Asian Civilisation Museum

Asian Civilisation Museum

(亚洲文明博物馆)

General Description

I have recently visited quite a few of the local museum and they have all surprised me in term of their wide collections and the new experiences I gained after every visit I made to these museum. One of the latest museum visit is to the Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM) which is unique in a way that it is the first museum in the region to present a broad yet integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilisations. After my visit, I have a better appreciation of the rich cultures that make up Singapore’s multi-ethnic society. It surprised me that as an Asian and Singaporean, there are so much that I do not know: about my own roots, its culture and so much that I would like to know about. The trip definitely a good start for any new visitors to Asia and Singapore to know more about its culture and even for locals to know deeper about its own roots and other Asian cultures.

Singapore is a melting pot of many cultures. While Singapore’s forefathers came to settle in Singapore from many parts of Asia within the last 200 years, the cultures brought to Singapore by these different people are far more ancient. This aspect of Singapore’s history is the focus of the ACM. The Museum’s collection therefore centres on the material cultures of the different groups originating from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia.

The ACM building was one of the oldest part of the Empress Place Building and it had quite a rich history. It was used previously by various Government departments. At one time, it housed virtually the entire colonial bureaucracy and was known simply as Government Offices. Subsequent additions were made to the building which was renamed Empress Place Building in 1907 to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria, Empress of India. After Singapore attained self-government in 1959, the building continued to house Government offices including the Registry of Citizenship, the Immigration Department, the Muslim Religious Council of Singapore and the Board of Commissioners of Currency. All the offices were relocated in the 1980s and the building was converted to become the Empress Place Museum in 1989. The building subsequently underwent a second, more major renovation and reopened on 2 March 2003 as the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

The Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place opened on 2 March 2003. Occupying over 14,000 square metres at the newly-restored Empress Place Building, it houses 11 galleries which showcase over 1300 artefacts from the Museum’s growing collections on the civilisations of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia/ Islamic. These collections include recent acquisitions as well as artefacts inherited from the historic Southeast Asian ethnographic collection of the former Raffles Museum. The Southeast Asian collections are broad in scope and are rich in ethnological material. Representing the aristocratic art of ancient Southeast Asia are Khmer sculptures, Javanese temple sculpture (some on loan from Leiden), later Buddhist art from Burma/ Thailand and the Sinicised temple art of Vietnam. Peranakan gold, textiles, tribal ornament and theatrical masks are other strengths of the collection. The Chinese collection is represented by fine Dehua porcelain figures, Taoist and Buddhistic statuary, export porcelain, calligraphy and other examples of decorative art.

Spread over 11 galleries and three levels, the ACM, departing from the traditional chronological approach, the story of Asia is showcased in themed galleries integrated with multimedia and interactive components. Virtual hosts, in-gallery videos and our interactive ExplorAsian zones are incorporated in the galleries as guideposts which help visitors learn more about the multi-faceted aspects of Asian cultures. The South Asian Galleries feature statuary from a broad spectrum of periods including some fine Chola bronzes. Of particularly note is the Chola bronze sculpture of Uma, the consort of Shiva and that of Somaskanda. The early Buddhist art of India is also represented by works hailing from the Mathura and Gandhara schools. The red sandstone Mathura Buddha of the museum’s collection dated to the Kanishka era is rare and masterful work. Other areas of note include South Indian woodwork, Nepali-Tibetan bronzes, textiles, late medieval miniatures and colonial prints. Certain gallery rooms are also used for temporary exhibitions.

There are many different events and exhibitions showcasing in ACM every year. Visitors can enjoy a programme of changing special exhibitions throughout the year.

ACM Empress Place houses a café and a restaurant, a museum shop, fully-equipped auditorium and a function room with a spectacular view of the Singapore River.

Suggested Tour

Time spent: Half a day to whole day.

Day to visit: Any day including Raining day.

Combined with:  Singapore River, The Merlion, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Raffles Statue, Parliament House,The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore River Cruise.

Open
Monday: 1pm – 7pm

Tueday to Sunday: 9am – 7pm. (Friday extended to 9pm)

Admission

Admission charges may vary during special exhibitions
Adult: SGD$8

Consession: SGD$4 (for full-time students and those 60 years and above)

Note:

• Free Admission to children 6 years and below, Monday – Sunday.
• Free Admission for Senior Citizens (age 60 years and above) every Monday.
• Discounted admission on every Friday, 7-9pm.

Attractions

See the colorful exhibitions and exciting events that are/will be held.

Location
1 Empress Place
Singapore 179555

Getting There

By MRT

* Preferred method to get there.

Take MRT to Raffles Place. ACM Empress Place is a 5-minute walk from the Raffles Place MRT station.

By Car
Public parking is available along Empress Place next to the Museum building; at the basement carpark of the New Parliament House, at Six Battery Road and at One Fullerton across from the Fullerton Hotel.

Contacts

Tel: (65) 6332 2982 or (65) 6332 7798
Fax: (65) 6883 0732
Email: nhb_acm_vs@nhb.gov.sg

Website:

Asian Civilisation Museum