The Asian Civilisations Museum is no longer the dark, spooky place it used to be after a major renovation started almost a year ago (and still ongoing). You can see it for yourself this weekend as it keeps its door opens for 24 hours on Nov 14 & 15.
The first thing you’ll notice is that ACM got bigger. It’s not your mind playing tricks on you — a three-storey annex has been buillt on what used to be a carpark. On its second level is the Scholar in Chinese Culture Gallery, which focuses on objects associated with revered Chinese scholars, the courts of emperors, and merchants who sought to emulate them.
The Riverfront Wing features a new entrance, a nod to the Singapore River, the first stop for many of the peoples, cultures, and religions that came to the island way before we were a British colony.
On the ground level is the light-filled Khoo Teck Puat Gallery where you can view the star attraction of ACM: the Tang Shipwreck Collection, a virtual time capsule of treasures from 9th century China, hidden from the world until its discovery in 1998. There’s mass-produced and rare ceramics, gold and silver objects, and the oldest blue and white porcelains made of cobalt glaze.
Download the ACM VR app for free to enjoy a virtual reality experience of the Tang Shipwreck. With the aid of a virtual reality viewer ($10 at the shop lobby), you can pretend to be a member of the crew on the ill-fated ship, or a marine archaeologist recovering the cargo.
“This is an extremely exciting milestone for the ACM, as we unveil the first phase of our major renovations and renewal,” says ACM director Dr Alan Chong. “This renewal is the culmination of a long process of planning and collection building that is focused on the connections between Asian cultures, and between Asia and the world.”
The revamp also begins a fresh take on the museum’s content. Instead of being organised geographical regions, the collections are now grouped by themes.
And for those who hate getting lost inside museums, there is the location-enabled ACM app which gives visitors relevant content in the palm of their hand. Visitors can walk up to selected objects and experience stories and added content on their mobile device. It also offers self-guided tours, behind-the-scenes views, and interactive maps.
For the lineup of activities on Nov 14 & 15, visit www.acm.org.sg. Free admission on those two days.
Photo: Asian Civilisations Museum
