Developing the Peranakan Museum for Singapore – challenges in representing
a fusion culture.
The development of the Peranakan Museum is a good case study of a museum centred on
the culture of a minority group in Singapore. The term ‘Peranakan’ is of Malay origin
and was originally used by the indigenous Malays to refer to the immigrant communities
that had settled and intermarried with other races in Southeast Asia, largely during the
period of colonial expansion in Southeast Asia from the 16
th
to early 20
th
century. The
Peranakan phenomenon is by no means a unique development in Singapore, with many
different hybrid communities in the different port cities of Southeast Asia. However, as a
very large majority of Peranakans are of Chinese descent, the term Peranakan has largely
been synonymous with ‘Peranakan Chinese’ and is used as such for the purpose of this
paper.
The Asian Civilisations Museum is developing a National Museum that will focus on
both the material and intangible aspects of the Peranakan culture. The new museum will
capitalise on the unique material culture of the Peranakan Chinese, dating largely to the
late 19th - early 20th century from the colonial Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca
and Penang. It will also explore the links between these communities and other less well
known Peranakan communities in the wider Southeast Asian region, as well as integrate
contemporary Peranakan culture, in order to engage the younger community and address
the relevance of what is often perceived to be a dying culture. Recent revivals of
Peranakan Chinese culture in Singapore and Malaysia in the last two decades, has
generated a diversity of views on how it should be represented today.
The challenge of addressing the often contested issues of culture and identity in modern
Singapore, requires an holistic and inclusive approach that addresses all segments of the
community. Thematic galleries will also challenge stereotypical perceptions of the
culture and will explore certain aspects more widely. Religion, for example, can be seen
as a fluidity of different belief systems within the Peranakan Chinese communities. The
new museum will create a sounding board for a range of views that will sustain interest in
this unique culture.
Developing the Peranakan Museum for Singapore – challenges in representinga fusion culture.The development of the Peranakan Museum is a good case study of a museum centred onthe culture of a minority group in Singapore. The term ‘Peranakan’ is of Malay originand was originally used by the indigenous Malays to refer to the immigrant communitiesthat had settled and intermarried with other races in Southeast Asia, largely during theperiod of colonial expansion in Southeast Asia from the 16thto early 20thcentury. ThePeranakan phenomenon is by no means a unique development in Singapore, with manydifferent hybrid communities in the different port cities of Southeast Asia. However, as avery large majority of Peranakans are of Chinese descent, the term Peranakan has largelybeen synonymous with ‘Peranakan Chinese’ and is used as such for the purpose of thispaper.The Asian Civilisations Museum is developing a National Museum that will focus onboth the material and intangible aspects of the Peranakan culture. The new museum willcapitalise on the unique material culture of the Peranakan Chinese, dating largely to thelate 19th - early 20th century from the colonial Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malaccaand Penang. It will also explore the links between these communities and other less wellknown Peranakan communities in the wider Southeast Asian region, as well as integratecontemporary Peranakan culture, in order to engage the younger community and addressthe relevance of what is often perceived to be a dying culture. Recent revivals ofPeranakan Chinese culture in Singapore and Malaysia in the last two decades, hasgenerated a diversity of views on how it should be represented today.The challenge of addressing the often contested issues of culture and identity in modernSingapore, requires an holistic and inclusive approach that addresses all segments of thecommunity. Thematic galleries will also challenge stereotypical perceptions of theculture and will explore certain aspects more widely. Religion, for example, can be seenas a fluidity of different belief systems within the Peranakan Chinese communities. Thenew museum will create a sounding board for a range of views that will sustain interest inthis unique culture.
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