jakarta, and Jigger & Pony.Naturally, the event was a hit, and Guoyi, who was manning the guest list at Sugarhall, only managed a few hours of sleep the night before. Still, she arrives promptly to our photo shoot without complaints.
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