Visitors can look forward to a multi-sensorial experience of enchanting sights, sounds, and even magical companions, in this voyage spanning 700 years of Singapore’s history.
Following a ten-month closure, the National Museum of Singapore will be unveiling the first of its revamped permanent galleries – the newly-named Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda. Presented as the National Museum’s SG60 gift to the nation, the space will feature a multi-sensorial experience titled Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, which replaces the former Story of the Forest installation.
Chronicling the major milestones in Singapore’s 700 years of history, the experience is presented through special animations and interactives, in a personalised and immersive journey that allows visitors to experience Singapore’s history from a fresh perspective.
Experiencing 700 years of Singapore’s history in four episodes
Blending history, art, and technology, Singapore Odyssea takes shape as an evocative time-travelling voyage through Singapore’s history that centres on the sea as an ever-present witness and enabler of our country’s evolution.
Designed by local creatives, Singapore Odyssea offers visitors a vivid overview of the nation’s journey over 700 years. Spotlighting key moments of our history, layered with local stories and myths associated with the origins of Singapore, the installation gives cultural and historical context to Singapore’s identity, adding depth and enhancing appreciation for its place in the region and the world. Visitors can look forward to ‘setting sail’ from an imagined future Singapore to our pre-colonial beginnings:
- Opening: Glimpse of the Future – Singapore as a futuristic, green and connected city
- Episode 1: Setting Sail – Scenes from independence to present-day Singapore
- Episode 2: Riding Out the Storm – Scenes from wartime and postwar Singapore
- Episode 3: Age of Exploration – Scenes from colonial Singapore
- Episode 4: Shores of Singapura – Scenes from pre-colonial Singapore period
The journey begins as visitors ‘board’ a time-travelling vessel, taking in the futuristic view of the Singapore skyline from the ‘cabin’, which sets the stage for their trip back in time. Stepping into the gallery, they will be greeted by a stunning light show anchored by a suspended LED globe – the first of its kind in a Singapore museum. Immersing the room in vibrant hues of blue, the scene transitions into a two-minute show that maps the intricate network of maritime routes that have connected Singapore to the rest of the world over the years.
Visitors continue their journey as they descend the spiral ramp, time-travelling in reverse chronology through pivotal chapters of Singapore’s history. They will encounter visual wall projections that come alive through animated scenes and rich soundscapes, offering an immersive glimpse into key moments such as Singapore’s first National Day Parade before wartime evacuations, and ancient coastal communities.
The journey culminates at the base of the Glass Rotunda, where a cinematic digital waterfall curtain parts to reveal pivotal moments from Singapore’s history as visitors approach towards it. The dynamic floor also responds to visitors’ movements, with each step creating ripples on the surface that interact with surrounding ripples generated by others. This interactive and fully immersive experience is enhanced by a curated sound design, creating a powerful crescendo to the voyage.
Sustainability as a thematic undercurrent
Singapore Odyssea continues the conversation on environmental awareness previously sparked by Story of the Forest, showing how Singapore’s identity has been shaped by its natural environment and the sea – from the lives of coastal communities from early Singapore, to the nation’s post-independence greening efforts and visions of future climate resilience.
Time-travelling with your companion
One of the pivotal elements that mirrors this focus is the presence of magical companions that serve as visitors’ guides throughout the showcase. By picking up a personalised RFID-enabled wristband at the start of the showcase, visitors can ‘adopt’ one of nine companions, each inspired by Singapore’s native fauna.
Whether it is a forest-dwelling pangolin, a coastal crab, or a sky-gliding hornbill, these companions respond uniquely to their visitor’s movements and environment by lighting the path forward, triggering hidden animations, and deepening emotional connection at every turn.
As visitors approach the concluding section, they are invited to release their RFID-enabled companions at a digital ‘well’. This symbolic gesture reinforces the adage that what is borrowed from nature should be returned with care – a call to action to build a sustainable future for both people and the real-life counterparts of these companions. This experience is featured alongside immersive media where myths of legendary creatures such as the giant tide-moving crab and the magical tree of life Pauh Janggi are reinterpreted. These offer poetic entry points into today’s urgent ecological conversations that frame climate change, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss not as isolated modern concerns, but as part of Singapore’s long and evolving story.
Opening to the public on 8 August
The Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda will officially open its doors to the public on 8 August. Admission to Singapore Odyssea is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Singapore Odyssea will run alongside other complementary showcases happening in the lead-up to National Day – including the commemorative exhibition Once Upon A Tide that explores Singapore’s maritime evolution from settlement to global city, and a curated series of programmes for the National Day Celebrations at the National Museum of Singapore on 9 August 2025. These include community-built LEGO installations, digital and hands-on art activities, live performances, and a spectacular evening projection show, Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey, on the façade of the museum.
📅 Starting 8 Aug 2025
📍 Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda, National Museum of Singapore
🏷 Free for Singaporeans & PRs | Ticketed for General Visitors
To ensure everyone can enjoy the full Singapore Odyssea experience comfortably, admission into the experience is by timed entry. Please secure your preferred time slot when you book your tickets. Visit our website for more information.
For more information, visit here.
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