More than six thousand kilometers from Singapore, in a region of Yemen known as Hadhramaut, Singaporean sambal belachan is served at meals in some families and men in sarongs are commonly sighted. Back in Singapore, names such as Aljunied and Alsagoff are part of the landscape in building and street names. These names belong to Hadhrami migrants who came to Singapore from the nineteenth century and onwards. Rihlah (Arabic for “journey”), a temporary exhibition, explored these important ties between the Hadhramaut and Southeast Asia.
Tasked with transforming the narrative of a community’s history into a visually immersive experience, gsmprjctºcréation drew inspiration from the dramatic contrast between the Hadhramaut and Southeast Asian landscapes. Life-size panoramic photographs of the arid Hadhramaut desert stand in contrast to the lush greenery of Southeast Asia displayed on the opposite wall, providing a striking setting for the artefacts, family photographs and heirlooms on display.
Between these two landscapes, a replica of a traditional Arab dhow ship evoked the experience of travelling overseas, with its barrel-shaped audio stations playing personal accounts from Hadhrami migrants. Nearby, as though finally landed at their final destination, cargo crates stamped with the names of stopover ports were creatively used as showcases for artefacts testifying to the Hadhrami presence abroad.
Finally, the Madaarah programming space emulated the style of a typical Hadhrami living room with its Arab rugs, incense burner and fabric print walls depicting typical Hadhrami architectural motifs. Its light and adaptable design made it flexible and portable, facilitating travel to outreach libraries.