"Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore," a one-of-a-kind exhibition produced by the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), brings the heart of the Malayalee community in Singapore to life. Visitors are welcome to explore the rich legacy, culture, and identity of the Malayalees, a community profoundly woven into the tapestry of Singapore's history, from November 25, 2023 to September 15, 2024.
This revolutionary exhibition, co-created with the Malayalee community, is the first to fully focus on the Malayalees' journey from their historical roots to their arrival in Singapore. Ms. Maria Bhavani Dass, General Manager of IHC, explains the exhibition's theme: "Ente Veedu means'my home' in Malayalam. We welcome everyone to hear their experiences and explore conceptions of home and identity from the Malayalee community's perspective by co-creating this exhibition with them."
Malayalees are the second-largest sub-group of Singapore's Indian population, hailing from the thriving state of Kerala. Malayalees, a diverse group of Hindus, Muslims, Syrian Christians, Roman Catholics, and others, played an important role in Singapore's development, contributing to fields like healthcare, community services, politics, defence, and law.
The exhibition, which includes over 200 items from the National Collection and other institutions, brings visitors through four separate zones.
Explore the origins and roots of Singapore Malayalees through star artefacts such as a decorative elephant caparison or nettipattam, which is used in Kerala festivities. This artefact is being displayed in public for the first time.
Ente Singapore: My Singapore: Explore the contributions of Malayalees as they settled in Singapore, highlighting the locations in which they lived, worked, and played. The only pair of Malayalam palm leaf manuscripts in the IHC collection are highlighted, emphasising the importance of their mother tongue.
In a Malayalee Home: Celebrate Malayalee customs and traditions by exploring intimate areas and personal artefacts on public exhibit for the first time, such as the traditional gateway of a Syrian Christian house.
Malayalees in Singapore: Through black-and-white images, chronicle the lives of Malayalee pioneers. The show culminates with a video piece, "Being Malayalee: Voices of the Future," created in conjunction with youth wings and presenting insights into modern Singaporean Malayalee identity.
The Malayalee community's participation in co-creating the exhibition provides an intimate peek into their life and culture, showing personal experiences and anecdotes never previously told in public. This feature is consistent with the National Heritage Board's Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, which encourages more Singaporeans to take an active role in honouring their heritage.
a. 5 Campbell Ln, Singapore 209924
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