We are what we eat…
The National Museum of Singapore’s Food Gallery examines the ways in which the street food sold by hawkers from the 1950s to the 1970s reflected the country’s ethnic diversity and cultural innovations. Since everything but actual food could be present in the gallery, gsmprjct° relied on sounds and aromas to immerse the visitor in the experience of eating on the street. A backdrop of coloured jars highlights the display of installations including street food-related artefacts, fragrant spices used in local dishes, and nostalgic accounts of the past that open up unusual perspectives into the everyday lives of Singaporeans.
Bringing gsmprjct°’s expertise in intercultural understanding into play, the Food Gallery is one of 4 award-winning Living Galleries designed by the company to present the social history of Singapore and define its people through lifestyle themes that remain close to their hearts. The Living Galleries are lighter museum fare featuring the high energy, impact, easy browsing, and interactivity that appeal to the younger generation, who are not traditionally museum-goers. Four specific themes were chosen to represent the history and social evolution of Singapore — food, fashion, photography and film. Each gallery is divided into two sections —a statement installation and behind-the-scenes workshops — enriched by artefacts and objects that embody the evolution of a society over the last century.