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On the River – The Singapore Heritage Festival 2017

The city and its relatively over-towered historical quarters are now buzzing with activity and teeming with information. Locals and tourists alike are on the same boat of fascination with everything that is on display, with so much to learn about the rich history of this little red dot.



The media preview for the Singapore River segment of the Festival showcased bite-sized acts that truly left us awaiting the grandeur of the actual events this weekend. Starting out at the Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM), the preview began with a short act of an excited Singaporean woman in ‘70s embarking on non-Malaysian foreign travel.


The ACM used to be a passport office and the character, Ms. Betty, enacted the days when the pace of life allowed us to wait two or three months to receive our passports. The ACM as a building is analogous to an actor, as it has served under several capacities and has embraced so many characters. Its restoration as a museum leaves quite a large amount of room for us to imagine the many different eras that the building has lived through.


Following this act, we were escorted through the museums to listen to a very impressive and unique performance by a local trio comprising of an opera singer, a saxophonist, and a keyboardist. The lyrics reflected echoes from Singapore’s relatively recent, but largely forgotten past. After all, younger Singaporeans have only effectively experienced development at its peak, but have not had the chance to experience the immense value trade had in the country’s formative years



The museum of food at the entrance of the ACM is a feast for the eyes. Not many of us really even notice the ladles and hooks used by hawkers around the city and the innovation that rests behind the marvel of this food culture, but the team of seasoned curators have highlighted and emphasized on the tools that makes up Singapore’s appetizing cuisine. It truly is an eye-opener for all of us who find immense comfort in a plate of chicken rice after a long, long day.



Stepping outside, the preview tour showcased another short act by a worker who made his livelihood through the many activities on either side of the river. He enacted the activities of leisure that the banks offered in the past in front of pictures from different time periods. The juxtapositioning shows just how much Singapore has climbed out of its historical structures and given way to intimidating — yet gorgeous, skyscrapers.



The bean bags and movie screen by the food stalls give each of us an opportunity to take the weekend off for some time travel – and this time machine is just right to suit all our budgets. Go out, see where we’ve come from, and appreciate the present in the light of the past that illuminates it.



 
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