As the National Museum of Singapore was set to celebrate its 130th birthday, art installations and interactions will take the center stage of the festivities. A number of the displays will continue throughout the month of October, offering a festive atmosphere for visitors who might miss the weekend of the official celebrations.
The museum is the oldest fixture in Singapore. It survived a number of upheavals throughout the history of the nation, culminating in its current form. Visitors who did get the chance to visit during the birthday celebrations had the opportunity to take part in tours of the facilities that included visits to portions of the building normally not seen by the public. There will be a variety of tours to register for, including ones that will detail how galleries are curated, as well as more traditional experiences with professional docents who have a history of describing all the various sights throughout the museum. Visitors also had the chance to pick up a commemorative gift set that included a number of classic photos and documents reproduced for the birthday celebration. Many of the images would be nostalgic for older Singaporeans, including a card featuring the skeleton of a whale that was on display at the museum for many years. The entire set was designed to look like a travel journey, highlighting just how many years and events the National Museum of Singapore has witnessed.
Some of the art installations that will be set up for the event include a disco ball in the lawn that is the size of a concrete mixer truck, throwing colorful dots of light around outside for revelers to dance in and enjoy. Another interactive installation will be a forest of flowers visitors can walk through. The experience itself will be scented through a special partnership with a perfume maker. Visitors to the installation will be immersed in the experience, elevating the art to another level previously unseen. A vintage marketplace will also be organized, along with a variety of musical performances catered to please visitors of all ages. As a special treat for children, a paid program will show them how to turn their doodles into immersive animations, perhaps piquing interest in the arts and technology world for the future.
If you’ve always wanted to take a dive into the art world but didn’t know where or how to start, visit SGArtClass.com. Our website takes an exhaustive listing of art classes — all led by highly talented teachers — and makes it easy for you to browse through the offerings based on your interests. Take a beginner’s course in acrylic painting, or something a little more advanced if you already have a background in working creatively, like recycled art. Teachers with experience working with students of all ages and abilities will help make the experience fun and memorable.
To read more about the history and celebration of 130 years at the National Museum of Singapore, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/national-museum-of-singapore-celebrates-130th-anniversary-this-weekend.