Whether it’s mascots, characters, landmarks, or legends, each country has a set of icons that define its pop culture. As Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence, the SingaPop! exhibit is giving visitors a one-of-a-kind experience to relive and rediscover the nation’s pop culture icons.
Curated by Dick Lee, a beloved multi-talented cultural pillar of the country, SingaPop! showcases six decades that shaped Singapore’s identity. In an interview with The Straits Times, Lee said that “Culture usually takes generations to evolve, but we’ve done it in just 60 years. What does it take for culture to grow so quickly and organically? It has to be some sense of unity in the people to make it so.”
Singapore declared independence in 1965 and prides itself on its multicultural society composed of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, and Eurasian communities. The Singapop! exhibit showcases the melding of these cultures through its main feature, RojakLand—comprised of six dynamic zones that reflect the influences and rich heritage of the country through themes such as hawker centers, music, film, fashion, Singlish, and the National Day Parade.
The Scenes That Define Us
Photo from Singapop! Website
Outside of RojakLand, the SingaPop! experience is divided into six stages—SingaWho?, SingaStyle, SingaSong, SingaMakan, SingaVoices, and RojakLane, with everything pointing back to the icons that created a nation. SingaWho? features people who laid the foundation of Singapore’s early communities through an immersive retelling of history; SingaStyle showcases the nation’s evolving identity through fashion pieces over the years; SingaSong explores the trends in local pop music from classic hits to modern jams; SingaMakan highlights vintage and modern food, from replica shops and cafes to actual food stalls; SingaVoices features a music video with 900 Singaporeans from 26 countries coming together to sing a new rendition of the beloved National Day song; and RojakLane explores how cultural motifs blend together to create a unique fusion of a Singaporean identity.
SingaPop! offers everything from Instagrammable sets, to educational exhibits, and even inspirational pieces. Don’t miss out on this amazing exploration of Singaporean pop culture and visit the ArtScience Museum at 6 Bayfront Avenue until December 28!