Harry Potter: The Exhibition

Some magic must have cast a spell on me. I do not consider myself a fan of the Harry Potter. As best as I can recollect, I have only watched less than half of the movies from the Harry Potter film series. In addition, I have only read two of the books from the Harry Potter series. Why on earth did I find myself visiting the ArtScience Museum to catch Harry Potter: The Exhibition?

Curiosity had propelled me to make my way to Harry Potter: The Exhibition. The exhibition allows its guests to get a close up look at the craftsmanship and artistry that went into creating the props and costumes that appeared throughout the Harry Potter films. I was curious to simply experience what had made the Harry Potter films so popular and well-loved.

When I reached the ArtScience Museum on 30 Jun 2012, I could sense that Harry Potter: The Exhibition is a popular exhibition. There was a long queue for the tickets at the box-office at the ArtScience Museum.

The queue to buy tickets!

Some tips for visitors:
The tickets to Harry Potter: The Exhibition are for timed (single) entry. Ticket holders are to strictly observe the entry and admission time that is printed on their tickets. The official notice recommends that visitors make reservations early for their preferred entry date and time.

Visitors may wish to take note that readmission into the exhibition is not allowed, unless a guest purchase yet another ticket. There is no restroom inside the exhibition hall, so it may help to plan a visit to the restroom before visiting Harry Potter: The Exhibition.

As the ArtScience Museum may be closed from time-to-time for private functions, please check the ArtScience Museum's website before your visit to determine if there is any closure of the museum on the day of your visit.

Visitors may also like to know that tickets to the exhibition can be purchased online from Marine Bay Sands Ticketing Portal and from any one of the Marina Bay Sands Box Offices.


Please set aside at least two hours to view this exhibition. Do consider renting an audio guide at S$6 each.

Audio guide for rental.

Consider bringing a sketch-book to sketch:
Photography and filming are strictly prohibited in Harry Potter: The Exhibition. I could at best take some photographs outside the exhibition. The craftsmanship of the sets from the Harry Potter films were so inspiring that I figured that if I should visit this exhibition again, I shall bring along a sketch book and a few drawing pens.

At the exhibition, I saw a lady who was sketching one of the exhibits. If I had brought along a sketch-book and some basic sketching materials, I would have been able to sketch some of the interesting designs that I had seen at the exhibition.

On the side, there are some wonderful images from the exhibition that can be viewed from this site: http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/images_gallery.php

Before the exhibition
Please be prepared to queue to get into the exhibition. I strongly recommend that visitors to the exhibition consider renting one of the audio guides at the exhibition entrance. It will enhance a visitor's experience of the exhibition. The audio guide includes interviews with various members from the team who had worked on the films. Through listening to the recordings of these interviews, I was better able to appreciate how the various props, sets or costumes were conceived and produced. The fee to rent one of the audio guides is S$6. It is available in English and Mandarin.

Before entering the exhibition, all visitors will be asked to pose and take a souvenir photograph. The organizers were thoughtful to provide visitors with temporary uses of scarfs and wands for the purpose of photo-taking.

The exhibition
At the start of the exhibition, visitors would be ushered into a room where sorting by a sorting hat would take place. Be prepared to experience a lot of excitement in the room. A few lucky visitors would have the privilege to experience how it would be to be sorted by a sorting hat. I observed that the sorting hat was very respectful of the preferences of the visitors.

Subsequently, the exhibition can be divided into several sections:

Hogwarts Arrival
Here, visitors will see a replica of Hogwarts Express. I briefly glanced and learnt about Hogwarts' castle. Yet the weekend crowd did not make it  very conducive to read the exhibition notes on display.

Gryffindor Common Room
In this section, I learnt that the lion is the Gryfiddor mascot. The room is decorated in the Gryfiddor's colours of scarlet and gold. When I saw Hermione's Grangers, I was reminded of various scenes from the Harry Potter films.

Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory
This is the section where visitors can learn about the props used by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. I learnt about how much effort was put in to come up with the right pair of glasses for Harry Potter.

The Boys' Dormitory.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(Source: http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/images_gallery.php)

Hogwarts Classes
Be prepared to lift battery-operated mandrakes at the Hogwarts classes. I did not like the screeching screams of the mandrakes. However, children may love lifting these mandrakes.

At this section, visitors can also learn about how the costumes and sets of the various characters were conceived to reflect the personality of the individual characters. To be able to appreciate this, it would be helpful to rent an audio guide.

The sets that made up Professor Umbridge's office would probably delight anyone who loves pink. Somehow, from the way the sets looked, Professor Umbridge does not seem to be a friendly professor to be with. Was she an unfriendly professor?

On the other hand, it was interesting for me to find out why the costume for Professor Snape was about the same throughout all the Harry Potter films. If you want to find out why, visit the exhibition and rent an audio guide.

Quidditch
When it was Quidditch time, it was time for interactive activities! Quidditch is one of the most popular sports in the wizard world. Visitors can throw Quaffles through golden hoops. Please pardon me, the ignorant yours truly have yet to figure out what Quaffles are!

Quidditch uniforms and equipment.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(Source: http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/images_gallery.php)

Hagrid's Hut
Hagrid is a half-giant. As best as I had figured out from the exhibition, Hagrid was a teacher of the Care of Magical Creatures class. In such classes, students learn how to care for magical beasts. Visitors will have a chance to sit on Hagrid's chair. I sat on it, and it was pretty huge!

The Forbidden Forest
In this mysterious looking Forbidden Forest, visitors can find life-size models of magical creatures like a Centaur and a Thestral.

Admittedly, even though I had the pleasure of using an audio guide, I had wished that I could have the luxury to have a fan of the Harry Potter films whom I could ask questions from. What on earth are these magical creatures? What are their significance in the film?

Dark Forces
This is possibly the most eerie and dark section of the entire exhibition. Evil and more evil was all that I can imagine. In this section, visitors can see the costumes of Lord Voldemort.

The most outstanding exhibit that caught my eye was the exhibit of a petrified Colin Creevy. The amount of details that were put in for petrified characters were simply amazing. Life-size silicon models of the petrified characters were made, and there was a lot of attention being put in to do the skin of the petrified characters. This was yet another time when I had wished I could have a personal guide by my side to ask questions from. Who was Colin Creevy? I had to keep my question to myself during the exhibition.

I was also intrigued by the designs of the masks of the Death-eater. I learnt that the masks were inspired by a 16th century Tudor period technique. This technique involves making a plaster, wax or metal casting of a face. Subsequently, a mask is made from the cast.

 The menacing Death Eater robes and masks as seen in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(Source: http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/images_gallery.php)

Great Hall
I learnt that the Great Hall is the place to share food. It is the main meeting place for the students of Hogwarts. I simply remembered the grandeur of the Great Hall.

Nearby the Great Hall, I saw the Godric Gryffindor's sword. It simply caught my attention with its intricate design.

Exhibition Shoppe
At the end of the exhibition, visitors can look forward to purchase a range of merchandise. The hot favourite appears to be the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The Chocolate Frogs appeared to be very popular too. Visitors can also look forward to collecting house scarves, wands and more.

It was rather crowded on a weekend, so I decided not to get anything from the Exhibition Shoppe.

Overall, I think this exhibition showcases the artistry behind the sets from the Harry Potter films. I marvelled at the amount of thought and attention to details behind each and every set. This exhibition is likely to delight all fans of Harry Potter and any one who wishes to learn about the design of film sets. Be prepared to be entertained by the magic of Harry Potter. However, it may help to enhance your experience by visiting the exhibition on a day when there are relatively less visitors.

***
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
2 Jun - 30 Sep 2012
Art Science Museum
Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore  018956

Opening hours:
10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily
Last admission at 9.00 p.m.

Nearest MRT station: Bayfront Station (Circle Line)

http://www.artsciencemuseum.com.sg/harrypotter
http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com
http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum

***
Other reviews:
Harry Potter: The Exhibition - review by Dejiki
Sneak Peek at Harry Potter: The Exhibition by Alvin Chong
Preview of Harry Potter: The Exhibition by Mary-Ann Soh
The Harry Potter Exhibition at Singapore's Art Science Museum by bookjunkie
Harry Potter The Exhibition At Art Science Museum, Singapore by superadrianme
Step into a world of wizards, spells and strange creatures by Jerome Lim
Harry Potter: The Exhibition by Time Out Singapore
Review: The Harry Potter Exhibition at ArtScience Museum by hpility
Yo Potter head! Harry Potter - The Exhibition is in Singapore!! by Paula Robinson
A Chunk of My Weekday: Harry Potter: The Exhibition at the ArtScience Museum on Monday, 9 July 2012 AND MY HARRY POTTER LOOT!!! by Jade

Visit the ArtScience Museum before the RMS Titanic ends on 29 Apr 2012

This afternoon, I had the pleasure to visit the ArtScience Museum with one of my good friends as a prelude to her birthday. We were surprised by the long queue at the main lobby of the museum. Most of the visitors were there to catch the exhibition, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. This exhibition will be held at ArtScience Museum till 29 Apr 2012.

A few days ago, on 10 Apr 2012, was the 100th anniversry of the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic. At the time this post is published, it is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. Perhaps that is why many people are so keen recently to learn about RMS Titanic?

The Exhibition takes visitors through the Ship's conception, construction, sailing day, life on board, the famous iceberg, Titanic's sinking, the discovery of the wreck, while all throughout telling the incredible stories of her passengers and crew.

My favourite sections of the exhibition were those of the recreation of the First class cabin, the Grand staircase, the recreation of the Promenade and the various personal stories of the passengers onboard the fateful RMS Titanic.

Also shown at the ArtScience Museum was Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes External. Lovers of Pop Art will enjoy this exhibition greatly. I like the clarity of the colours used in many of Andy Warhol's screen painting. While I appreciate how Andy Warhol managed to create iconic masterpieces from ubiquitous objects from the popular culture, I find that his works did not impress me as much as the works of Wu Guanzhong and a number of other artists. I suppose I like works that may not look appealing at first glance but have a quality that make them look beautiful with each repeated viewing.

My favourite exhibition at the ArtScience Museum this April would obviously be Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. If you are curious about the real stories behind RMS Titanic, do visit the ArtScience Museum by 29 Apr 2012. Please also read one of my previous posts, Experience Titanic the safe way.

In the meantime, may the passengers who were lost onboard RMS Titanic rest in peace.

ArtScience Museum, Singapore
http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum/Whats-On/

Cheongsam and the changing roles of Singapore women

Are you interested in fashion or cheongsam? Or are you like myself, wondering if cheongsam has influenced the design of some of the clothes or uniforms that you have worn?

Here is a blog on my recent visit to the exhibition, In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women: Cheongsam and the changing roles of Singapore women

In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women
From 28 Mar - 27 Jun 2012, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897

Please support the Raffles Museum's Diplodocus Family appeal

Source: http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dino/

About a year ago, the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research achieved the seemingly impossible by raising S$46 million within six months so as to ensure that a new natural history museum for Singapore will be built. This natural history museum to be built, to be known as the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, will be the first museum in the Southeast Asia region to be built with public donations and an endowment fund.

It seemed destined, that through a series of unexpected coincidences, the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) was given a very special chance to purchase genuine and near complete fossils of a family of three gigantic sauropod dinosaurs. One of the three dinosaurs is a teenage dinosaur which is pretty rare to come by. The educational and research value of acquiring these dinosaurs will be immense given that the fossils are near complete and this is a family group of dinosaurs with a juvenile.

What is Diplodocus? According to wikipedia, the Diplodocus "was a very large long-necked quadrupedal animal, with a long, whip-like tail."

Here is an appeal by the RMBR Fundraising Committee: "Please help to bring the dinosaurs to Singapore" - the Raffles Museum's Diplodocus Family appeal. If you find this cause worthy, please support this appeal. I am sharing this appeal here because I find this cause worthy, though I have no direct affiliation to the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

In addition, please find some snippets that I had gotten from a public talk titled From Whence We Came: The History and Future of Singapore's Raffles Museum.

Two real vertebrae of a Diplodocus, and a replica of the skull.

The good news about donating to the dinosaur exhibit is that one can choose to donate online or by cheque. For more information, please visit: http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dino/

Updates (on 15 Aug 2011): Purchase of three dinosaurs at risk (source: Straits Times, 14 Aug 2011, by Tan Dawn Wei)

My experiences at Van Gogh Alive!

Photo courtesy of ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. 

This is a photo of the projection at CATHEDRALE D’IMAGES, France, Provence.

Many thanks to the ArtScience Museum for the invitation to the media preview and exclusive preview to "Van Gogh Alive - The Exhibition" held on 14 Apr 2011. It is with great pleasure that I share about my experiences at this exhibition. Please read: Van Gogh Alive! For everyone!

Now in Singapore: Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds

(source: http://www.youtube.com/embed/3askVFwNsPg)

The sailors and the merchants took the risks of sailing across the stormy and unknown seas. One particular ninth century Arab dhow that was on its trip back to its hometown found itself shipwrecked off the coast of Belitung, a small island in the Java Sea. Thankfully, as best as I am aware, no life was lost.

The shipwreck might have caused heavy losses for the crew. Yet, it brought about significant revelations and historical evidences for generations to come. The discovery of the shipwrecked Arab dhow off the coast of Belitung and the uncovered cargo provided the first physical proof of a maritime trade route between West Asia and China. Its discovery proved that as early as the ninth century, maritime trades existed between West Asia and China. Such maritime trades could have inspired the story of Sinbad the Sailor from the One Thousand and One Nights.

If you like the embedded video and this introductory post, please continue to read my post on my recent visit to the ArtScience Museum's Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds exhibition. In the meantime, please maintain your balance.

Genghis Khan: The enlightened leader and the brave warlord

Please click on the photo right above to be linked to a YouTube video of

a performance by Khan Bogd Ensemble.

My recent visit to the ArtScience Museum brings me to learn more about Genghis Khan, one of the world's great leaders. In addition, I was captivated very much by the performances by the Khan Bogd Ensemble which brought to me beautiful music from Mongolia.

Many thanks to Shaun from the National Heritage Board and the ArtScience Museum  for the invitation. Many thanks to our wonderful host in Wendy from the ArtScience Museum too. It was a memorable experience.

Please read the post on my visit to Genghis Khan - The exhibition.This exhibition ends on 10 Apr 2011, so catch it soon if you are interested.

A visit to the ArtScience Museum: Traveling the Silk Road

Life often present moments that we can be grateful for. Late last month, I was planning to visit the ArtScience Museum on 20 Mar 2011 because I had wanted to see the Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World exhibition before it concludes on 27 Mar 2011 in Singapore.

By a sheer moment of goodwill, a few days before my planned visit to the ArtScience Museum, I received an invitation for a complimentary visit to the ArtScience Museum. The only request was to write about my experience, which I would have anyway gladly done so.

What makes this exhibition on the Silk Road worth a consideration? What could have made the Silk Road possibly one of the most treasured networks in history? I hope my post, One of the most treasured networks: The Silk Road could shed some light.

Many thanks to Shaun from the National Heritage Board and the ArtScience Museum  for the invitation. Many thanks to our wonderful host in Wendy from the ArtScience Museum too. It was a memorable experience.

Make a trip to the Singapore Philatelic Museum

Fans of Iron Man may like this. A week ago, I visited the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Honestly speaking, I have had not much clue who Iron Man was. The wonderful thing about visiting a museum is that one gets to learn about new things. At the exhibition, Iron Man CollARTible exhibition, which is held at the Singapore Philatelic Museum from 9 Oct 2010 - 21 Nov 2010, visitors not only see unique figurines of Iron Man but also learn about Iron Man.

I learnt from this exhibition that the Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were the two people who developed the idea for Iron Man. However, it was Don Heck who did most of the finished artwork for Iron Man. I have found out that the plot and dialogue for the first appearance of Iron Man was written by Stan's brother, Larry Lieber. It seemed that a number of people worked together to co-create Iron Man.

This exhibition also traced the development of Iron Man. I suppose Iron Man fans may enjoy viewing some rare Iron Man comics on loan from collectors.

The exhibition may be comparatively small. Yet I observed that many visitors were having a pretty good time taking photos of the exhibits, and reminiscing their passion for Iron Man.

If you are a fan of Iron Man, or have an interest in Marvel Comics, make time for this exhibition before it ends on 21 Nov 2010.


Iron Man CollARTible Exhibition
Singapore Philatelic Musuem
23-B Coleman Street
Singapore 179807

Admission: $5 per adult.

The story that had started 1931 years ago

Time winds back to 1931 years ago,the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted on 24 August 79 CE. This event destroyed and completely buried a number of the nearby Roman towns, including Pompeii.

Destroyed and completed buried, we would have thought that Pompeii would be forgotten forever. However, that was not the case. The effects of the volcanic eruptions that had destroyed Pompeii in 79 CE  had ironically preserved Pompeii for centuries. The buried towns were only rediscovered in the 18th century.

From this exhibition, I learnt that the people of Pompeii adore their gardens. What have stuck in my mind were: Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Plinian eruptions, frescoes, gardens, volcanic ashes and carbonised food. If I put them together, these themes do tell a story.

My favourite sections of the exhibition were: Pliny's Eyewitness Account, the film titled "The Final Hours", garden, volcanology, the documentary titled "The Next Pompeii?", Archaelogy and Reference, and the Children's interactive space. I also like the multimedia station that allowed me to make a virtual tour of the specific sites in the unearthed city of Pompeii.

There is a very good coverage of this exhibition on Yesterday.sg. Please read Pompeii: Life in a Roman Town 79 CE Media Preview.

This is a very affordable and educational exhibition for anyone in Singapore who would like to have a glimpse of the ancient Roman town of Pompeii and its neighbouring towns. Do make time to visit it and learn about the destructive nature of a plinian eruption and about the ancient Roman town of Pompeii.

A visit to a museum can often be inspiring. After my visit to the exhibition, I have an urge to visit the unearthed Roman town of Pompeii some day in my lifetime. May this wish be realised soon.

***

Pompeii: Life in a Roman Town 79CE
Presented by National Museum of Singapore and organised by Soprintendenza Speciale per i beni Archelologici di Napoli e Pompei and Melbourne Museum.

16 Oct 2010 - 23 Jan 2011
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (last entry 5.30pm)
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897
Exhibition Galleries 1 & 2, Basement
$12 (incl. handling fee)

Experience ancient Roman music in Singapore

This afternoon, I nudged myself to the National Museum of Singapore despite a weather and a health that would welcome improvement. It is the first official day that the exhibition, Pompeii: Life in a Roman Town 79 CE, was opened for public viewing.

Pompeii is a partly buried ancient Roman Town located near what we now know as Naples, Italy. Visitors cannot know Pompeii until they get introduced to Mount Vesuvius and its eruption in 79 CE. That very year, a plinian eruption, which was very explosive and destructive in nature, took place at Mount Vesuvius. Ironically, the effects of the volcano eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE that had destroyed the town of Pompeii, were the same elements that had preserved much of Pompeii for modern eyes to see. Enough about this exhibition, it will be held from 16 Oct - 23 Jan 2010 at the Exhibition Galleries, Basement of the National Museum of Singapore. Admission fee is $12 per adult.

In conjunction with the above-mentioned exhibition, a performance titled "E Tempore Emergo" by Ludi Scaenici (Italy) will be held on 16 and 17 Oct 2010, at 2 p.m. and at 4 p.m. at the exhibition galleries. Ludi Scaenici, meaning "scenic shows" is based in Rome. This group dedicates itself to the research and performance of music and dance of the Ancient Rome.

Thank goodness. I visited the exhibition at the right time and that meant I could catch a free performance of music and dance of Ancient Rome in addition to catching the exhibition. I was pretty intrigued by some of the instruments. Two of the instruments were the predecessors of modern trumpet and horn respectively. The soundscapes of music of Ancient Rome also felt refreshing to my ears. The dancer also danced beautifully and with her heart and soul. I love it when I could enjoy a music and dance performance live! Many thanks to the National Museum of Singapore for inviting Ludi Scaenici to Singapore.

If you would like to catch Ludi Scaenici perform music and dance of Ancient Rome right here in Singapore, visit the exhibition, Pompeii: Life in a Roman Town 79 CE, tomorrow (i.e. 17 Oct 2010). The group will perform in the exhibition galleries at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The performance is free for ticket holders to the exhibition.

For now, here's a link the website of the group: http://www.ludi-scaenici.it/ludeng.html


Enjoy!

Glimpses from Bridging Worlds: Cheong Soo Pieng

About a month ago, I came across a video preview of the exhibition entitled Bridging Worlds: Cheong Soo Pieng, and I was certain that it was an exhibition that I must catch. Who is Cheong Soo Pieng?

Cheong Soo Pieng (1917 - 1983) was born in Xiamen, Fujian province of China. I do not know him personally. Thanks to his contributions to the Singapore art scene, I learnt a little bit about the artist, Cheong Soo Pieng, when I studied Art History during my secondary school days. He was one of the Singapore's pioneer artists. What I remember about him was that he was the artist who painted very stylised female figures with elongated necks, almond-shaped eyes and slender long arms. What I did not realise back then was that Cheong Soo Pieng painted more than just styled female figures. The exhibition, Bridging Worlds: Cheong Soo Pieng, brought to my attention that Cheong Soo Pieng was one of the most experimental artists of his generation.


Video preview:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2BghZ8eG1I&feature=related
(Credits: National Art Gallery of Singapore.)

If you had watched the attached short video preview, you might have realised that you could have been acquainted every day with one of Cheong Soo Pieng's art without your full knowledge. If you have a fifty-dollar Singapore note from the portrait series, please turn to the back and with an observant pair of eyes, you will find an image from a part of Cheong Soo Pieng's Drying Salted Fish (1978) in orange.

In the original Drying Salted Fish painting that was done with Chinese ink and watercolour on cloth, Cheong Soo Pieng depicted a scene of a fishing village that was commonly sighted in the 1970s. Although Chinese ink and watercolour were used, the painting was depicted using a perspective that was more commonly found in Western painting. The figures in this painting were elegantly stylised.

Actually, when I visited Bridging World: Cheong Soo Pieng, I was hoping to find out why Cheong Soo Pieng was greatly admired by one of the late Singapore artists, Ng Eng Teng. This question had been quite on my mind ever since my visit to the exhibition "Sculpturing Life - Ng Eng Teng Collection" about two years ago.

I think I could have figured out why Cheong Soo Pieng was so greatly admired by Ng Eng Teng. Cheong Soo Pieng was experimental in his approach to art and he was a very systematic artist. His courage to experiment and his diligence could have inspired Ng Eng Teng. The online article entitled "Arts and Thoughts: Conversation between Ng Eng Teng and T.K. Sabapathy" gives a glimpse of how Ng Eng Teng had greatly admired Cheong Soo Pieng. In Bridging World: Cheong Soo Pieng, visitors can see a three-dimensional relief portrait of Cheong Soo Pieng that was very thoughtfully done by the late Ng Eng Teng. I had almost felt as if Cheong Soo Pieng had came alive through the relief!

The revelation that I had at the exhibition was that Cheong Soo Pieng's art was more than just paintings. He experimented with various mediums and various art techniques. I suddenly realised that there was more to Cheong Soo Pieng's art than whatever I had learnt during my Art History lessons many years ago. I would say that anyone who is interested in Singapore's art history ought to make some time to visit this exhibition so as to study the works of Cheong Soo Pieng.

For novices, they would probably be inspired by the belief that had probably propelled Cheong Soo Pieng to be so brave and innovative in experimenting with various approaches to art. This quote by Cheong Soo Pieng summarises it all "You have many failures before you achieve success". Merely viewing his artworks lend one a glimpse of Cheong Soo Pieng's courage and willingness to experiment in efforts to excel in art.

Children will also find this exhibition very engaging. There is a Children's Art Studio in this exhibition whereby children can participate in various creative projects using the art materials and stencils provided. This is an exhibition suitable for all ages.

Check out this exhibition. Till 26 Dec 2010.

Bridging Worlds: Cheong Soo Pieng
Singa­pore Art Museum
71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 10AM –7PM
Friday: 10AM – 9PM
(Free admission on Friday night, 6pm – 9pm)




Acknowledgements: My words of appreciation to Mr Walter Lim and the National Gallery of Singapore for inviting me to the opening night of the Bridging Worlds: Cheong Soo Pieng exhibition.

More of the Night Festival: New World 2010

If my previous post "Snippets of the Night Festival: New World 2010" leaves you yearning for more, here are a few more photographs from the festival to fill you in.

Mustering some courage, I went to check out the Abusement Park on 17 Jul 2010 and it appeared that I was not ready to face the "torture" and "abuse" of the Abusement Park. Patrons of the Abusement Park could pay money to subject themselves to various "torture" and "abuse". Imagine that patrons are in an amusement park but instead of playing games to entertain themselves, they choose the kind of "torture" that they would like to subject themselves to. One of the "torture' is that of getting one's head "beheaded" by the guillotine. While I knew that all these torture were safe and would not cost me my life, I decided not to try any of these "abusement".

Nearby, the world's slowest SMS billboard was constantly in action as the team of human assemblers manually assemble messages on the giant billboard for everyone to read. There was a message wishing someone "Happy Birthday" and the team of human assemblers sang loud and clear a birthday song after they have completed assembling the birthday message.

If you are observant enough to notice that the message on the billboardin the photograph below read "If you're happy and you know it clap your hand!", you may have a vague idea what the team of human assemblers would be singing. The spectators responded by clapping their hands along with the singing.

A distance away at the Substation, we could find people delighted by the Community Mural Project. If one could bear with the strong smell from the paints, one would love being empowered to create large-scale art mural under the guidance of local graffiti artists, ZERO and ANTZ. I saw many people having lots of fun expressing their creativity.

Many people have been raving about Paraboles 2.0 but I had missed it! I was not prepared to stay up so late at night to catch the performance involving the six giant satellite dishes. The closest I could get was to take photographs of the Paraboles 2.0 which proved to be a test of my technical skills when all I possess was a simple automatic digital camera that I had bought about five years ago.

Anyway, for the curious minds, part of the synposis of the performance goes as such: "The six monumental dishes have picked up a signal. The unstructured sounds from outer space crackle and throb. Six musicians, conducted by the Women in Black, are trying to decode and translate those abstract sounds..."

On the Singapore Management University's Campus Green, there were many performances, films and installations by various artistic groups that will surely entertain.

If you had missed this year's Night Festival, do consider making time for next year's.

Snippets of the Night Festival: New World 2010

If you have yet to attend the Night Festival : New World 2010 yesterday, please think about making time tonight to relive the excitement and chilling moments of the amusement park phenomena.

What about the "amusement park phenomena"? Back in the 1960s, amusement parks have been a source of fun and entertainment for all ages in Singapore. I was told that there were three amusement parks in Singapore during that era: New World, Happy World and Great World. This year's Night Festival, produced by Theatreworks for the National Museum of Singapore, is inspired by the theme of fun and entertainment of the amusement parks of the 1960s.

Whether it is to relive the good old memories of the 1960s or to appreciate glimpses of the night life of the 1960s, folks of all ages may find the Night Festival this year to be an entertaining treat. Indeed, I could see for myself that last night's Night Festival was very well-attended by folks of all ages.

Admittedly, I would prefer to wear ear-plugs for the event as the noise level at most sites was considered too loud for my ears. Nevertheless, this Night Festival proved to be a treat to the visual senses with lots of hype and sensations.

I have decided to show a different perspective to the Night Festival by posting more photographs that I had taken during the early evening. Expect yourself to use quite a bit of your imaginations to imagine how the sites in the photos will be turned alive, dazzled by lights and gaiety once the skies turns dark.

On the grounds of the Singapore Management University's Campus Green, there are treats to the art and culture of various Southeast Asia countries. Visitors can look forward to treats to graffiti art. If visitors are game for some fiery fights, they could check out the boxing ring to catch rounds of boxing and Muay Thai. If dance-loving patrons would love a professional dancer as a partner to mambo, cha-cha and dance the night away, they could, I've read, hire a taxi girl (and taxi boy) at $1 for three dances.

A stone throw away, at the Singapore Art Museum, the daring ones could sneak into the Abusement Park, by Vertical Submarine & Black Baroque Interventions. I was told that Abusement Park would turned the ground floor of the Singapore Art Museum into an underground dungeon. Well, I did not visit this last night so you may have to just imagine what it would be like to be in an underground dungeon.

I would be more intrigued to see the world's slowest SMS billboard. I was told that one could send sms messages to (65)98659965 on the two nights. Afterwhich, a team of human will manually assemble the messages on an interactive giant billboard for all to read.

There are programmes for the young minds too. At the Peranakan Museum, I saw children and families having fun creating sand art pieces in the "Groovy Glow-in-the-Dark Crafts" corner. In the Ixora Room, there is a Peranakan Puppet Show that should delight both children and adults. For myself, I was more keen to take advantage of the free admission hours to catch glimpses of the many beautiful exhibits that were housed in the Perankan Museum.

Blogger, Hann Hann, has written a post on programmes from the Night Festival that are recommended for children. Check out the post entitled: Night Festival 2010: Hann's Picks for children.

You could also read fellow blogger, Walter Lim's preview of the event here: http://post.ly/nWNm. He has posted a number of good photographs of the Night Festival taken during the night hours.

Many thanks to my friend, KT, for lending her company for the Night Festival yesterday. It was fun travelling from one Night Festival site to another to see what each has to offer. I would have love to hear her share about her understanding of Ramayana if I had not been overstimulated by the loud volume from the nearby playing band.

Anyway, I was comforted with a free ice-cream for visitors to the Peranakan Museum. I chose the red-bean flavour and it was delicious. Be sure to find out how to obtain a coupon to exchange for a free ice-cream. Last night, the staff had lots of coupons to give away. However, learning to be contented with one ice-cream, I was happily declining the coupons!

Many thanks to the National Museum of Singapore and the National Heritage Board for organising a successful Night Festival: New World 2010.

If the description of the Night Festival entices you, get up from your seat, change into your favourite wear and get ready to check out the Night Festival tonight. It's your last chance, till 2 a.m. Admission is free!

Go and play at Art Garden

Interactive exhibits, exposure to fine arts, a treat for one's visual senses, fun. These are some of the things a visitor to the exhibition "Art Garden: Children's Season at the Singapore Art Museum" held at SAM at 8Q can look forward to experience.

It is a farsighted idea to introduce children and young people to contemporary art in an interactive and engaging manner. The exhibits are curated in a way that encourage the family to enjoy contemporary art together. In many ways, while the targetted audience of this exhibition appears to be children and their family members, adults visiting this exhibition on their own can find the exhibition to be equally fascinating and imagination-stimulating.

Walter's Garden

Even before a visitor steps into the museum's compound, he/she will see a large rabbit PVC helium float model that seems to be inviting visitors to step into the compounds of the Art Garden. Right inside (after one pays for the admission), there is an interactive playground titled "Walter's Garden" where children are 'can learn about colours, shapes and develop psychomotor skills through play'. Please take note that shoes are not allowed in the playground. Children entering this magic-like "Walter's Garden" have to have their hands sanitised and shoes removed.

There are a number of interactive exhibits that visitors can expect to see at the Art Garden. As an adult, I have learnt about the art of animation from the works by the artist, Joo Choon Lin. For the children, perhaps they would see the same works as adventures to a fantasy world involving the protagonist, the Ringmaster, against chocolate monsters and villians.

To continue this theme of fantasy and fiction, visitors could step into Sandra Lee's "Enchanted Forest". Here, "anything can happen if you just imagined it...". If one is observant, one can even spot a Merlion diving into the sea. Nearby, families were seen making paper butterflies which they can place in the Enchanted Forest. I was impressed with the story-boards that gave the backgrounds to the various characters featured in the "Enchanted Forest".

For visitors who prefer digital media and technology, they may find Funky Forest and Daisies to be fun and interactive works of art. Daisies was designed in such a way that when the shadows of visitors are cast on the ground, the digital daisy patterns on the ground will turn pitch black in shade. I saw a number of families having a good time trying to turn the entire area of daisies to pitch black darkness.

My favourite was "Floribots" by Geoffrey Drake·Brockman. Made from origami paper flowers, I simply find it fascinating how these robotic origami paper flowers could respond to the movements in the exhibition hall and then move accordingly.

I think if I were a child, I will fall in love with all these interactive and tactile activities. More so, since most of these activities were designed to be suitable for family's participation, a trip to the Art Garden could also provide the opportunities for families to bond and to simply have fun together.

After all the hype and the laughter from the fun activities, visitors could take a relaxing break and treat their eyes to screenings of a number of short films at "The Moving Image Gallery". These films presented are for and about children. In some ways, I think adult are likely to find these short films entertaining too. I have found the music that accompanies the film to be appealing for my ears too, and was listening attentively to the music until I could not remember the storyline of a few of the films. Anyway, my point is that there are a series of various activities and artworks available at the "Art Garden" exhibition for visitors of various personalities and ages.

Till 18 July 2010, Art Garden: Children's Season at the Singapore Art Museum is one art exhibition that I recommend families with children to consider visiting if they have yet to. To add to the joy of learning about the various artworks, there are activity books designed for children available for all visitors. During the weekends, visitors could also get a chance to attend workshops and special talks in the museum's premises.


For more information, please visit the Art Garden's webpage.

Art Garden: Children's Season at the Singapore Art Museum
SAM (8Q)
8 Queen Street, Singapore 188535.
Tel: (65) 6332 3222

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Free admission on Friday night, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.)

The usual exhibition admission charges apply. Free admission for children aged 6 and below. Each child must be accompanied by an adult holding a valid admission ticket.