Articles

Another Peranakan Milestone – Showing their love for SINGApore

1st photo: President Halimah Yacob taking a photograph with Mr Alvin Yapp, owner of private Peranakan house museum The Intan, as he holds the Singa figurine he designed. 2nd photo: President Halimah and her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, designed a pair of Singa figurines, representing two different generations of Singaporeans. Their figurines are part of the Arts In The City: We Love SINGApore exhibition, which features 200 figurines of Singa the lion. Read here. ...

July 16, 2020

Another Peranakan Milestone – A guide to local favorites in Joo Chiat

The pastel-colored shophouses, homes that resemble museums and traditional eateries here are a window into the rich culture of the Peranakans — the Straits-Chinese families who settled in British Malaya and intermarried with local Malays, forming rich traditions of their own. Joo Chiat today is home to cute new boutiques and some of the best food anywhere in the city, but it has managed to keep alive the culture of the unique ethnic group that once called this area home. Joo Chiat is also a short walk from Singapore’s East Coast, our palm-tree-lined eastern seafront. Read here. ...

July 16, 2020

Another Peranakn Milestone – Peranakan antiques collector driven by ‘pure insanity’

When Alvin Yapp was 14 he saw a play in Singapore that changed his life. It was a Peranakan production that focused on the fraught and comic relationship between a mother and her daughter-in-law. It gave the teen a glimpse of his heritage, but as he didn't speak Malay, he didn't understand the witty repartee. "Everyone was laughing their hearts out, but I was quite clueless," said Yapp, an advertising director, who now runs his own Peranakan museum. "I was just fascinated by all the material objects on the stage."Those props were inspired by Peranakan objects, treasured items made specifically for the descendants of Chinese settlers who journeyed from the mainland to Southeast Asia and married Malay women between the 15th and 18th centuries. Read here. ...

July 16, 2020

Another Peranakan Milestone – Arduous for small domestic pie

Private Peranakan museum The Intan in Singapore has chosen to go down a different avenue to secure revenue. Owner Alvin Yapp said: “We have remained very active online with regular postings, including a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of how the Peranakan culture can fight Covid-19. We found a new way of reaching out to customers via merchandising and F&B – over the past two months, we sold more than 100 sets of Peranakan Batik masks and more than 4,000 Peranakan Chinese dumplings. This has helped us find a new customer base.” Yapp shared that The Intan has found new distribution partners such as The Raffles Arcade mall to carry unique gifts and souvenirs, including a new curated range of merchandise that was created for The Raffles. The Intan is now exploring the creation of an online Peranakan cooking game and masterclasses, as well as kicking off a one-for-one promotion from July 26. Read here. ...

July 16, 2020

Another Peranakan Milestone – Singapore-In-A-Day Itinerary: Restaurants, Museums, Clubs And More

Discover Singapore's unique Peranakan (people of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage) culture at The Intan, a private museum in an unassuming two-storey shop house brimming with the personal collection of seventh generation Peranakan, Alvin Yapp. Plan this ahead of time; visits are strictly by appointment only. TATLER TIP Together with the guided tour, they offer The Intan tea tour or The Intan lunch/dinner tour—with authentic nyonya kueh or hot dishes made by the museum owner's mother. Read here. ...

July 16, 2020

Another Peranakan Milestone – How to have a nostalgic day trip in Singapore, Bangkok & Bali!

Amidst the flurry and bustle of modern lifestyle, revisiting the days of eras past offers a wonderful escape to a simpler time. Discover the enchantment and memories of yesteryear with a nostalgic day trip back in time, and explore the stories of three charming neighbourhoods in Singapore, Bangkok and Bali. Katong, Singapore: A stroll through Katong rewards you with a rich experience, coloured with decades of tales that have transpired since its idyllic seaside beginnings. Stop by at The Intan, a two-storey private home museum tucked away in Joo Chiat. With a name that means ‘rose-cut diamond’ in Bahasa Melayu, the personal collection offers a precious glimpse into the heritage of its owner, Mr Alvin Yapp, a local of Peranakan descent. Sip home-brewed tea and snack on traditional kueh while Mr Yapp regales delightful facts about the Peranakan culture, before taking you on a private house tour. Read more about it here....

September 15, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – 10 Wedding Photoshoot Locations Rich in History and Heritage for Timelessly Elegant Photos

Besides being a cosmopolitan city, Singapore is also full of history. Hidden amongst the urban skyscrapers and bright city lights, historical buildings built during the colonial times can still be found. The city has found ways to preserve these hidden gems and they stand remarkably strong till this day. Today we share with you 10 wedding photoshoot locations in Singapore that are not only filled with so much history, they make amazing backdrops too! Surrounded by bits and pieces of Peranakan history, The Intan is a Peranakan home -museum owned by an antique collector, Alvin Yapp. For couples who were brought up in a Peranakan family, this venue will not only be a good photo opportunity, but a chance for you to explore more of the fading culture. Read more about it here....

September 13, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Education at the heart of the Peranakan Museum

With natural sunlight flooding the lobby of the Peranakan Museum, visitors may find that the building's central area is reminiscent of a typical courtyard in a Peranakan home. However, the 105-year-old building in Armenian Street never functioned as a house. Instead, it was home to the many Tao Nan School pupils who received a modern education at the Chinese school for seven decades, from 1912 to 1982, before the school moved to its current location in Marine Parade. Read more about it here. ...

August 16, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Peranakan Fragance (Peranakan Oud)

About "Peranakan Oud" : Peranakan Oud is the very heart of our collection. This unisex, deep soul-searching, unexpected and poetic scent is a collection of unique and surprising olfactory notes, which freely explore new facets of emotion. "Peranakan Oud" is inspired by the Peranakan culture and takes its base notes from Oud combined with soft Tonka bean, Praline and Green Tobacco leaves. Peranakan males are known as "Babas" and females are known as "Nonyas". Oud oil is distilled from Agarwood, and is one of the most expensive ingredient in perfumery. Perhaps it is also the most mysterious. Peranakan Oud- This is a unisex fragrance, designed for Peranakans, Malays and visitors from Europe and Gulf. Read more about it here....

August 14, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – The Intan welcomes you onboard Singapore Airlines!

Recently we were approached by Singapore Airlines (SIA) to be a part of their new safety video, and we said yes! We are proud to be a part of the amazing production. Join us and the Singapore Girl as she brings you on a journey around Singapore! Watch the full video here....

August 8, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Culture Meets Modern Arts

The Peranakan motif has managed to find its way into modern contemporary pieces, including collaborations with movie memorabilia. One example, he said, is their popular Peranakan-meets-Star Wars porcelain pieces, which combines traditional and pop culture without shouting “Singapore”. Of the 1,800 pieces they produced late last year, only 200 of these are left. Read more about it here....

August 7, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Chef Damian D’Silva

A series of restaurant and stall closures over the years has not deterred Singaporean chef Damian D'Silva from making yet another comeback in the local dining scene. The 61-year-old known for turning out soulful and heritage Eurasian and Peranakan food is now the executive chef of Folklore at three-month-old hotel Destination Singapore Beach Road. The restaurant opens today. Expect wholesome and hearty offerings from Singapore's five dominant ethnic groups - Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and Peranakan. Read more about it here....

July 27, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Peranakan Culture at Changi Airport Terminal 4

SINGAPORE — Peranakan culture will take centrestage at the new Changi Airport Terminal 4 (T4) heritage zone, where passengers will be treated to art and a short film showcasing the culture. The Heritage Zone in the departure transit area pays tribute to the evolution of Peranakan Heritage from the 1880s to the 1950s, and features an art façade replicating shophouses similar to those in Katong and Chinatown. On the three-storey façade is a 10m-by-6m LED screen spanning two shophouses, on which a six-minute theatrical performance of a Peranakan Love Story set in 1930s Singapore will play. Developed in collaboration with Singaporean composer and artiste Dick Lee, Peranakan Love Story narrates an unlikely romance between two young musicians living next to each other, and boasts a Singaporean cast including acting veterans Adrian Pang, Koh Chieng Mun, Amy Cheng and Benjamin Kheng. The main act is set to the song Bunga Sayang, also composed by...

July 26, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Precious old tiles given a new life

The rector's two-storey residence at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd has about 10 different designs and colour variations of floor tiles dating to about 1910. "We were amazed that such intact flooring still existed. It is a rare showcase of such tiles from the turn of the century," said Mr Ho Weng Hin, 42, a partner at architectural consultancy Studio Lapis, which restored the tiles as part of the major restoration of the 174-year-old cathedral that was completed last year. Every tile was made by hand, with the patterns inlaid using a cement mould. The designs are at the transition between the international Art Noveau style - abstract designs that drew inspiration from nature - and Art Deco, which featured bolder shapes and colour. Read more about it here. ...

July 23, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – 7 Reasons Museums Should Share More Experiences, Less Information

How do objects speak to us when we visit museums? Most of the time, an object's only voice is translated through a neatly-hung, factually-dense label. I have a lot of respect for well-written museum labels, but labels are not going to keep our institutions relevant in a changing world. Today’s audiences crave unique EXPERIENCES that have the ability to do much more than inform. Now more than ever, when we decide to leave the house, we want to be surprised, moved, enlightened, and even transformed. Text on giant colorful panels. Text on animated touch screens. An interactive here and there. I'm not saying that exhibit design can't be dynamic, but I do think we museum people are still too in love with disseminating information. This includes the “walking labels” in the form of guided tours. Read more about it here....

July 21, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Ovidia Yu

A series about a food-loving Peranakan sleuth named Aunty Lee is one of veteran writer Yu's many literary pursuits. Both a playwright and an author of novels, Yu, 55, is a household name in the local scene. Outside of Singapore, she has had her Aunty Lee series published by HarperCollins. It has been released in both the UK and the US, with imprint William Morrow publishing the series in the US. Her latest work is The Frangipani Tree Mystery, released in Britain in June this year. Set in Singapore in 1936, the book's protagonist is young Peranakan detective Su Lin, who helps the Britain-born Chief Inspector solve a series of murders. Recommended book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery Read more about it here. ...

July 20, 2017

Another Peranakan Milestone – Peranakan eateries going casual

SINGAPORE – Peranakan cuisine is often associated with pricier restaurants, but this may soon change as more eateries offering the heritage food are opting to go the casual route. In the last year, at least seven Peranakan eateries have opened and more than half have chosen to go casual and mid-range. Find out more about it here....

July 16, 2017

Changi Museum ranks as top museum in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Changi Museum has snagged the top spot in TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice awards under the 'Top 10 Museums in Singapore' category for the second year running. According to the travel website, Changi Museum is also the only winner from Singapore to be featured in the Asia list. It is ranked 16th in Asia, moving up five spots from its previous ranking of 21 in Asia last year. Check out the full article here....

October 3, 2016

© Government of Singapore

51st Singapore National Day Reception in Shanghai

The Consulate-General hosted the 51st Singapore National Day Reception on 5 August 2016 at the Fairmont Peace Hotel. The main Guest-of-Honour at the event was Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Vice Mayor Mr Chen Yin. A copy of CG Loh Tuck Wai’s speech at the reception can be found here. Check out the full article here....

October 3, 2016

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Islamic Arts Museum is one of Asia’s top museums

The Islamic Arts Museum has been ranked the top museum in Malaysia by TripAdvisor and No.8 in Asia. In the recent Travellers’ Choice awards for Museums, the museum in Kuala Lumpur is commended for its role in preserving Islamic art. “With over 10,000 artefacts from China, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and Iran, the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur is South-East Asia’s largest museum of Islamic art,” TripAdvisor revealed. The travel site also recommend stopping by the Bird Park, National Planetarium and National Mosque when visiting the Islamic Arts Museum. Check out the full article here....

October 3, 2016

Copyright 2016 The Atlantic Monthly Group.

Why Free Museums Matter

There’s an exhibition catalog on my bookshelf that catches my eye whenever I swivel in my chair. On its cover is the Waterloo Bridge, cloaked in fog, sunlight forging a path through and unrolling a white path on the water below. Since 2004, I’ve carried it with me from one apartment to the next, from Detroit to Chicago to New York. My grandmother had taken me to an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario, a retrospective that pulled works by Turner, Whistler, and Monet into conversation. Check out the full article here....

October 3, 2016