The Culture: Special Occasions

Singapore is famous for being a multi-religious and racial country. In this post, we will cover the various special occasions that are celebrated in Singapore and how it is in our culture that every special occasion is respected and celebrated. To start off, this diversity can simply be reflected through the major public holidays, namely, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas Day.

Additionally, when such special occasions are around the corner, popular landmarks will be well-decorated to set the mood for the occasion every year without fail. Recently, Orchard Road was more crowded than usual as everyone wanted to take pictures with the beautiful Christmas decorations. In October, Little India was brightly decorated as the Hindus celebrated Deepavali. Geylang Serai was filled with interesting decorations when Hari Raya Puasa was approaching and Chinatown was glowing with red lights and lanterns prior Chinese New Year.

Schools also make it a point to celebrate these occasions as it is significant for students to be educated about the different races and religions in Singapore. We can vividly remember how we used to dress in our ethnic costumes to school for Racial Harmony Day on 21st July, a day for schools to reflect on and celebrate Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage. Also, who can ever forget how the school premises would be decorated with colourful ribbons weaved into Ketupats for Hari Raya or long red fabric drapped along the pillars for Chinese New Year.

Being Singaporeans, we are proud to be part of a unique society of diverse cultures that can coexist peacefully in one country which is uncommon in the world. Able to celebrate different culture and festivals in a same country make us Singaporeans more tolerant towards each others' culture and races, also enhancing our understanding towards them. All these occasions can only be experience right here in Singapore!

Below is a slideshow showing the decorated landmarks!

The Arts: Artkore Industry

We explored the traditional art scene in our previous arts post. However, we will zoom in on the modern art scene in Singapore today. An example of modern art is Graffiti. Graffiti is a unique form of art whereby images or lettering are scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner; it is usually done on walls. A firm which embraces this modern art form is Artkore Industry which aims to develop and promote talents in Singapore.

We decided to pay a visit to the store located at Sultan Gate to check out the art pieces first-hand. It was not difficult to spot the store because of its highly visible brightly painted walls which stood out from the cultural backdrop. Besides the Artkore Industry store, Haji lane is the place to see modern art.

In contrary to its exterior, the interior was surprisingly modest; white walls and simple furniture. We soon realized that this concept was adopted to allow the art pieces on the walls to be the focal point of the store. There was a wide variety of art pieces that were put up for display by various artists, each with their own distinctive style and character. We noticed how flexible modern art is, unlike traditional arts which usually uses specific techniques to create an art piece, modern art allows the artist to experiment with techniques of their own. We then walked towards Haji Lane, where we witnessed the fusion of the past and present all in one captivating location. The shouphouses that have been around for decades were given a modern touch with bright colours and creative designs.

The trip to Sultan Gate was breathtaking and refreshing as it is unusual to witness anything like that anywhere else in Singapore. It is difficult to pen down our experience at the Sultan Gate as you really have to be present to understand that appreciating art is really difficult to put into words. The Sultan Gate is a great place to understand and learn more about arts, you have to visit it if you are an arts-lover!

You can catch a glimpse of the Artkore Industry store through the sldieshow below and you can visit their site for more information here.

The Heritage: Malay Heritage Centre

Once an Istana for the Sultan, now a famous landmark in Singapore.

What place is this? It is none other than Malay heritage centre.

As part of our project, we headed down to the Malay Heritage Centre which is located at Kampong Glam. We were greeted by a digital media box at the entrance which we thought it was a good way to give a preview of what the tourist would expect in the Malay Heritage Centre.

As you walk towards the gallery, you will encounter several large artifacts such as wooden ships, trishaws and carts which instantly enhance the atmosphere of the place.

Moving on to the gallery itself which is located at the heart of the centre, brochures are available at the entrance which we thought it was of great help to allow us to navigate smoothly around the gallery.

Astonishing as it may sound, we found out that Malays was a maritime society as we were welcomed by numerous artifacts such as ships and an audio-visual presentation capturing the rich diversity of the Malay people. We also learnt what the Malays used back in the days such as kettle pot-like artifacts and the kind of money they used, which further complement the ethnicity of the museum.

As we proceeded on, artifacts and articles on the Malay kingdom and their lifestyles ranging from educations to weapons captured our attention. A unique 3D model of the Malay settlement in Singapore in 1819 takes centre stage in this gallery. It illustrates the physical landscape of Kampong Gelam. We also noticed rare prints of life of the early days of the Malay settlement on the wall.

We as ventured deeper, we get to gain more knowledge about the Muslim immigrants who worked in Kampong Gelam for a few months to earn enough money to travel to mecca. There were also other artifacts such as necessities used by the immigrant where they were here and this gave us a better understanding of how the lifestyle was back then.

Proceeding on to the second level, there were 3d structure which showcased how the wedding ceremony was like in the past in Kampong Gelam where artifacts such as jewellery were also displayed, which were used in weddings. There were also statue of Mr Zubair Said who composed our national anthem which we thought it was good as many youngsters these days do not know the origin of the anthem.

Taking a step closer, we learnt how they filmed in those days as we are greeted by a filming scene set-up.

What we found most intriguing was that it also allow us a personal touch in the lifestyle of the Malays in those days as there were galleries that were made to look like the houses in the past. This instantly brought us back to the 19^th century, as though we are living in the houses back then. The exhibits in the gallery has also a fusion of both 20^th century and 19^th century and it shows a clear transformation of how Kampong Gelam has developed over the years.

The Malay Heritage Centre is a must place to visit if you really want to know more about the history of Singapore. It depicts the scene of Singapore way back from when the Sultan arrived in our small sunny island which marks the start of Singapura!

Below is a slideshow showing a glimpse of what can be seen there!

The Culture: Peranakan

The Peranakans can be found mainly in the Southeast Asian region, for example Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Singapore. It is a culture that encounters the old ancient Malay, Chinese and European influences, to form a cohesive and united Peranakan identity. The term 'Peranakan' means "child of" or "born of" and is used to refer to people of mixed ethnic origins.

We will be introducing the Peranakan Museum which portrays the Peranakan culture. There are a total of 10 galleries inside, each displaying a different aspect of their culture.

Gallery 1 "Origins", introducing the history of Peranakans across different parts of Southeast Asia. Although there are other communities of Peranakans such as Jawi Peranakan (Indian Muslim) and the Chitty Melaka (Indian), the museum focuses on the Peranakan Chinese which forms the majority in the community.


Gallery 2-5 "Wedding", shows you the unique wedding rituals which last for a total of 12 days. Find out how rituals are carried out and beliefs from the information provided. You will also get to see all the items involved such as costumes, jewellery, exchange of gifts, and the layout of the couple's new room.


Gallery 6 "Nyonya". This gallery shows how a Nyonya is being trained for her married life from a young age. Learning the art of beadwork and embroidery, spending many hours mastering the skills. Their skills are constantly compared with other nonyas by their elders. They believe that without these skills, they would not be able to find a good family to get married into. Beautiful beadwork and embroidery are on display for you to enjoy.


Gallery 7 "Religion". The gallery shows the different religions in the Peranakan community. Rites taken place and offerings during occasions such as death, mourning and ancestral worship are being displayed.


Gallery 8 "Public Life". Get to know the prominent figures in the Peranakan community in Singapore who made an impact on the society.

Gallery 9 "Food and Feasting". In this gallery, you will see the unique porcelain wares used by the Peranakans, in their everyday lives and during special occasions. You will get to understand their dining customs, and see how the dining table is laid out.

Gallery 10 "Conversations". Videos of members of the public talking about how they feel about the culture are shown.

The Peranakan Museum is a must visit for everyone, including Singaporeans. It's a place where everyone will get to understand and feel the culture in depth. Not only will you get to see the artifacts that were once used by the peranakans, you will also get to touch some of them. Both the young and old would enjoy the experience in each gallery, giving you a clear understanding and feel of the culture.

Young people these days may not even realize they are born from a peranakan family, thus leading to a culture loss. Thanks to the local drama “The Little Nyonya”, which was a story revolving around the peranakan families in the 1940s in Malacca (it was aired in December last year through channel 8), more and more people were getting interested in the culture. With this, we may now see a “comeback” of the peranakan culture in Singapore.

After visitng the Peranakan Museum, it was as though the drama "The Little Nyonya" came to life. What we think that was the most interesting about the Museum was Gallery 2-5 (Wedding). It was indeed spectacular as such weddings cannot be seen commonly in a modern society like Singapore. What we think is that, the peranakan culture is actually fading away in the current society, with not many traditional peranakans still keeping the culture in modern Singaporean homes anymore.

However, a visit to this museum has allowed us to refresh the culture and lifestyles of the Peranakans.

To find out more about the Peranakan culture, visit the museum and experience it for yourself!

Peranakan Museum
39 Armenian Street
Singapore 179941
Tel: 65-6332 7591, 65-6332 2982, 65-6332 3275
Fax: 65-6883 0732
Email: nhb_pm_vs@nhb.gov.sg

Operating Hours:
Monday: 1pm to 7pm
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30am – 7pm (to 9 pm on Fridays)

Admissions Charges:
http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/visitus/admissioncharges.asp
Guided Tours:
http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/visitus/guidedtours.asp
Directions for getting there:
http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/visitus/gettingthere.asp

For more information,visit the official website at http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/

The Arts: Sarkasi Said

Sarkasi Said is a well-known Batik artist in Singapore. Batik is a form of fabric art in which melted wax is applied to cloth before it is dipped in dye. This form of art is associated closely with the Malay community. However, a large majority do not know that it is also a recognized art form in China, Japan and India. Nevertheless, the Malays have used batik in unique ways. Sarkasi himself once said, “A Malay uses batik from the time of his birth to the time of his funeral.” Different types of batik have their individual stories and purpose. In Indonesia, the Batik Larangan (Forbidden Batik) is still the exclusive domain of the Javanese royal house.

Sarkasi presently holds the Guinness World record for the world's longest Batik painting. It measures 100m by 0.7m and is an Indonesian-style painting of orchids, which he completed on the 20th May 2003. He only slept for 2 hours for 5 consecutive days to complete the painting.

Sarkasi’s workshops were the tranquil kampongs and the Botanic Gardens where he developed his distinctive style that is closely related with nature.

He has held numerous exhibitions to showcase his works throughout his illustrious art career. The exhibitions were held in countries such as New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and USA.

He also conducts workshops for Batik enthusiasts located at The Malay Heritage Centre. Details of the workshops are as follows:

Expressions of Batik (1hr or 2hrs)
The 1hr programme starts off with a demo of Canting and painting of the piece. Participants will then paint on a pre-waxed piece for a hands-on experience.

The 2hr programme will allow participants to explore the introductory experience of Batik, and will also have a chance to work on Canting, Cracking Method and/or Absorption Method.

Batik Workshop (5 sessions)
This workshop welcomes beginners, as well as individuals/groups who have had experience in Batik painting. These workshops comprise of the Beginner Workshop and the Advanced Workshop.

Sessions are conducted in One week with duration of about 2 – 5hrs per session, depending on participant's interest and availability.

*This information is from http://www.malayheritage.org.sg. Please enquire the Malay Heritage Centre staff for Workshop availability and prices.

During our visit to his workshop, we got a chance to meet Sarkasi Said face-to-face. He was a friendly and ongoing man despite his achievements. He was hospitable as he allowed us to take photos of his art works at our own free will. His good nature certainly made our visit a pleasant one and we were lucky to catch him at his workshop since he is rarely there.

The slideshow below showcases some of his artworks.

The Heritage: Chinatown Heritage Culture

Do you know how did Chinatown come to be known as Niu Che Shui?

If your answer is a no, then you better visit Chinatown Heritage Centre!

Chinatown Heritage Centre is located at Pagoda Street, Chinatown. It is easily accessible by MRT, alighting at Chinatown station.

So what does Chinatown Heritage Centre have in store for you?

Chinatown Heritage Centre contains an affluent amount of wealthy memories and untold stories from the past. One can discover interesting stories of immigrants from the past, and unfold secrets that have yet to be discovered. Each level of the Centre takes you to a different period in the history of Chinatown which allows you to trace the lives of its early occupants.

As you are being immersed into the rich memories of the untold stories of Chinatown, you will also be greeted with ancient artefacts and photographs portraying the culturally vibrant and unique Chinatown.

Besides learning about the life and composition of the immigrants that made up Chinatown, you will also be able to see different phases of life that immigrants have walked in Chinatown unfold before your eyes. Personal artefacts are displayed everywhere, adding to the ambience and authenticity of the heritage centre.

Visiting the Chinatown Heritage Centre is as though the immigrants from the past have come to life where they retell their tales through the shophouses and the artefacts. Discover interesting facts such as the origin of your Chinese surname and associations that helped the immigrants tide through their hardship and poverty.

Get a chance to experience the lifestyle of the Chinatown's former residents by "visiting" the place they used to visit such as the "Morning market", "Kopitiam" and the "library". Learn about the different jobs of the immigrants through the exhibits that relate the real life stories of the past, the different traditional festivals carried out and the different lifestyles.

The best part of the tour is that you are able to see how the typical cubicles in the shop houses were like in the past, as each has been recreated by the recollections of the former residents. This personal touch allows you to take a step back into the past.


Our thoughts

After visiting Chinatown heritage centre, we are able to understand more about the culture of Chinatown, not many heritage centres in Singapore offers such a personal touch which allows us to actually have a physical interaction with the artefacts that were displayed. Besides that, being able to understand and know where our ancestors come from make us more appreciative of what we have now.

We will rate this place 4 out of 5 as we believe that this will be an ideal place for tourists and youngsters to visit as it truly touches one’s heart with the stories of the past. Personally we think that youngsters will like this place because this centre does not only display artefacts, but it maximises the five senses, making it exciting and enriching at the same time. As for tourists, we think that this is a must visit place as it is one of the significant place to learn about the heritage of Singapore.

The reason why we didn’t give it 5 out of 5 because it will be better if there is a higher frequency of personal tour guides for each groups explaining the displays in detail, making it easier for the visitors to understand.

All in all, the visit to the Chinatown Heritage Centre will guarantee you an enriching experience whereby it cannot be found anywhere else.

http://www.chinatownheritagecentre.sg/

Below is a slideshow to give you a glimpse of the Chinatown Heritage Centre!