Day 2 - Set Task

So here is the Q&A for the set task we had to do at the museum. the 'A' part is based on my opinion or perception as there could be a right and wrong but not exact answer.

What are the major cultural groups of Singapore? How are they represented in the Museum (what tools, patterns, symbols, images etc)?

The major cultural groups of Singapore are Malay, Chinese and Indians.

1st approach - As for their representation in the museum....I felt like there were many artifacts that represented  the major cultural groups and if so if i had missed some, I'de say they would be best identified under similar motifs. Afterall, what I saw were artifacts from each of the cultural groups but each of them had different items and there wasn't much of a bases to try and work off since there weren't any similar artifacts between the groups.

2nd approach - The Malays represented them selves with tools such as weapons, accessories and sculptures. The Chinese displayed instruments, clothes and attire and interesting migration documentation. As for the Indians, portraits and furniture -___-"

Malay Tribe weapons

Chinese instruments

Traditional Chinese clothes

List some of the traditions (of each group) and how have they been kept in the face of progress. Why and how are they kept alive?

For traditions being kept in the face of progress, I'm assuming that these traditions could be referring to manners and respect of how things were done back then such as tasks or recipe methods. They're being kept alive so that history is kept alive, which is especially common in family lineage and also applies to recipes as some traditional recipes can only be created using spacific cooking methods. For manners or methods of doing things, a bit like the recipes, they could be or are kept alive for making everyday tasks and chores easy to carry out in the present and as for manners, to show respect, An example, respect towards your elders.

Do you see similar motifs/patterns/symbols occurring throughout all cultures? sketch or take a photo of the motifs so that you might use them in your work.

Yes I do see similar motifs symbols throughout the different cultures but am not 100% sure on the patterns. There were many floral motifs applied to the many artefacts, weather it was engraved or carved. Animals, people or even insects could be seen within some of the designs as they were elements for symbolism within the culture of the belonging artefact. Many of the symbolism is related to Buddhism.  An example can be seen in the traditional Chinese attire above. Butterflies can be made out within the design and the symbolised protection against evil.

Traditional Malay necklace with engraved floral motifs

How do each of the cultural groups and their traditions vary from your own cultural traditions? How are they the same?

This is an interesting question. I particularly come from an Asian background and because many of the cultural traditions share similar traits in being Buddhism I couldn't say that they vary too much to my cultural traditions really. Like, to pick out some differences, each different culture is represented with different animals such as Chinese Buddhism with Dragons and Phoenixes and Hindi Buddhism with cows and elephants or how some rituals, especially with burial rituals, can vary. Similarities, probably the floral motifs or how the burning of in-scent sticks and even some paper items for the afterlife and for the gods.

What is your favourite object/image in the museum and why?

My favourite artefact would have to be the Chinese Pipa.

This guitar like instrument is one of China's oldest instruments, dating back to 2000 years or more. It is called a Pipa because the sounds produced sounded of 'pi' and 'pa' and is played standing vertically, which is evident of the angled string attaching handle which acts as a form of shoulder placement. What I like about it is that it produces a unique sound when the strings are plucked and the instrument still exists today and is still played. It reminds me of the operas that my mum use to listen to when I was a kid and the way it is played is elegant.

On appearance as well, it looks like symbolism has been applied as the angled handle looks like a dragonfly motif has been applied.