First look: National Museum of Singapore’s new immersive display Singapore Odyssea
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Singapore Odyssea, housed in the Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda, opens to the public on Aug 8.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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SINGAPORE – Seven centuries of Singapore’s history await visitors in the new immersive exhibit called Singapore Odyssea
The rotunda re-opens to the public on Aug 8 after a 10-month closure for the new exhibit to be installed.
Singapore Odyssea features episodes from the country’s history from pre-colonial times to the present day.
NMS director Chung May Khuen highlighted that the exhibit was helmed entirely by a local team, a reflection of the progress local design talent has made since the rotunda was last revamped about a decade ago.
The team included Ms Melissa Chan, art director at design and production firm GSM Project; multidisciplinary artist Brian Gothong Tan; Mr Joshua Tan, creative director at animation studio CraveFX; as well as events firm Kin Productions and audio-visual firm Electronics and Engineering.
Here’s what visitors can expect.
1. Entrance
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Before entering the rotunda, visitors will each collect a radio frequency identification (RFID) wristband that activates interactive features in the rotunda.
The new entranceway resembles a ship’s bow, to symbolise a time-travelling vessel.
2. Link bridge
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
An LED globe hanging in the rotunda’s drum tracks the evolution of Singapore’s trade routes from pre-colonial times to present day.
3. Spiral ramp
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
As visitors walk down the glass rotunda’s spiral ramp, they will go back in time and experience Singapore’s history presented across four episodes – from current times to post-war and wartime Singapore, the colonial era and finally pre-colonial Singapore.
The projection designs were inspired by reliefs found in temples in the region such as Angkor Wat.
Each visitor is accompanied on his journey down the ramp by an animal “companion” that activates display features, such as showing the interiors of a shophouse.
4. Base of drum
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
At the base of the rotunda’s drum, visitors approaching a virtual waterfall will see it part to unfurl vignettes of Singapore’s history over the past 700 years, such as civilians departing Singapore from Clifford Pier in the 1940s as World War II loomed.
The LED floor ripples in response to footsteps, enhancing the immersiveness of the display.
5. Transition zone
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Four myths are presented in this section, which links the glass rotunda to the start of the Singapore History Gallery.
Graphics are used to represent Pauh Janggi, a magical tree above the navel of the ocean; Sang Nila Utama (above), the Palembang prince who supposedly gave Singapore its name; the swordfish attack that gave Bukit Merah its name; and Raja Chulan, a Chola king who is said to have explored the waters near Singapore in a diving bell.
From this zone, visitors will enter the Singapore History Gallery.
At a media preview of Singapore Odyssea on July 31, Ms Chung said the glass rotunda’s permanent exhibits reflect how visitors’ expectations of museums have changed over the years.
The space last hosted Story Of The Forest by Japanese firm teamLab, from 2016 to 2024. The display brought to life 69 pieces from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.
Referencing the opening of that display, Ms Chung said: “It was very groundbreaking for us when we first launched an immersive gallery at the National Museum, because it marked a shift from us – moving away from object-centric stories to actually exploring new ways of telling our Singapore Story.”
She said Story Of The Forest reflected how museum visitors had evolved beyond “one-to-one interaction of artefacts” and wanted to enjoy museums in larger social groups, such as with family or friends.
Ms Chung noted that while Story Of The Forest was a more passive experience for visitors, Singapore Odyssea is more multi-sensory, and allows visitors to participate in the experience.
The RFID wristbands that visitors wear in the rotunda, for instance, unlock display features.
Entry to the glass rotunda is ticketed and time-based. To book tickets, go to go.gov.sg/singapore-odyssea
