Seeing Singapore In A New Light At Curiocity Encounters

Singapore, 16 August 2022 – The National Library Board (NLB) is launching the second run of our Curiocity seasonal showcase to encourage the public to discover Singapore’s rich history, entitled Curiocity Encounters: Singapore Night Festival 2022. A collaboration with the National Heritage Board (NHB), Curiocity Encounters is part of the Singapore Night Festival, which makes its comeback from 19 to 27 August 2022 after a two-year hiatus. The public will get to experience Singapore’s history through a series of art installations and interactive programmes in the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) district and at the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) Building. Curiocity Encounters aims to cultivate a deeper appreciation and understanding of Singapore’s history through the interactive and immersive experiences found in everyday spaces. NLB welcomes more partners to collaborate with us on Curiocity initiatives to bring more exciting, inspiring and creative Singapore resources and content to the community. This is one of NLB’s many initiatives as part of the Singapore Storytellers role under LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025), NLB’s five-year journey where we invite everyone to reimagine libraries and archives of the future. 

Illuminating Singapore’s history through Night Lights and projection mapping installations around the BBB district

Curiocity Encounters will include three art installations in our vibrant arts district that spotlight iconic buildings in the city, as well as illuminate the lost stories of our nation’s past, such as the forgotten practice of drying cultivated rice along the banks of Sungei Brass Bassa in the early 19th century.

From 19 to 27 August 2022, festival-goers can look forward to experiencing familiar sights and spaces in Singapore with a fresh perspective.

Curiocity Encounters installations at the Singapore Night Festival:

• An Ocean Without The Anchor by Speak Cryptic (Outside Raffles City)
• Paddy Fields by FARM (Stamford Walkway)
• Midnight Show at the Capitol by MOJOKO (NAS Building)

Immerse in a visual display through Curiocity: Sights and Stories

To synthesise NLB’s Curiocity content and NLB’ archival materials on the history of the BBB district, visitors can experience a modular showcase at the Atrium on Level 3 of the NAS Building from 19 to 27 August 2022. The showcase will spotlight interesting snippets from the past of selected areas in BBB, such as Magnolia Snack Bar, Bras Basah Complex and Bugis Street.

Enjoy specially curated programmes at the National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Curiocity: Encounters also has a series of exciting and educational programmes lined up. These include Chinese puppetry performances, a special screening of historical footage accompanied by a live ensemble, and a self-guided race where players can solve clues and uncover stories through interactive activities in the BBB precinct. The quickest thinkers stand a chance to win attractive prizes, including dining vouchers and a one-night staycation!

Tours

• Heat of the Night (19 – 27 August)
• School Bells and Hallways: Memories of Former School Buildings by Jerome Lim (19, 20, 26 & 27 August)

Performances

• Cityscapes of Yesteryear: Screening and Music Performance by M’Ode Wind Quintet (20 & 26 August)
• Traditional Puppetry Performance by San Chun Long (27 August)

Talk

• Archives Invites: Dr Caroline Chia – Telling a Tale about Hainanese Rod Puppetry (27 August)

Explore digital content on the BBB district on the Curiocity website 

Keen to uncover more about the history of BBB district? Go beyond its built heritage and delve into the old photographs, paintings, maps and memories available on the Curiocity website. Learn more by checking out the BBB digital story or interactive story map.

Patrons may also interact with the Curiocity website at the installations by scanning the onsite QR codes to explore a curated selection of heritage materials, drawn from the rich collections from our National Library and NAS, as well as partners' content. By using digital storytelling tools such as Story Maps, Virtual Reality (VR) tours, juxtapose sliders and Digital Stories, Curiocity provides users an interactive and immersive way to rediscover the history of Singapore.

Please refer to Annex A for more information on the art installations and display, and Annex B for for more information on the programmes. Readers may also check out go.gov.sg/curiocity for more details.

INSTALLATIONS AND DISPLAY AT CURIOCITY ENCOUNTERS

S/N	Image Reference	About the installation / display	About the artists
Installations in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct
1	An Ocean Without The Anchor by Speak Cryptic Location: Outside Raffles City (facing Capitol)
	Artist impression, courtesy of Speak Cryptic	Date: 19 -27 August 2022 An Ocean Without The Anchor is inspired by the lighthouse, a sturdy structure synonymous with being a beacon of hope shining in the darkness. A guiding light for those lost at sea, the lighthouse gives a sense of comfort to seamen leaving and returning home. Aptly located at the entrance of Raffles City - which would have then been along the Singapore shoreline before land reclamation took place in 1822 - this installation is a nod to the Bugis and their rich history as seafarers. Conveying the value of bergotong-royong (Malay for co-operation), the tower comprises five figures sitting stacked on each other's shoulders. At the top is the roof of a traditional kampung house, signifying shelter and safety as our community slowly transitions into “the new normal”. Creating an atmospheric auditory experience is an accompanying soundtrack featuring the sounds of the sea and kampung life drawn from SoundScapeSG and the National Archives of Singapore. This artwork is co-presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Library Board (NLB) as part of Singapore Night Festival and Curiocity, an NLB initiative, to discover hidden stories and facets of Singapore's past from the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore collections. #SGStoryTellers	Farizwan Fajari, professionally known as Speak Cryptic, is a Singapore-based artist. Endless manifestations of the self are a feature of his work, depicting identity in the form of texts and phrases extracted from punk lyrics and intricate patterns and figures. His drawings, paintings and installations stem from inquiries into ancestral migration, ethnic dislocation, gentrification and alternative subcultures. Fajari has participated in exhibitions such as the Koganecho Art Bazaar (Yokohama, Japan, 2018), the 1st Kuala Lumpur Biennale (2017), Secret Archipelago (Paris, France, 2015), the Singapore Biennale (2013) and Future Proof (Singapore, 2012).
2	Paddy Fields by FARM  Location: Stamford Walkway (along Stamford Road, corner facing junction that leads towards SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business)
		Date: 19 – 27 August 2022  Paddy Fields recalls the forgotten practice of drying cultivated rice along the banks of Sungei Brass Bassa (now Stamford Canal) in the early 19th-century. The area was close to the paddy fields located opposite today’s KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. South Asian washermen and women also laundered clothes there, laying them out to dry on adjacent open space. Using a palette of humble materials, this installation seeks to evoke the sentiments reminiscent of these activities from a bygone era. Follow the text running along the clusters of rice paddy to trace the story of Bras Basah (which means “wet rice” in Malay) – from its agricultural roots to its history of redevelopment over the years. These quotes are extracted from poems (including “Bras Basah 1953” by Singapore poet Edwin Thumboo) and articles found in the collections of the National Archives of Singapore and National Library.  This artwork is co-presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Library Board (NLB) as part of Singapore Night Festival and Curiocity, an NLB initiative, to discover hidden stories and facets of Singapore's past from the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore collections. #SGStoryTellers	FARM is a cross-disciplinary company spanning design, architecture, arts and research. The company seeks to cultivate a culture of imagination, endeavouring to share the delight and joyful creativity that underpins all human action. Since 2005, FARM has worked on community projects which promote the arts and has organised national public art competitions and events. In 2007, FARM established its cross-disciplinary design arm, and has since embarked on diverse collaborations with artists and designers. These include architecture and interior design, product design and merchandising, graphic design and branding, art installation and sculpture, exhibition design and curatorial work.
3	Midnight Show at the Capitol by MOJOKO  Location: National Archives of Singapore Building
		Date: 19 – 27 August 2022  Take a trip down memory lane with this hyper colourful visual treat. Remixing images from the collections of the National Archives of Singapore and National Library, visual artist MOJOKO highlights Singapore’s cinemas of times past. Inspired by the cultural importance and rich visual history of Capitol Theatre and Cathay Picture House, MOJOKO brings a contemporary twist to the classic movie posters that were once commonplace in the area. A moving artwork of epic proportions, Midnight Show at the Capitol lights up the walls of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct in a captivating way. This artwork is co-presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Library Board (NLB) as part of Singapore Night Festival and Curiocity, an NLB initiative, to discover hidden stories and facets of Singapore's past from the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore collections. #SGStoryTellers
Display at the National Archives of Singapore Building
4	Curiocity: Sights & Stories
		Visit the National Archives of Singapore for a new display spotlighting the history of selected spaces in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct – some long gone, some less remembered, but all full of charm waiting to be rediscovered. Learn something new about Bras Basah.Bugis as you explore this visual showcase! Dates: 19 – 27 August 2022 Time: 10.00 am – 9.00 pm Venue: National Archives of Singapore Building, Atrium, Level 3

S/N	Image Reference	About the programme and speaker, if applicable	Date, time, venue and registration links
Experiential Programmes
5	Heat of the Night
		Experience a rush of memories this Singapore Night Festival 2022 and join a self-guided race down memory lane in the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct. Fastest racers will be in the running to win attractive prizes, on top of bragging rights! Gather your friends and families to solve clues and uncover stories (and heritage) behind some beloved spots of the BBB city centre through interactive activities. Buy your tickets for this self-guided race now!  This programme is co-presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and National Library Board (NLB) as part of Singapore Night Festival and Curiocity, an NLB initiative, to discover hidden stories and facets of Singapore's past from the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore collections. #SGStoryTellers	Date: 19 – 27 August 2022  Time: 7.30pm – 11.00pm Starting point: National Museum of Singapore  Register here:  https://www.klook.com/activity/74704-heat-night-singapore/
6	School Bells and Hallways: Memories of Former School Buildings
		About the programme Did you know that the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) sits on the site that was once Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)? Do you know which other schools used to be located in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct? Join heritage guide Jerome Lim as he takes you on a journey to discover the interesting tales held at NAS, as well as former school buildings in the neighbourhood. About the speaker Jerome Lim is the author of the award-winning blog The Long and Winding Road, where he documents the ever-evolving country of his birth through words and photographs. Jerome is a regular contributor to the heritage scene, organising walks of discovery to lesser-known sides of Singapore, through collaborations with various agencies such as the Singapore Land Authority and the National Heritage Board. He has also curated heritage exhibitions and trails, including The Italian Connection for the Fullerton Building’s 89th anniversary.	Dates:  Friday, 19 August 2022, Saturday, 20 August 2022, Friday, 26 August 2022, Saturday, 27 August 2022 Time: 8.00pm – 9.00pm  Meeting point: National Archives of Singapore Building, Archives Reading Room, Level 2 Tickets for the 19 August session are sold out. Register for the remaining sessions below:  [20 August] https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394217393837 [26 August] https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394217544287 [27 August] https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394217624527
Performances
7	Cityscapes of Yesteryear: Screening and Music Performance
		About the programme Curious about how Singapore’s city centre looked like in the 1950s and 60s? Join us for a special screening of rare colour footage featuring Singapore’s streets and landmarks, and enjoy live music performed by M’Ode Wind Quintet, known for their unique yet flexible sound. About the group M’Ode Wind Quintet first met in the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra, where they played the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. Their love for performing and passion to continue sharing music with others led them to form M’Ode Wind Quintet after they graduated. Their instruments blend to form a unique and flexible sound, suitable for a wide variety of musical genres.	Dates: Sat, 20 Aug 2022 & Fri, 26 Aug 2022 Time: 7.30pm – 8.00pm National Archives of Singapore Building, Atrium, Level 3
Talk
8	Archives Invites: Dr Caroline Chia – Telling a Tale about Hainanese Rod Puppetry
		About the programme Have you ever heard or seen Hainanese rod puppets? Did you know that there was a Hainanese enclave in Bugis where these puppet shows were once staged? Drawing upon archival sources and more than a decade of research, Dr. Caroline Chia shares the untold stories of Hainanese rod puppetry that has existed in Singapore for nearly a century.  About the speaker Dr. Caroline Chia has spent about 15 years researching on traditional Chinese theatre, including opera and puppetry. Despite its presence in Singapore for close to a century, little is known about traditional Chinese puppetry and Caroline believes there is great urgency to document and heighten awareness of this art before it disappears.	Date: Saturday, 27 August 2022 Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm National Archives of Singapore Building, Oldham Theatre, Level 3 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/archives-invites-telling-a-tale-about-hainanese-rod-puppetry-tickets-379622038737
9	Traditional Puppetry Performance by San Chun Long
		About the programme When was the last time you saw a live Chinese puppetry performance? Once common sights at temples and in the heartlands of Singapore, they are now rarely seen. Experience this artform as Hainanese rod puppet troupe, San Chun Long, performs this traditional craft with miniature puppets dressed in traditional Chinese opera costumes. About the troupe Established in 1947, San Chun Long is the oldest and last surviving Hainanese puppet troupe in Singapore. It gained a reputation in Southeast Asia for furthering the artform especially during the mid-20th century.	Date: Saturday, 27 August 2022 Time: 7.00pm – 7.30pm / 8.30pm – 9.00pm Venue: National Archives of Singapore Building, Stairway, Level 1

About the National Library Board

The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore’s history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region.

NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).

About Singapore Night Fest 2022

The Singapore Night Festival (SNF) is the National Heritage Board’s signature arts and culture festival in the vibrant Bras Basah.Bugis precinct Since its inception in 2008, the annual festival has
presented a diverse mix of artworks and performances by local and international artists, featuring cross-disciplinary acts and influences which continue to push the boundaries and enthral festival-goers.

Festival-goers can expect to be mesmerised by a plethora of activities, including projection mappings, light art installations, performances, other experiential programmes, and food and retail experiences. A key event in the regional festival calendar, SNF provides a platform for artists and stakeholders to meet, create and collaborate to present exciting, cutting-edge acts, and transform familiar spaces in the arts and heritage district for festival-goers. For more information, please visit: nightfestival.gov.sg

For media enquiries, please contact:

Denise Yuen Joween Song
Weber Shandwick  Weber Shandwick 
Tel: +65 9478 7377 Tel: +65 9677 2598
Email: dyuen@webershandwick.com  Email: jsong@webershandwick.com