A Virtual Blast to the Past: Exploring Singapore’s Cultural Heritage On Screen
Travelling allows us to meet new people, experience cultures and understand new ways of life. It opens our minds and broadens our worldview. Some people seek to embark on their travels with the sole intention of having a cultural experience, whereas others may experience the culture as a by-product of their trip.
Thankfully, technology provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to explore the world without even needing to be physically present – from cultural properties to heritage practices – during this time of mass confinement. Singapore has a wealth of cultural experiences waiting for you to explore virtually. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of its cultural melting pot and widen your perspective through the wonders of modern technology.
Take a virtual dive into Singapore’s heritage and solve The Curious Case of the Missing Peranakan Treasure at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Immerse yourself in the storied halls of one of Singapore’s oldest and grand dame hotels by going on a cultural and historical exploration through its interactive virtual play “The Curious Case of the Missing Peranakan Treasure”. Filmed entirely on location at the Raffles Hotel Singapore together with a 360-degree virtual reality and augmented reality technology, this first-of-its-kind interactive play will have participants take on the role of a detective tasked to investigate the crown jewel of the fictional
“Treasures of the Straits” exhibition that is set in the hotel. Embark on a journey now to discover the hotel’s historical grounds and venture through its illustrious halls by watching as the story plays out and piece clues together to experience how the story unfolds.
Get your tickets HERE.
Travel back to the 16th century and explore Peranakan Fashion at Singapore’s Peranakan Museum
Journey back in time and discover the favoured fashion of the Peranakan women, like the “sarong kebaya” which was famed for its rich texture and vibrant patterns, rooted in the enigmatic culture of the 16th century. Take a 360 degree virtual tour that fully captures how the garments evolved throughout the years at the Peranakan Museum’s “Sarong Kebaya: Peranakan Fashion and Its International Sources” exhibition and explore the different clothing that were worn by women throughout history with the many kebaya displays and photographs available.
Take a virtual tour of Peranakan Museum HERE.
Digital format on Google Arts & Culture HERE.
Behold Banjar Community’s cultural artefacts from Urang Banjar: Heritage and Culture of the Banjar in Singapore exhibition at the Malay Heritage Centre
Take a virtual dive into the cultural world of the Banjarese culture, Singapore’s smallest sub-ethnic Malay community. Check out their ethnographic objects, photographs, community stories, treasured family belongings, and other exhibits that are weaved together with their insights and anecdotes. You can even find out how the locals prospected for diamonds using traditional mining methods at the Cempaka Diamond Fields and how they polished diamonds using the machines. Unlike your usual museum exhibition, you can witness the artefacts come alive through digital platforms like videos, audio recordings and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences.
Witness the artefacts at Malay Heritage Centre come alive virtually HERE.
Take a virtual walk through Singapore’s Little India and explore the cultural murals and installations
If you miss walking through the cultural sights and sounds of Singapore, you can now experience Singapore’s Little India virtually. Trace through the moods of heritage and grandiosity of works at this vibrant neighbourhood that is a harmonious blend of its past and present. Discover the different artworks from various artists like Warp & Weft by Khairulddin Wahab, who created artworks from the community that showcases the culture, history and people that make up Little India.
Discover the different artworks located in Singapore’s Little India HERE.
Step into the World of Chinese Opera at the Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition
Venture into the world of Chinese opera at the heart of the Waterloo Arts Belt and Civic District and learn all about the Chinese performing arts and its history through a Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree stage tour. Take a sneak peek at the things that go on behind the scenes during the various cultural performances. This interactive Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition at Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) allows you to virtually walk around the exhibition where you’ll find fun facts of instruments and costumes of Chinese Opera that are commonly used.
Start your 360 Virtual Tour of the Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition HERE.
Discover Singapore’s mouth-watering local cultural delicacies through an innovative DigiMuse Presents: Virtual Showcase display
Enjoy a slice of Singapore’s heritage with delightful digital treats by following a renowned chef, Willin Low, as he uncovers the history behind several favourite Hawker Centre snacks like Kuih TuTu and Tau Huay. Explore Singapore’s heritage and culture through a variety of digital formats that are fun and innovative, such as recipe videos featuring the local Kaya and Coconut Charcoal Tart. Aside from your delectable journey of Singapore’s heritage, you can also embark on several Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that allow you to “try on” and get up close to national treasures through virtual museum tours.
Check out the DigiMuse Presents Virtual Showcase HERE.
Dates: Now until 30 June 2021
From then to now, browse through the artworks with #GalleryAnywhere at National Gallery Singapore
Check out the works of visual artists from the 19th century to the present day with the National Gallery Singapore’s “phygital” experience, where they have integrated a physical and digital experience for everyone. The Gallery also features a hand-drawn Kampong Gelam map by Latiff Mohidin, who sought to chronicle the neighbourhood’s cultural layers as he had experienced them in his youth, combined with 360-degree scans that you can admire from wherever you are. From tuning into multilingual audio guides to browsing over 4,000 artworks and 7,000 archival materials from the National Gallery Singapore, you can now embark on a daily dose of Art and virtual experience anytime, anywhere.
Access #GalleryAnywhere HERE.
Discover various cultural heritage virtual experiences in Singapore and stay updated with the latest happenings in Singapore HERE.
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