SINGAPORE1960

Posted by national_museum under Event Calendar, Exhibitions
(0) Comment • (1583) Reads • Permalink

Date: Fri 3 Jun – Sunday 22 August 2010

Time: 10am – 6pm (last admission 5.30pm)

Venue: Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement at National Museum of Singapore (Free admission)

“Through hard work, faith and a little good fortune, may 1960 bring more happiness to more of us.” – Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in his first New Year Day speech to the nation.

Examining the year 1960 after 50 years of self-government, Singapore 1960 will transform the gallery into a vibrant and colourful ‘live’ show set interjected with both noteworthy and quirky news articles throughout that year. By appropriating cultural spaces familiar to Singaporeans then, such as the eclectic Haw Par Villa and the neon-lit ‘Worlds’ amusement parks, over 300 artefacts will be presented in the manner of art installations to discuss issues on language, culture and politics of the time.

Can a 100-year old Strohmenger grand piano, sexy sarong kebayas, the Aw Boon Haw jade collection, fully sequinned Chinese opera costumes, hundreds of popular vinyl records and publications, two pairs of sweat-stained boxing gloves and a kitschy diorama tell the story of post WWII Singapore’s rapidly evolving socio-cultural landscape? Come see how these icons reveal the emergence of a semblance of a Singaporean society amid the political rumblings in 1960.

For updates on guided tours, please visit www.nationalmuseum.sg.