On 1st and 2nd February 2020, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH) celebrated and ushered in the Year of the Rat with their Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020! There were also two outdoor installations titled “Lunar Guardians” joining them to celebrate the Year of Rat at SYSNMH!
The two “Lunar Guardians”, 2.5m in height sculptures, they are a tribute to the art of Chinese lion dance culture. If you are an anime fan like me, you would find them similar to the “mecha” design, a contemporary hybrid of tradition and anime combining together, showcased by the two “Lunar Guardians” at SYSNMH!
While the virus created uncertainties and changes to the Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020 programme, it did not dampen the festive spirit and crowds at SYSNMH, celebrating and enjoying Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020. The lion dance performance is a top attraction for all the visitors to SYSNMH, especially for the young children!
At the Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020, I also visited their newly revamped permanent gallery at level 2, on Chinese business pioneers, their history and contributions to Singapore’s growth.
New! Revamped Permanent Gallery 4 – Chinese Business Pioneers
They have left their marks in Singapore, from road names, to schools, institutions and buildings. Chinese business pioneers have played an important and significant role in the contribution and growth of Singapore.
At the newly revamped permanent gallery 4 – Chinese business pioneers at SYSNMH, visitors are able to know more about the early pioneers, their contributions to Singapore through business/economic activities, education, community organisations, publishing and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
I am an alumni of one of the Chinese business pioneers contribution to education in Singapore. It was known as the Anglo-Chinese Free School, founded in 1885 by Mr Gan Eng Seng, now known as Gan Eng Seng School today. Their legacy continues till today and beyond.
This revamped permanent gallery 4 speaks great volume beyond the textbooks and stuff that we learn about our early Chinese business pioneers. Who are the 23 Chinese business pioneers featured in the newly revamped permanent gallery? I would like to invite you to visit this gallery and learn more about them.
From Brush to Lens – Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore
There is another exhibition currently ongoing at SYSNMH, if you are a photographer or a fan of film photography, I highly recommend you to plan a trip to SYSNMH and check out this exhibition! Photography in the early days didn’t get as much limelight as paintings, calligraphy and artworks, yet they captured lots of history, heritage and culture of Singapore, the people and surroundings, from the early 20th Century.
While visitors do get to view many different photographs across the various museums in Singapore, the role and contributions of photography in Singapore during the early days didn’t get much attention, awareness and publicity that this exhibition currently being held at SYSNMH showcases to the public.
The exhibition, From Brush to Lens – Early Chinese Photography Studios in Singapore, ends on 3rd May 2020! Do plan a trip to SYSNMH and visit this exhibition, don’t forget to visit the newly revamped Permanent Gallery 4 on Chinese Business Pioneers!
For more information on Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall,
Website: https://www.sysnmh.org.sg/en
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sysnmh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sysnmh/