Draw your face here
Name:
LET’S HEAD OFF ON A JOURNEY! Complete your quest using the map and pencils provided. Along the way, circle your favourite objects, and discover which port city you should choose for your next adventure. Look closely. You never know what you might find. Are you ready?
out
INTERPRETIVE SPACE
INTEGRATION
CONVERGENCE
ENTRANCE
DIVERGENCE
PORT
in
Design inspired by a Baju Kurung made in the Malay Peninsula in the late 19th or early 20th century.
1. INTEGRATION
HELP MR CHAIR On these chairs, craftsmen have carved highly lifelike floral and animal designs. They look so real that a bird, an angel, and a makara have flown away! Find them and make the chair complete again.
angel
Chair Made of ebony on the Coromandel Coast of India. in the late 17th century
makara
bird
The makara is a sea monster, usually with the head of an elephant and body of a fish. It is a symbol of strength and abundance. Can you think of a famous Singaporean icon that is made from different animals?
Create your own mythical creature. Why did you choose the animal parts that you did?
Use these illustrations to help you:
Circle your favourite object to find out your next vacation destination.
A
Betel set Old Chinese porcelain put together with gold, silver, and niello in Sulawesi in the late 19th or early 20th century. Betel is believed to have medicinal effects, and was often used in social gatherings. What do you do with your friends?
B
Armchair Made from katsura wood in Yokohama, Japan, in the early 20th century. Dragons and lions are strong, majestic creatures. Play a game with your friends – how many other lions and dragons can you spot in this exhibition?
C
Tiara-comb Crafted from gold, silver, copper, and rock crystal in Goa, India, in the late 18th century. This hairpiece features two large eagles, often believed to be a symbol of protection. Can you see them?
Design your own T-shirt inspired by the objects on the previous page. Who are you designing the T-shirt for?
Use these illustrations to help you:
Drawing of a wall clock made in the Netherlands in 1790.
2. CONVERGENCE
STOP AND STARE Can you find this keris sheath? What is the first thing you noticed?
Circle the words you feel best describe it.
Powerful
Shiny
Mystical
Dangerous
Beautiful
Sharp
Notice the wave-like patterns. These are called pamor, and are believed to possess magical powers.
Sheath of a Keris Made in Java, Yogyakarta, in the mid to late 19th century, from wood, gold, steel, and diamonds.
Draw your own pamor on the sheath.
What magical powers would yours have? Why?
Circle your favourite object to find out your next vacation destination.
A
Keris Made in Yogyakarta on Java in the 19th century, out of antler, gold, steel, and diamonds. The blacksmith who made this is believed to have infused it with magical properties. Do you believe it?
B
Shaving basin Made in Japan, in the early 18th century, from porcelain When rinsing your face after shaving, you put your neck into the curved part of the bowl. Isn’t that an interesting design element?
C
Decanter case with bottles Box was made in Batavia (now called Jakarta), and the bottles in India, in the 18th century. The bottles might have been used to store spices, oils, perfumes, or medicines. What would you store in them?
LET’S PLAY DRESS UP! 1. Choose your character and tear along the dotted lines. 2. Style his/her outfits with your favourite pieces. 3. Fold in the tabs to fix the clothes on and voila! 4. Don’t forget to tag us on @acm_sg.
fold back
fold back
fold back
fold back
Design inspired by a ritual hanging cloth from Coromandel Coast, India, and tailored in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Draw a living room filled with some of the objects you have seen so far! How is this different from your actual living room at home?
Drawing of a silk kimono made in Japan in the late 19th century.
3. DIVERGENCE
#OOTD NOT! Wealthy people in the past had paintings made to document their lives. They did not have cameras, and these paintings took a long time to complete. How long do you think it took?
months
Days
Hours
Much like how we share our selfies with our friends on our social media walls, these paintings were displayed on the owners’ (real) walls! For these paintings, people put on their finest clothing and showed off their most prized possessions.
This painting shows Cornelia van Nijenroode, who was born in Japan, and her family. Her father was Dutch and her mother Japanese. Can you spot Cornelia? Why do you think that’s her?
Painted by Dutch artist Jacob Coeman, in Batavia, in 1665. The painting is usually in the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam.
Oh no! The artist accidentally included items that didn’t belong to the 17th century. Find them.
Circle your favourite object to find out your next vacation destination.
A
Hikayat Abdullah Autobiography of Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir. Published in Singapore in 1848. Collection of National Library Board, Singapore This book provides a snapshot of life in Singapore and the region in the 19th century. What would your history book say about you?
B
Inner robe India, tailored in Japan, 17th or 18th century. Some objects you have seen really travelled! The fabric for this robe was made in India, and then sent to Japan, where it was tailored into its current shape. What do you have that has been to at least two different countries?
C
Necklace Crafted from gold and rudraksha seeds in India in the 20th century. Brought to Vietnam. Worn only by men, the gold part of this necklace is decorated with majestic animals and mythical creatures. What do you think they might represent?
Draw your own port city.
4. PORT
THIS IS IT! If you have chosen...
Mostly
As
Mostly
Bs
Mostly
Cs
Your next adventure should be in
the Malay Archipelago!
Your next adventure should be in
Japan!
Your next adventure should be in
India!
Glossary
Emporium A centre of commerce. Integration Coming together in a social group as equals. Betel A chew prepared with areca nuts, betel leaf, and lime powder. Convergence Come together from different directions to meet at one place.
Keris A Javanese word for dagger. Sheath A protective cover for a sharp object like a dagger. Divergence Go in different directions. Autobiography History of a person’s life, written by that person.
Programmes for
Port Cities: Multicultural Emporiums of Asia, 1500-1900 Drawn to Art
Fridays, 11 November, 2 December, 13 January | 7 to 9pm | Free admission There’s more than meets the eye. Delve deeper into the objects, and yourself, as an artist takes you through a journey of exploration. Registration is required. Limited spaces available.
Curator Tours
Fridays, 18 November, 16 December, 20 January, 17 February | 7.30 to 8.30pm $25 per session, book at ACM Front Desk or Peatix (http://acmcuratortours.peatix.com) Join exhibition curators Peter Lee or Naomi Wang to hear their thoughts and get exclusive behind the scenes insights into port cities across Asia.
Fun-tastic Fridays
Fridays, 2, 9, 16, 23 December | 12 to 4pm | Free admission Embark on a voyage to faraway ports and unravel the mysteries of the past through exciting interactive character tours and crafts.
Saturdays@ACM X 398.2 Storytelling Festival Saturday, 3 December | 11am to 6pm | Free admission
Voyage across the seas as master storytellers from 398.2 Storytelling Festival transport you into a world of fascinating tales. Saturdays@ACM is a free family-friendly programme that happens first Saturday of the month. Join us on other dates – 5 November 2016, 7 January, and 4 February 2017.
Director’s Travel Journal – Talks by Kennie Ting Fridays, 9 December, 14 January | 7 to 8pm | Free admission
Visit historic port cities with ACM director, Kennie Ting. Journey through time, and explore what remains of the old cities in the contemporary ones.
Director’s Tour
Friday, 6 January | 7.30 to 8.30pm $50 per session, book at ACM Front Desk or Peatix (http://acmcuratortours.peatix.com) Enjoy an extra special visit by joining an exclusive tour led by museum director Kennie Ting through the new exhibition, Port Cities: Multicultural Emporiums of Asia, 1500 -1900.
Rojak! Weekend Festival
14 and 15 January | Saturday, 1 to 9pm | Sunday, 1 to 5pm Free admission (includes free entry to special exhibition) Kick-start your year with a weekend of art, food, and music! Have your future told or lepak on the ACM green with local films and an art and food bazaar.
Secret Party
From 6 to 19 February | Weekdays, 7pm, 8pm | Weekends, 6pm, 7pm $99 per person (includes food, drinks, and entry to the Port Cities exhibition) Dance your way through a sensorial feast that will leave you wanting more. Polish off the night with signature cocktails created just for the event by our mixologist. A night of mystery and sensuality awaits. Kid-friendly, family programmes
This trail is inspired by the objects featured in the Port Cities exhibition. Developed by the Asian Civilisations Museum Audience Department Š Asian Civilisations Museum, 2016
Asian Civilisations Museum 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555 www.acm.org.sg