A swinging time
The National Museum of Singapore is tracing the development of playgrounds in the citystate from the 1930s to the present, while opening a dynamic, toddler-friendly installation commissioned from French designer Matali Crasset.
The More We Get Together will look at the designs and trends found in playgrounds, from the iconic dragon playgrounds of the 1970s to today's inclusive and community-built sites.
The exhibition opens on the early 20th century, when Singapore had few designated playgrounds and children played in any open space they could find. Community-initiated playgrounds soon began emerging, and in the 1950s and 1960s playgrounds featuring slides, swings and seesaws were a key element of public housing estates.
As the exhibition moves to the 1970s and neighbourhoods, with designs that were distinct to Singapore and took inspiration from its heritage and culture.
In the 1990s and 2000s, playgrounds increasingly aimed to offer adventurous yet safe play for thrill-seekers, while moving toward a more inclusive, intergenerational approach to space.
For those who grew up in Singapore, the exhibition promises a chance to relive childhood memories, while for others, it will shed light on how Singapore has defined its playgrounds – in terms of both equipment and their meaning for society.
Visitors will be able to explore playground surfaces, look at blueprints of mosaic playgrounds, hear from people who have built these playgrounds or are building them now, and even design their own.
Visitor feedback will also be used in the creation of the National Museum of Singapore's own playground, to be built later this year. hands-on and play activities also abound, such as a rope play structure and chances to test out safety equipment.
Among highlights is Matali Crasset's colourful, interactive installation The Dynamic Lines Of Our Nest, which invites visitors to twist a central pole to create a mobile above a toddler playpen, while offering a shared space for families to “nest” and recline.
The More We Get Together Singapore's Playgrounds 1930-2030 runs at National Museum of Singapore till Sept 30. – AFP Relaxnews