AT SG

The Latex Lobby

22 Aug – 3 Sep 2025

Plaza, Level 1, National Library Building

About the Installation:

Rubber is a common material rarely given a second thought in our daily lives. It is elastic, resilient and waterproof and used for essential everyday products such as tyres, gloves and boots. Rubber has revolutionised the way we live yet few may know that Singapore once played a pivotal role in the development of this billion-dollar industry during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Brought in by the British empire, this South American native tree eventually evolved into a major cash crop.

A chimeric surrealist assemblage of ceramic, botanical material, photography and shadow play – this installation references and reimagines, in a modern-day context, various aspects of the often-overlooked history of rubber plantations in Singapore. Inspired by the herringbone rubber tapping technique refined by Henry Nicholas Ridley (the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens), this work invites the curious visitor to peer into the diagonal slits to discover the sights and textures of the forgotten rubber industry, against quotidian rubber objects that populate our daily lives.

About the Artists:

Fawn World is a botanical design studio established in 2024 and based in sunny Singapore. Fawn World wants everyone to uncover the secrets of the botanical realm. They believe in the mud, acid and overgrowth of our wonderful natural world.

Hans Chew is a ceramic artist currently based in Singapore. He graduated with a major in ceramics from Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan. Apart from making functional pottery, which he considers as his bread and butter, Hans also creates objects in search of himself. His works often deal with themes of foreignness, discord and nostalgia. As clay is a highly tactile medium, he strongly believes that the ability to think with both hands is equally as important as the ability to conceptualise and communicate one’s thoughts.

Isabell Hansen is a photographer who explores the ideas of desire, passion and romance through the encounters we have with place and space, work, craft and play. Aiming to evoke nostalgia and mood, she uses photography as a vessel for memory. She hopes to inspire stories, start conversations and believes that we are but a small speck in a vast universe of wonder.

Behind the Work:

This installation explores the often-overlooked history of rubber plantations in Singapore. Through a combination of ceramics, botanical materials, photography and lighting, the chimeric work invites audiences to peer through apertures, listening, touching, and observing the textures and traces of the rubber industry. Historical images and audio files from the National Archives of Singapore are presented alongside living botanical materials, creating a multi-sensory experience.

Building on the theme of “Island Nights,” the artists drew inspiration extensively from a wealth of books and print materials at the National Library Singapore, pondering on Singapore’s botanical past, present and future, and how the island’s botanical identity connects it to the wider world. Their research spanned publications on local medicinal plants, religious practices incorporating botanical elements, and the trade and commerce of plants and produce in Singapore. The team ultimately focused on rubber plantations, captivated both by the visually striking images found in NLB’s collections and the complex narratives surrounding the commodification of plants under British rule.

Find Out More:

Check out the following resources to learn more about agriculture and nature in Singapore.

BiblioAsia

• From Gambier to Pepper: Plantation Agriculture in Singapore – Go on a tour of pepper, gambier, nutmeg, pineapple and rubber plantations that were once common in 19th-century Singapore.
• Printed on Rubber Latex Paper – Learn more about the 1920s innovation of rubber latex paper used for durable promotional materials in British Malaya.
• Nature Conservation in Singapore – Explore how Singapore has balanced urban development with biodiversity conservation over the past 200 years.
• A Slice of Singapore in the Biodiversity Heritage Library – This article introduces the Biodiversity Heritage Library and highlights Singapore’s contributions of digitising rare natural history texts for global access.
• When Tigers Used to Roam: Nature & Environment in Singapore – Find out how deforestation in early Singapore led to the loss of native wildlife like tigers and spurred early conservation efforts.
• Deforestation in 19th-century Singapore – Discover how 19th-century deforestation in Singapore, driven by cash crop cultivation, led to environmental consequences.
• Of Parks, Trees and Gardens: The Greening of Singapore – Follow Singapore’s greening journey – from the founding of its first botanical garden in 1822 and the Garden City era to today’s City in Nature vision under the Green Plan 2030.
• The Nature of Poetry: An Odyssey Across Time – Explore how English-language poets have documented Singapore and Malaya's evolving landscapes and identities throughout the 20th century.

Infopedia

• Henry Nicholas Ridley – Learn about Ridley’s life and contributions, including his role as the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and his significant impact on the development of Singapore’s rubber industry.
• Gambier – Find out about the history and uses of gambier, a key 19th-century crop important for dyeing, tanning and traditional medicine in Singapore and Malaya.
• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – Discover the history and significance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, its establishment, biodiversity and role in conservation efforts in Singapore.

Archives Online

• Interview with Lim Chin Sei – Gain insights into the life and experiences of a rubber tapper in Singapore as Lim Chin Sei sheds light on the challenges and realities of this occupation. (Recording in Hokkien)
• Interview with Hussain Kaslan – Hear from Hussain Kaslan as he describes life on a rubber plantation, how rubber tappers were paid, and the pricing and processing of rubber in the early 20th century. (Recording in Malay)
• Interview with Tan Su Kiok – Listen as Tan Su Kiok describes his journey from rubber tapper to plantation owner and founder of Lam Choon Factory, and his experience cultivating different types of rubber trees. (Recording in Hokkien)
• “Rubber in Malaya” by Henry Ridley – In this clip from a 1954 radio broadcast, hear Henry Ridley describe in his own words the “herringbone” method of latex extraction, a technique he refined to harvest latex from rubber trees without damaging the trees.
• Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin in 1966 – Watch a news magazine film featuring rubber tapping on two of Singapore’s largest offshore islands. In the 1960s, small-scale rubber tapping took place on Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin. From these islands, dried rubber sheets were sent to the mainland for processing or sale.
• Rubber Plantation in the 1960s – This video features a rubber plantation in Singapore during the 1960s.
• About Rubber – This programme recording of Darihal Getah (About Rubber) from the Berchakap Melayu (Speak Malay) series explores the history and origin of rubber trees, their introduction to Singapore, and the full process of rubber production from plantation to factory.
• Seletar Rubber Estates Limited – This video explores the Seletar Rubber Estates through NLB’s collection of business documents and letters.

NLB

• BHL Singapore – Biodiversity Heritage Library – The BHL Singapore Collection comprises items contributed by the National Library Board Singapore and its partner institutions such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens and National Parks Board Singapore. The collection includes a variety of historical documentations on the flora and fauna in Southeast Asia from the 19th century to present day, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the region.
• Forest Management | Explained in 3 Minutes – Learn about the world of Forest Management and what it entails, as well as the measures Singapore has taken to safeguard our forests and accompanying natural biodiversity.

Publications

• The Devil’s Milk: A Social History of Rubber
  Call no.: R 338.47678209 TUL
  Discover the impact of the rubber industry from a socialist humanist and ecological perspective.
• Planters and Speculators: Chinese and European Agricultural Enterprise in Malaya, 1786-1921
  Call no.: RCLOS 338.109595 JAC -[SEA]
  This study traces the evolution of plantation agriculture in British Malaya, from early export crops like pepper, cloves, gambier and tapioca, to the dominance of rubber.
• Nature’s Colony: Empire, Nation and Environment in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
  Call no.: SING 580.735957 BAR
  This book traces the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ journey spanning more than 150 years, from its origins as an experimental garden for tropical plantation crops to its evolution into a scientific institution, culminating in its status as both a World Heritage Site and a beloved national park.
• Rubber and the Home: Being a Compendium of the Domestic, Sports and General Uses of Rubber
  Call no.: RCLOS 678.3 RUB
  This is an early 20th-century guide to rubber applications in the home, from flooring to footwear.
• 南洋之産業. 壹之卷 (Tropical Industry)
  This early 20th-century pictorial book, published by the Japanese Commercial Museum in Singapore, contains numerous images of rubber cultivation, processing and marketing.
• Rubber
  Call no.: RDTSH 633.8952 BRI
  This booklet, produced for the British Empire Exhibition in London in 1924, is an introduction to rubber cultivation and manufacturing in British Malaya.

The Puppet Stage: Handcrafted Stories

22 Aug – 6 Sep 2025

10 am – 9 pm

Atrium, Level 3, National Archives Building

This installation and performances are co-presented by the National Library Board and HeritageSG. NLB hopes to inspire the discovery of hidden stories and facets of Singapore’s past from the collections of the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore.

About the Installation

Step into the world of Chinese glove puppetry, a traditional art form where stories come to life, right at your fingertips.

This display showcases intricately crafted glove puppets used in performances that were once popular in community spaces in the 20th century. With their vivid expressions, elaborate costumes and skilful movements, these puppets were more than entertainment – they represented folklore, values, religious significance and cultural identity across generations. Today, they are enduring symbols of craftsmanship, storytelling and Singapore’s rich heritage.

Get up close with tradition! Take a selfie with the puppets or try moving one and see how it comes alive in your hands.

About the Performances:

武松打虎

The Tiger Hero: A Puppetry Adaptation of the Classic Chinese Novel Water Margin By Paper Monkey Theatre

Sat, 23 Aug 2025

8.15 pm – 9 pm / 9.15pm – 10pm

Atrium, Level 3, National Archives Building

Join us as we bring the legendary tale of martial arts master Wu Song to life! Follow him on his thrilling journey across Jingyang Ridge, where he encounters a ferocious man-eating tiger. Can Wu Song handle the beast while under the influence of wine?

大圣闹龙宫（南洋版）

The Monkey King and the Uproar in the Dragon Palace (Nanyang Edition)

Fri, 29 Aug 2025

8.15 pm – 9.15 pm

Archives Reading Room, Level 2, National Archives Building

Sat, 30 Aug 2025

7.30 pm – 8.30 pm / 8.45 pm – 9.45 pm

Atrium, Level 3, National Archives Building

The story picks up after Sun Wukong has completed his journey to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures and is now back on Huaguo Mountain. He soon receives news that ever since he took the Golden Cudgel, the Dragon Palace has been in disarray and that the Dragon King is missing. When he arrives at the seashore, Sun Wukong is shocked to find the ocean severely polluted. He discovers that this was all the work of the Poison Lord! How will Sun Wukong rescue his friends and the Dragon King? Come watch the show to find out!

About the Performing Groups:

Ombak Potehi is a collective of multiethnic young people working to revitalise the endangered Potehi glove puppet theatre in Penang, Malaysia. Under the guidance of Beng Geok Hong Puppet Show, a traditional troupe in Penang, they learned the art of puppet manipulation, narration and music. The group has made Potehi accessible to people of all races, genders, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, promoting cultural exchange among Malaysia’s diverse communities.

Paper Monkey Theatre is a Singapore-based theatre company that blends traditional Asian puppetry with contemporary storytelling. Founded by Benjamin Ho, it creates engaging performances for children and families, nurturing cultural appreciation and creativity. The company is renowned for its innovative puppetry works, educational programmes and vibrant productions that celebrate heritage and imagination.

Find Out More About Chinese Puppetry in Singapore:

Check out the following resources to learn more about Chinese puppetry in Singapore.

Articles

• Chinese Puppet Theatre: Rekindling a Glorious Past – Explore the traditions, challenges and evolving role of Chinese puppetry in Singapore, and the urgency to preserve it.
• The Finger Players – Learn more about The Finger Players, Singapore’s pioneering non-profit puppet theatre troupe founded in 1996 that blends traditional and contemporary puppetry elements and bilingual performances for both children and adults.
• Puppet Passion. The Straits Times, 11 September 1990, Page 5 – This article features an interview with Chye Sin Hong, a Hakka puppet troupe with a 100-year history in Singapore.
• Puppets’ Turn to Shine. The Straits Times, 12 April 2011, Life!, Page 14 – This is a write-up on “Turn By Turn We Turn”, a production by The Finger Players that was inspired by a donation of 187 traditional Chinese hand puppets to the theatre company.
• Last Puppet Theatres of All – This newspaper article examines the decline of traditional Chinese puppetry in Singapore in the late 1970s. While Western puppetry flourished, Singapore's puppet theatre, primarily operated by aging practitioners, struggled to survive due to dwindling audiences, lack of young apprentices, limited support, difficulty in sourcing puppet materials and poor financial returns.
• Chinese Puppetry – Discover the heritage of Chinese puppetry in Singapore, its diverse regional forms, cultural significance and continued practice by local troupes.

Oral History Interviews

• Interview with Foo Tiang Soon – Foo Tiang Soon, co-founder of the Hainanese rod puppet troupe San Chun Long, offers insights into the origins and evolution of Hainanese rod puppetry in Singapore, including San Chun Long’s establishment in 1947 and its cultural significance.
• Interview with Choo Kui Chao @ Zhu Xu – Choo Kui Chao @ Zhu Xu, a pioneer in Chinese theatre in Singapore, shares firsthand insights into traditional glove puppetry in Singapore, and highlights the artform’s cultural significance and preservation challenges.
• Interview with Lee Chye Ee – Lee Chye Ee, a veteran puppeteer and leader of the Hokkien troupe Jit Guat Sin, shares about learning and performing traditional Hokkien glove puppetry in Singapore, and its ceremonial and cultural roles in the community.
• Interview with Ng Yew Kian – Ng Yew Kian, an expert in puppet carving, explains how hand-operated string puppet shows were performed.
• Interview with Tay Lee Huat – Tay Lee Huat, leader of the Teochew puppet troupe Lao Sai Bao Feng, explores the popularity of puppetry performances in the mid-20th century and his family’s puppet troupe.
• Interview with Long Hian Keng – Veteran puppeteer Long Hian Keng sheds light on Hainanese rod puppet troupes in Singapore, their performance practices and religious traditions.

Audio-Visual Materials

• Chinese Puppet Show at Madras Street – Watch a Heng Hwa string puppet performance at Madras Street enacting “Mulian Saves His Mother”, a popular Chinese Buddhist tale.
• 星期二特写 Tuesday Report: Hanging by the Thread – Puppet Masters – This documentary, produced by the Television Corporation of Singapore and broadcast in 1996, chronicles the endangered art of Chinese puppet theatre through the lives of two Singapore puppet masters – Lee Boon Chye and Yang Lai Hao.
• Moving of Poh Ann Keng Temple – Observe the backstage preparations for a puppet performance during Poh Ann Keng Temple’s relocation to Tampines in 2004.
• The Magic Hands – Explore the world of puppetry with Lee Chye Ee, one of the pioneer traditional hand puppeteers in Singapore.
• Chinese Puppetry: Performance for the Gods – Dive into the rich tradition of Chinese puppet theatre, with practitioners sharing the main types of Chinese puppets found in Singapore.

Websites

• Culturepaedia: Puppet Theatre in Singapore: The Finger Players and Paper Monkey Theatre – Explore how contemporary puppet companies like The Finger Players and Paper Monkey Theatre are keeping the art form alive by innovating and blending Eastern and Western theatrical traditions.
• The Esplanade: Hainanese Rod Puppetry: A Vanishing Art – Learn more about the history and practice of Hainanese Rod Puppetry in Singapore in this quick guide.
• The Forgotten Heritage: Uncovering Singapore’s Traditional Chinese Puppets – Get a closer look at Singapore’s traditional Chinese puppets in this virtual gallery.

Publications

• Forgotten Heritage: Uncovering Singapore’s Traditional Chinese Puppets
  Call No.: RCLOS 791.53095957 CHI
  Explore Singapore’s traditional Chinese puppet theatre, a cultural practice that has existed for over a century. This book documents six distinct forms of Chinese puppet theatre: Hainanese rod puppetry, Henghua string puppetry, Hokkien glove puppetry, Hokkien string puppetry, Teochew iron-stick puppetry, and the now-defunct Hakka (Waijiang) string puppetry.
• Vanishing Trades of Singapore
  Call No.: SING 338.642095957 VAN
  This volume on Singapore’s vanishing trades features a chapter on glove puppet master Lee Chye Ee.
• 闽南布袋戏在东南亚与台湾 (Potehi: Glove Puppet Theatre in Southeast Asia and Taiwan)
  Call No.: RSEA 791.530951249 POT
  Learn more about Chinese glove puppetry's evolution across Asia, from its 19th-century roots to contemporary practice in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Singapore. Drawing from diverse historical sources and field research, this book studies how this traditional art form has evolved within different cultural contexts.
• Wayang Potehi of Java (Bu dai xi)
  Call No.: RSEA 791.53095982 PUR
  Discover the evolution of Wayang Potehi in Java from the 18th century to present. This book explores the art form’s historical challenges, performance traditions and the vital role of Peranakan puppet-makers in preserving this living heritage.
• Puppetry For All Times
  Call No.: RSEA 791.530959 PUP
  This is a compilation of papers presented at the Bali Puppetry Seminar 2013, including an article on “Wayang Potehi: Chinese-Peranakan Performing Arts in Indonesia”.
• Asian Theatre Puppets: Creativity, Culture and Craftsmanship
  Call No.: RSEA 791.53095 LIN -[ART]
  Drawing from one of the world's most extensive collections of Asian theatre puppets and artefacts housed at the Lin Liu-Hsin Puppet Theatre Museum in Taipei, this book presents 300 photographs that capture the craftsmanship of theatre puppets from major Asian traditions, with particular focus on Chinese and Taiwanese puppetry. The collection is arranged into four categories based on their manipulation techniques: glove puppets, rod puppets, string puppets and shadow puppets.

Find Out More about General Puppetry:

Check out the following resources to learn more about general puppetry.

Article

• Wayang Kulit – Find out more about wayang kulit, the traditional Javanese shadow‑puppet theatre in Singapore, from its ritual roots and epic storytelling to contemporary performances led by local practitioners.

Audio-Visual Materials

• Making War Horse
  Call No.: 792.0232 MAK -[ART]
  This is a documentary on the National Theatre’s production of War Horse, adapted from the children’s novel by Michael Murpurgo.
• Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
  Call No.: 791.4372 PIN [ART]
  This film presents Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson's Academy Award-winning stop-motion reimagining of Pinocchio, a retelling set in Fascist Italy, where the puppet boy discovers humanity through war, loss and love.
• Thai Puppets & Khon Masks
  Call No.: 791.5309593 NAT -[ART]
  Thai puppets and Khon masks from some of the finest collections are brought together for the first time in this book, which highlights the rich tradition of Thai puppetry and Khon masks in Thai culture and history.

Publications

• Puppetry: A World History
  Call No.: 791.53 Blu
  Get an insightful overview of puppetry, and explore the unique qualities of puppets and their diverse roles in cultures around the world.
• Aspects of Puppet Theatre
  Call No.: 791.53 JUR -[ART]
  This book features a groundbreaking analysis of puppetry as a performing art, revived in a new edition with four additional essays and a fresh introduction by renowned puppetry scholar Penny Francis.

Scan to borrow the e-book: 

• The Well-dressed Puppet: A Guide to Creating Puppet Costumes
  Call No.: 745.59224 LAM -[REC]
  This title is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on creating puppet costumes from scratch, complete with detailed materials lists, equipment guidance and patterns.

Nila’s Shimmering Shores: A Pop-Up Storytelling

8.30 pm – 8.45 pm

Exterior Stairway, Level 2, National Archives of Singapore

About the Programme

Be captivated by outdoor storytelling sessions at the Exterior Stairway of the National Archives of Singapore! Listen to a now-senior Sang Nila Utama as he shares tales from his youth – when he chased a golden deer, sailed through a storm and met a lion on a distant shore.

Continue the imaginative journey with hands-on craft activities at the Children’s Museum Singapore carpark and interactive installations along Fort Canning Rise.

Perfect for families and young adventurers, experience Nila’s Shimmering Shore at the Singapore Night Festival's Children’s Zone, spanning Children’s Museum Singapore, National Archives of Singapore and Fort Canning Rise.

About the Performers

An ensemble led by Gloria Tan, an experienced theatre director and educator celebrated for directing immersive shows for children on the autism spectrum for over 10 years at Republic Polytechnic’s The Republic Cultural Centre. Known for her work in inclusive and sensory theatre across Asia and beyond, Gloria creates meaningful performances that embrace diverse needs.

Explore an exciting line-up of programmes at All Things Singapore! From live music and improv theatre to children's storytelling, ghost tales, film screening and a hands-on craft buffet—there’s something for everyone. Dive into talks on Singapore’s heritage, test your knowledge at trivia night and bingo, or get curious with our DIY card activities. Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of creativity, memory and community during the Singapore Night Festival.

For more information and programmes registration, visit https://go.gov.sg/atsg2025.