Living Under the Crescent Moon

This week is the International Museum Day Week. Free guided tours and themed exhibitions are held at the various museums of Singapore over this weekend.

I have wanted to visit the newly renovated National Museum of Singapore as its unique colonial architecture has frequently been featured. Moreover, as a Singaporean, I was rather ashamed to admit that I have not been to our National Museum. It was timely to be more acquainted with Singapore.

Initially, the May07 gathering for the musketeers was meant to be only a lunch. We were glad we have managed to persuade Ms Chan to join Ah Peng and myself in my inaugural visit to the National Museum of Singapore. Ah Peng has been to the National Museum countless times. It used to be one of her favourite activities on Saturday afternoons. I must really learn from her and not allow myself to continue slacking. *Sheepish grin* Hence, the May07 gathering for the musketeers was our tour of the National Museum of Singapore.

The National Museum of Singapore is a short 10 minute walk from Plaza Singapura, just behind YMCA. The current featured exhibition was “Living Under the Crescent Moon” which is about the domestic lifestyles of the Arab Community. The exhibition was divided into 2 sections. The first was “Domestic Cultures in the Arab World” which displayed models of dwellings and artefacts of their daily lives, such as tools, utensils and art. The second was “Images from the Arab World” which featured the photos of the renowned contemporary Arabian photographers.

Domestic Cultures in the Arab World
The tribes featured in the exhibition are from Syria, Morocco and the Arabian Peninsula. A tribe which we have seen featured constantly is the Berbers.

One of the unique architecture of the Arabians is the use earth and clay in their homes which are believed to protect them from the heat. The material used for their utensils in the past is mainly brass and it has since evolved to the use of recycled car tyres. From pillow covers, to towels and carpets, embroideries and hand woven cloth are used. Such tapestries often involve the use of rich colours, such as maroon which seem to be reflective of their culture.

Images from the Arab World
The photos have made a stronger impression on the Arab culture on me. Some of the more interesting photos include handcolouring of black-and-white photos, images for pilgrimage at the Haj, Mecca by a Princess and glamourous portraits of ordinary citizens.

Each photographer has their unique style of capturing the sights. For instance, one photographer has used archaic pin-hole camera to capture natural sights which are believed to be never visible to the human eye. The images present a strong contrast beween the object and the light. Another photographer likes to highlight the focus in the midst of action, where the surroundings are blurry to emphasis the object.

My favourite among these photos was one by a contemporary female photographer on a series of wedding themed photos. She has vividly conveyed one of the greatest ironies of the culture: women are always expected to take a passive and obscure role, but during their wedding, they suddenly become the centre of attention.

There was a subsection – “Strange Games and Bridges” which presented the works of Jocelyne Saab who is a prominent documentary filmmaker and journalist. The works of “Strange Games and Bridges” drew inspiration from Beirut and journeyed a cycle of destruction and renewal.

To be candid, some of the images could be slightly disturbing and abstract. One video clip showed children playing a game of war with their use of planks as weapons for killing and torturing fellow playmates. Another clip showed a young girl opening a fridge full of guns. Pictures of separate body parts of a mannequin were placed at various corners. When Ms Chan attempted to start a discussion on the works, we were speechless as we could not truly comprehend the messages that were conveyed.

Architecture of National Museum of Singapore
Walking in the National Museum of Singapore was truly a luxury – with a harmonious marriage of modern and historic structures. For instance, the Gothic chandeliers adopted a bold bright red dressing. Instead of discreetly playing their roles of lighting, they became the highlights of the lobby with their pendulum swings. A bridge links the spacious podium to the historic wing. The podium is laid with granite flooring and connected by modern escalators and elevators. The historic wing has wooden window panels, engravings on the pillars reflective of Singapore’s colonial past and a tainted glass dome-like ceiling. Overhead the bridge, the red pendulum chandeliers swings on.

(The Colonial building which now forms the interior of the Museum.)

(The dome ceiling with tainted glass windows.)

Bored of a typical Saturday afternoon lingering along the shopping belt? Why not visit the National Museum of Singapore for a change?