Still Making History – 120 Years of the National Museum in Singapore

120 – By Ong Keng Sen & TheatreWorks

The evening was a wonderful blend sharing the dance of duality, pulsating with polarity and reflecting the yin – yang of our reality.

Young and old, big and small, light and dark, static and dynamic – 120 launched at the National Museum of Singapore, under preparation that presented sophistication with elegance.           

The evening flowed with grace and orderly preparedness as more than 350 guests witnessed the history of Singapore through the eyes, words, and movement of guides throughout the tour. Guests expecting to simply sit, eat and listen during the presentation were surprise to find that we the audience were part of the performance.

Our guide, Nora, had a voice of rang with authority yet sang with authenticity. Throughout the performance, she would gracefully opt out of the “tour guide mode” and share some of her personal reflection, stories, and experiences with the various historical sites in the Museum. I loved the in and out of character dynamics of the presentation.

 By utilizing the grand escalators, by highlighting the majestic ceilings, and by simply allowing the visitors to experience the old, dance with the future through music and special effects, and the experience the Museum in the presence, I found myself admiring the preparation and thoughtfulness that went into the evening event.

  I left the event with the feeling of “awe” and would describe the experience as an evening allowing “historical grandness to merge with youthful vibrancy that triggered microcosms of transformation”.  

 Congratulations to Minister Raymond Lim and the leaders of Singapore for supporting and sharing the vision for the refurbishing the grand Museum and to all patrons who made it a reality. Special note and thanks go to the lead patron for the project the GK Goh family. for more details http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/120years/event_120_detail.html