The museum has been closed for four years due to rennovations (All photos: Peranakan Museum Singapore)
After nearly four years of renovations, the Peranakan Museum at the Singapore Art Museum will reopen its doors to the public this month. The completely refurbished building will feature new permanent galleries presenting exceptional objects from Peranakan material culture and a fresh exhibition design and museum visitor experience.
Visitors can gain greater insight into the diverse Peranakan cultures of Singapore and Southeast Asia through new thematic showcases, objects, interactive displays and programmes.
Over the last four years, the museum has worked closely with various Peranakan communities to explore lesser-known aspects of this unique hybrid culture and contemplate the question, “What is Peranakan?” Interviews, stories and contemporary expressions will showcase living cultures — such as those of the Arab Peranakans, Chinese Peranakans, Chitty Melakans (or Peranakan Indians) and Jawi Peranakans — while anchoring these cultures, with their distinctive customs and practices, within the context of the larger Malay-Indonesian world.
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Visitors will experience nine galleries across three floors, which examine three grand themes about facets of Peranakan identity: Origins, Home and Style.
Besides familiar and well-loved artefacts and set pieces, the museum will also premiere an extensive range of new objects acquired or generously donated to it over the last decade.
This article first appeared on Jan 23, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
