Local non-profit educational and cultural organisation Alliance Française de Singapour presents AROUND THE WORLD, a highly engaging exhibition that showcases the best of French transportation across the ages. Inspired by French author Jules Verne and his famous Extraordinary Voyages collection which includes the celebrated novel, ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, the exhibition is an irresistible invitation to travel, running till 15 July 2023.
Following protagonist Phileas Fogg's challenge in the novel, visitors are invited to transcend time and space, travelling around the world via air, land, sea or space. They will have the opportunity to explore different eras of transportation, gaining insights into the evolution of French engineering and innovation. Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted at the Itinerary Office where they will be invited to write the first pages of their own extraordinary journey.
Visitors can start their journey with air travel and witness some of the most iconic aircrafts that have played a significant role in shaping modern air travel. One such artefact is a model of the world’s first supersonic passenger-carrying commercial airplane, Air France's Concorde, which still holds the record for some fastest commercial flight journeys today, embodying French art de vivre at its finest. Guests are encouraged to reminisce the craft in its glory days through Concorde’s original menu, tableware or beauty pouch on display.
Travelling next with land transportation, visitors will be invited to discover France’s intercity TGV, an acronym for Train à Grande Vitesse. Duly named the ‘high-speed train’, he holds the world record for speed and is constantly pushing the limits of high-speed rail technology globally. TGV M (“M” for modular), the newest generation of high-speed trains is also presented, providing a forward-looking lens into the future of higher energy saving and more cost-efficient modes of land travel.
The next part of the journey will lead guests to the fascinating world of French sea transportation. A model of the SS France will celebrate the epitome of French excellence, recalling how the longest Trans-Atlantic liner at the time, a record held for 42 years, charmed sea passengers in the 1960s with her luxury, beauty and grace, up till her very last journey in 1974.
The last room of the exhibition takes visitors on a journey beyond Earth and into the vast expanse of space. Here, guests will gain a first-hand, immersive experience of space travel through a Virtual Reality experience. ‘Dans la peau de Thomas Pesquet’, literally in the shoes of Thomas Pesquet, allows them to explore space like never before, with the French European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, famous for spending six months in the International Space Station.
Every visitor to the AROUND THE WORLD exhibition will also stand the chance to win an Air France Singapore-Paris flight ticket. To participate, visitors simply need to submit their entry ticket and complete a quiz about the exhibition. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, explore, and win at AROUND THE WORLD!
In addition to the captivating AROUND THE WORLD exhibition, Alliance Française de Singapour will be hosting a dynamic series of activities throughout the duration of the MOVE! Programme, their tenth French Excellence programme. Alliance Française de Singapour invites guests to explore the past, present and future of French transportation and is accompanied by a series of talks, film screenings, workshops and activities for kids.
Notably, there will be an immersive wine tasting workshop, hosted by the multi-Michelin-starred French restaurant, Les Amis, as a nod to the role of Michelin in French transportation, led by Mr. Hervé Pennequin, who ranked third in the 2004 Sommelier World Championship.
Guests who wish to dive deeper into the future of transportation can attend a talk by Professor Jean-Marie Tarascon from the Collège de France, who will be speaking on the theme “Transportation Tomorrow”.
Around the World | VR Experience | Dans la Peau de Thomas Pesquet, visit here.
For more information about Alliance Française de Singapour and information on booking tickets, visit here.
a. 1 Sarkies Rd, Singapore 258130
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