Past, present and future collide in Malay Heritage Centre's new exhibition

"Artefacts are gateways into the past which inform our future." *inserts name of philosopher*

And that's something you'll experience at Malay Heritage Centre's (MHC) latest exhibition, Cerita (stories in Malay), which throws the spotlight on the stories and narratives of life in the Nusantara (Malay Archipelago).

Cerita, which runs till July 31 as a complement to the MHC's annual Malay CultureFest, consists of two curated galleries: One entitled Kita (which means "us") which explores the region's influence on the local Malay community, and another Me-reka (which means "crafting") that focuses on the unique craft traditions that have shaped our culture.

As a Malay, I had an excellent opportunity to gain fresh insights and perspectives on my own heritage. Plus, it's a chance not to be missed as this is MHC's final big event before it closes its doors temporarily for a revamp later this year.

Past - a reflection

Cerita draws stories together in a retrospective showcase, letting you and fellow visitors reflect on the past, and reimagine a new future together. 

Featuring over 80 exhibits, including artefacts from the National Collection as well as loans from international institutions and various community contributors, the showcase truly is a comprehensive journey into Malay history and heritage.

Some of the exhibits from the Kita gallery (shown above) depict the everyday life, customs and traditions of the Malays throughout history, while artefacts from the Me-reka gallery (shown below) spotlight the ingenuity of early craftsmen, highlighting some of their inventions which are still in use today.

My personal favourite artefact was, hands down, getting to see the original score of our national anthem Majulah Singapura. Talk about getting up close and personal with history:

Present - a celebration

Along with the exhibition, Malay CultureFest 2022 will also take place with on-site and online activities that celebrate Malay culture and performing arts in Singapore and its intricate links to the Nusantara.

Malay CultureFest puts the focus on honouring the past while providing a means for present-day expression. You can also look forward to a number of performances, workshops and forums including:

• Sentosa di Kubah Hayat featuring Ramli Sarip (Feb 5)
  Enjoy some of the greatest hits and recent music from local rock icon Ramli Sarip. Book your tickets here.
• Bangsawan Workshop (Feb 13)
  Bangsawan is a type of traditional Malay opera or theatre accompanied by music and dance. Participants can practice their flair for acting and learn various character archetypes found in the traditional Malay Bangsawan at this immersive workshop experience.
• Lintas Nusantara x Silat: Balada Nusantara (Jan 30, Feb 4)
  The 10th installation of Lintas Nusantara is a dance performance that is also love letter to silat - an ancient martial art form practiced across the Nusantara. Catch the showcase online on MHC's Facebook page. 

Future - a reimagination

While it is important to pay homage to our past, we should also not be afraid to embrace the future.

It is in this spirit that MHC has worked closely with 50 students and lecturers from the Nanyang Polytechnic School of Design & Media to produce 10 digital animation videos reimagining the classical Malay folk tale, The Attack of the Garfish, a popular story from the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals).

These digital works will be displayed as part of the Cerita exhibition alongside the historical artefacts, and highlight the fresh and engaging perspectives of the younger generation in retelling Malay history.

Malay CultureFest 2022 and Cerita special exhibitions will run from Jan 29 to July 31. For more information, click here.

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.