It all started with a conversation four NTU undergraduates had about the kampungs (villages) their parents came from. That prompted a desire to find out more about their parents lives in their kampungs which was to lead to a wonderful initiative the four have undertaken to connect young Singaporeans with their heritage through a series of roadshows and other activities and through encouraging the young to have conversations with their parents.
Mr Hazawi Daipi and the four NTU undergraduates, taking a trip down the avenue to the 1960s. The four undergraduates are (L-R): Candy Tan Hui Shi, Koh Xin Yue Karen, Phang Su Hui and Tan Huay Peng.
Some of their efforts can now be see at an exhibition ”Avenue 1960s: Stories of Live, Laugh, Love in Singapore”, which was opened by Mr Hazawi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower at The Arts House yesterday. The exhibition, which runs until 23 February 2014, gives the take of the four with the help of five apsiring artists, on the lives of the generation of their parents during the nation-building years.
Mr Hazawi Daipi opening the exhibition.
The exhibition also features the works of five aspiring artists.
An exhibition panel on transport in the 1960s.
Together with the opening a forum, jointly organised with REACH, was also held last evening with the aim to stimulate further discussion on Singapore’s heritage among the youths. Chaired by Mr Hawazi Daipi and Dr Chua Ai Lin, President of Singapore Heritage Society, the forum saw the opinions of both young and old being shared in a lively discussion that started with an attempt to define what the term ‘heritage” should mean.
Mr Hazawi Daipi and Dr Chua Ai Lin chairing last evening’s forum.
About Avenue 1960s:
Organised by four undergraduates of the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, the
exhibition is an outreach event for “Avenue 1960s”, a social campaign that aims to connecting young Singaporeans aged 17 to 25 with their heritage.
To find out what their peers think about the Singapore heritage, the organisers conducted heritage roadshows in four polytechnics and university campuses to reach out to these students. They were encouraged to find out about their parents’ childhood stories through a series of postcards that were distributed. These postcards, along with written Post-it notes that contain what young Singaporeans love most about the 1960s, would be on display at the exhibition itself.
Also featured in the exhibition are seven artworks created by five local aspiring youth artists. Inspired by Singapore’s social scene and life back in the
1960s, these artworks collectively illustrate youths’ interpretation of how life was like back then.
Exhibition Details
Dates: 19 February 2014, 6pm (Official Launch)
20 – 23 February 2014, 10am – 9pm
Venue: The Arts House, The Gallery
1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
Programme Highlights
‘Avenue 1960s’ at The Arts House is a week-long exhibition, which provides a sneak peek into life in Singapore in the 1960s. Featuring “Live Town”, “Laugh Lane” and “Love Way”, the differently themed information panels aim to explore the poignant aspects of kampong life, such as common traditional games and the “kampong spirit”. Supported by various collectors, the exhibition includes a display of artefacts – basic necessities of Singaporeans back then.
Postcards as well as dedications from youths will be installed at the exhibition, where visitors can look at youths’ opinions of Singapore heritage. Artefacts of daily household items that belonged to a kampong kitchen will be in the exhibition. Lastly, artworks produced by five aspiring youth artists will also be showcased. These artworks bear special meaning as they illustrate how young Singaporeans’ interpret life back in the 1960s.
There will be a traditional kite-making workshop on 22 Feb (Sat), where participants will get a chance to make kites from scratch, just like how children from kampongs of the past used easily available materials such as rattan and recyclable plastic bags.
To find out more, visit www.avenue1960.sg or www.facebook.com/avenue1960s.
Filed under: Events, Singapore
