National Museum of Singapore Galleries | 2015
[Exhibition project undertaken with FARM]
http://www.farm.sg/projects/details/national_museum_galleries
Every few years, our national heritage institutions undergo a major revamp to refresh both its contents and design. FARM is honoured to be the designer for the revamp of the four permanent galleries at level two of the National Museum of Singapore.
The four galleries previously themed after Fashion, Food, Film, and Photography, are now reshaped collectively to become the “Life in Singapore” galleries, spanning from the 1920s up till the 80s in Singapore, each one delving on personal stories and voices of the people. They are now called Modern Colony, Surviving Syonan, Growing Up and Voices of Singapore.
The main intention of the galleries is to transport visitors back to the eras where the stories took place. Each of the galleries is designed around a key identifiable contextual setting. Starting from the 1902s in a colonial black-and-white house, moving to the war-torn cityscapes during the Syonan-To period, to the carefree kampong days in the 60s, and culminating in the nostalgic drive-through cinema in the 80s.
In creating a highly immersive atmosphere, interactive multimedia installations, ambient soundscapes and even smells were employed to heighten the experience. The verandah of the colonial house has scent of an afternoon tea with soundscapes of jazz music and chatter in the background. Things take a sinister turn in the Syonan-To galleries with sounds of bombings and air raids and a city up in smokes.
