Syonan Gallery is no more; exhibition to be renamed after “strong reaction”

Photo: National Library Board / Facebook
Photo: National Library Board / Facebook

It is done; the revamped gallery depicting the Japanese Occupation in Singapore will remain, but the highly polarising “Syonan Gallery” title will be changed, as stated by Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim on Friday.

The name change of the gallery – now known as the less concise “Surviving the Japanese Occupation: War and its Legacies” – was made two days after both Dr Yaacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted the public outcry over the name. They were clear on their stance that the name was “a reminder of the traumatic period that Singapore must not forget”.

Addressing this issue (and apologising for the oversight) in an official press statement, Dr Yaacob stated: “Over the past two days, I have read the comments made on this issue, and received many letters from Singaporeans of all races. While they agreed that we need to teach Singaporeans about the Japanese Occupation, they also shared that the words “Syonan Gallery” had evoked deep hurt in them, as well as their parents and grandparents. This was never our intention, and I am sorry for the pain the name has caused.”

In the same statement, he added: “I have reflected deeply on what I heard. We must honour and respect the feelings of those who suffered terribly and lost family members during the Japanese Occupation. I have therefore decided to remove the words “Syonan Gallery” from the name of the exhibition, and name it “Surviving the Japanese Occupation: War and its Legacies”.

 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also addressed the issue on Facebook, asserting his hopes that many will visit the exhibition to “never forget the events that so profoundly impacted our lives and shaped our society.”



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