Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A Singaporean Story
Exterior facades of the Singapore Peranakan Museum, a bronze statue of a girl waving (left)
Beneath the glamour and action, a not-so-quiet undercurrent of the cultures and the arts throbs right through the hearts of the city. Despite its short history, Singapore’s vibrancy and uniqueness is unmatched for.
A mere 10-minute walk from City Hall Station, easily accessible by public transport, a quaint 3-tiered building sits comfortably along 39 Armenian Street, breathing out airs of antiquity and veiled by a sense of mystic. Its pristine white walls are a stark contrast against the crowded road in the background. This is a fusion of the old and the modern right in the heart of the city. Undeniably, it is one of the most significant cultural landmark, housing the most comprehensive collections of artefacts, witness to the glorious legacy of the past generations of Peranakans. The majesty of life at its fullness is preserved in eternity there. With its overflowing abundance of historical relics, you are sure to return wishing for more.
Intricate carvings into the pillars
Interactive technology: (top left) educational touch screens on Peranakan traditions and customs, (top right) video screenings equipped with audio-visual aid of the experiences of past Peranakans, (bottom) displays of artefacts that can be touched
The building mimics that of a typical Peranakan home with its subtle selection of pastel colors and the intricate carvings into the fluted columns. The towering central hall surrounded by separate rooms and balconies give a similar feel to traditional Peranakan houses found in Penang. Instilling a sense of regality and elegance, the clever architecture brings the whole experience to greater heights by allowing visitors to immerse in the archaic atmosphere. The main aspects of Peranakan life are featured in ten permanent galleries, exploring different themes from their cultural roots to wedding rituals and sumptuous cuisine, complemented with state-of-the-art interactive technology and coupled with educational hands-on. This was an extremely memorable and enriching experience that made I walk out feeling like I’d relived another part of history!
Displays of beadwork and embroidery (Left) money pouches and purses, (right) spectacle case and nipah leaf case
Displays of the traditional Peranakan clothing--sarong kebayas, in bright bold colours and exquisite beadwork
All of the artefacts are extremely well-preserved, allowing visitors to view them in their entirety and full glory. It is not hard to see how the Peranakans take pride in detailed grandeur and celebrate life with vibrant and bold colours, evident from the intricate designs on the furniture and porcelain pots and dishes. Many Chinese motifs and symbols are incorporated into their designs such as the dragon, confirming their Chinese ancestry.These artefacts are mostly accurate representations of the life and culture of a typical Peranakan and go quite a long way back into history. Acting as ambassadors for the Peranakan way of life, they serve to inform and educate.
one of the religious beliefs of the Peranakans: Christianity
a typical ancestral altar
a wall display in the "Origins" section, featuring past and present Peranakans
Sam Kai altar which was very holy and reserved for special occasions like weddings
Display of a dining hall with Peranakan porcelain equipment
An attention-catching artefact would be this painting that depicted Mdm. Neo Kim Neo, a Peranakan lady doing beadwork the traditional way. Reflecting intricacies as well as a women’s expertise, the art of bead-weaving is regarded as an important skill in the peranakan society, key to marrying into a good family. Beadwork later became an integral aspect of the Peranakan material culture and help shape their unique racial identity while contributing to Singapore’s material heritage. Beneath the painting’s neutral and limited array of colors, an undertone of the intensity and dedication to one’s culture is detected, looking at how focused she was. Such a colourful aspect would not have existed if not for their devotion and patience.
a painting on Mdm Neo Kim Neo
Their contributions to the modern art and cultural scenes cannot be overlooked with an increased appeal in beadwork and embroidery nowadays. The awakening of a traditional art symbolizes the recognition of our heritages and strengthens the national consciousness through sharing of diversified cultures. They add on to the pool of cultures in Singapore, linking different races together and build towards the ideals of a strong united national identity and a sense of belonging by allowing posterity to reconnect with the pasts. Their pasts. Their stories. A Singaporean story.
6:19 AM By xuannnn :)
