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Sharjah 24
21-05-2025
- Sharjah 24
Exhibition at HoW showcases history of geography, cartography
13 centuries of exploration The exhibition showcases 13 centuries of exploration through the manuscripts and books of renowned Muslim explorers who traveled across vast distances, circumnavigating the seas; driven by an insatiable curiosity and a passion for discovery and knowledge. On a journey that traces back the evolution of geography and cartography, visitors will be able to view rare manuscripts, hand-drawn maps and detailed scenes, offering the opportunity to learn about Ibn Battuta's three-decade travels, Ibn Jubayr's diaries that recorded his observations across Jerusalem, Egypt, Hijaz, Najd, and Iraq; among others. The exhibition also explores Al-Yaqoubi's geographical perceptions, and highlights the incredible contributions to navigation by Ibn Majid, who relied on the stars to determine directions on the open seas. The history of cartography A key highlight of the exhibition is a chronological experience that takes visitors to the 12th century AD, showcasing the brilliance of Muslim geographer Al-Sharif Al-Idrisi. His renowned 'Inverted' or South-Oriented Map, which is oriented with the south at the top in line with the prevailing tradition of honouring Mecca as the centre of the world, was not only a geographical and artistic marvel but also an ambitious scientific project commissioned by the Norman King Roger II of Sicily to draw a precise map of the world. It is considered to be one of the most significant cartographic achievements of the medieval ages, given the stunning detail that made it one of the first scientific attempts to map the world on a systematic and methodological basis. The chronological timeline continues through the 14th to 16th centuries, a key period in cartography, marked by a shift from south-up to north-up orientation. The change was influenced by the translation of Ptolemy's 'Geographia', as well as the discoveries of Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and other European explorers. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the exhibition explores advancements in precise measuring instruments such as telescopes, theodolites, and marine chronometers, highlighting their impact on improving cartographic accuracy. The 20th century saw the new surge of aerial photography, remote sensing technologies and satellite imaging, which provided the first space-based full images of Earth from outer space, and thanks to innovations, digital cartography has become a vital tool for urban planning, environmental monitoring, and global communication. The Third Millennium and the Digital Age At the beginning of the 21st century, Google Earth and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) reflected the pinnacle of modern geography. These tools transformed cartography from eye-witness accounts to the digital world which relies on tools like satellite imagery and LiDAR scanning to provide high-resolution 3D mapping for Earth's surface, in addition to AI technology that enabled AI data processing to offer real-time data analysis. This leap in development created new horizons for global exploration, and transformed geography into a universally accessible resource of knowledge. Google Earth allows users to reorient maps with the south on top, echoing Al-Idrisi's 12th-century 'Inverted' or South-Oriented Map. Exploration has evolved from physical travel to virtual journeys that transcend borders, offering immersive access to the vast expanse of human knowledge. Featuring four sections, namely; 'Journeys in Ink: The Art of Islamic Travel and Geographic Literature'; 'Al-Idrisi: Mapping the World'; 'Navigating the World: Tools of the Trade'; and 'From Scrolls to Screens: Travel and Mapping in the 21st Century'; the exhibition is held in collaboration with Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, the Sharjah Museums Authority, the Manuscripts House in Sharjah, and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Saudi Arabia. 'Chapters of Islamic Art: Travelogues' bridges the past and present, proving that curiosity knows no borders, and by highlighting the legacies of Muslim explorers and cartographers, Sharjah's House of Wisdom invites the public to see geography not just as maps, but as a testament to humanity's timeless quest for connection and understanding.
Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Sail up the Singapore River and back in time at National Museum's new exhibition Once Upon A Tide
The National Museum Of Singapore's new exhibition, Once Upon A Tide, traces the country's growth via the sea and its waterways. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Sail up the Singapore River and back in time at National Museum's new exhibition Once Upon A Tide SINGAPORE – Sail up the Singapore River and back in time at the National Museum Of Singapore's new exhibition. Once Upon A Tide, which opens on May 24, traces Singapore's growth via the sea and its waterways. The story arc melds a tribute to SG60 with a potted history of the nation as the show is serving double duty during its run. The Singapore History Gallery will be closed at the year's end for a revamp and will reopen in late 2026, so Once Upon A Tide will be the museum's anchor show in the interim. Mr Daniel Tham, 44, the museum's principal curator for pre-colonial and colonial Singapore, says the sea references and fairy-tale element of the title are deliberate. 'We want to reference our interest in storytelling as a museum. We are also referencing Singapore's identity as an island, the importance of the sea and, later, the centrality of the Singapore River.' Hence, the show begins with artefacts that literally map out historical references to the island now known as Singapore. Mr Tham says: 'We asked the question, 'Has Singapore always existed?' We're commemorating 60 years as a nation, but obviously, Singapore's history goes further back. How far back does it go?' Pretty far back as the items on display suggest. The earliest reference is in second-century Greek astrologer and geographer Claudius Ptolemy's illustrated Geographia, which famously calls the Malay Peninsula 'the Golden Chersonese'. A 16th-century reproduction print of Ptolemy's map is displayed alongside stone tools unearthed at Pulau Ubin. These prehistoric adzes possibly date back 3,000 to 5,000 years. They were collected by Major P.D.R. Williams-Hunt, then the acting director of Museums for the Federation of Malaya in the late 1940s to early 1950s. This first section of the exhibition also includes interactive displays where visitors can try locating Singapore on old maps which refer to the island variously as Singapur, Cinca Pura and Sabana. Mr Tham notes that even if the island was not identified, the straits of Malacca and Johor, major waterways in the region, would be charted. The island's strategic position and the role of the Singapore River in its history form the next part of the story, and so the exhibition space has been designed to mimic the river, with a corridor that branches off into two tributaries for the subsequent chapters. There is some effort to contextualise the British arrival, with a display that includes antique weaponry referencing the violence that marked colonisation in the region. Mr Tham notes: 'The British arrival in Singapore wasn't marked by warfare, unlike in other places. But at the same time, local accounts mention sepoys being present with muskets.' The National Museum Of Singapore's new exhibition, Once Upon A Tide, traces the country's growth via the sea and its waterways. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The main focus, however, remains on how trade, people and technology flowed through Singapore waters, supporting its development through the 19th and 20th centuries. How Singapore got bigger – literally and metaphorically – forms a running theme for the rest of Once Upon A Tide. The chapter titled Expanding Horizons will intrigue visitors who think of reclamation as a recent modern phenomenon in Singapore history. The first major land reclamation project was undertaken in the 1880s by the British colonial government. Telok Ayer Bay was filled in with soil dug from Mount Wallich. Look out for old photographs taken of the area before, during and after the process, as well as a map documenting urban planning for the reclaimed land. A more familiar narrative comes in the chapter titled Flows Of People, which showcases the stories of early immigrants. These range from Chinese labourers to Indian civil servants. Mr Tham highlights a gift from the family of police constable Lall Singh, who came to Singapore as part of the Sikh contingent. This includes a typewritten letter from Mr Singh to the colonial authorities in India, requesting his retirement pension be sent to Singapore, as he had chosen to remain here. Once Upon A Tide closes with more current items, some of which were gathered as part of the museum's Collecting Contemporary initiative. These include Olympic champion Joseph Schooling's autographed swim trunks and athlete Shanti Pereira's bright fuchsia running shoes. There are also highlights from Singapore's cultural icons, from an outfit by designer Benny Ong – who dressed Britain's late Princess Diana – to musician and Cultural Medallion recipient Margaret Leng Tan's iconic toy piano. These items reflect how this island nation has made its mark on the wider world. As Mr Tham says: 'The show's opening is a bit mysterious – it asks if you can find Singapore in these old maps. Then you sail through the river, and you see Singapore's development as it's mirrored by the story of the river. Eventually, you sail out into the open sea with a bit more of our recent history, and we talk about how Singapore has made an impact on the world.' Book it/Once Upon A Tide Where: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road When: May 24 to Oct 9, 2026, 10am to 7pm daily Admission: Free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, from $18 for foreigners Info: Five highlights at Once Upon A Tide 1. Daguerreotype of Singapore, showing a view of Boat Quay (1844) An enlarged version of a 1844 daguerreotype of Singapore showing a view of Boat Quay at National Museum's exhibition Once Upon A Tide. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Blink and you will miss this tiny oval daguerreotype tucked into a display with a couple of antique weapons and views of Singapore. This is one of the earliest surviving photographs of Singapore. Shot from Government Hill, now Fort Canning Hill, it shows Boat Quay, packed with warehouses and buildings. As an international port for goods, Singapore was also plugged into global technological flows. This image was taken just five years after the daguerreotype photographic technique was invented. 2. Skyline of Singapore in 1976 (1977), oil on canvas Lai Kui Fang Lai Kui Fang's painting of Singapore's skyline from the 1970s at Once Upon A Tide. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG This large painting, measuring 151.5cm by 339cm, is a photorealistic bird's-eye view of the Singapore River and Central Business District. Everything from the then spanking new OCBC Centre to the Boat Quay shophouses to tiny buses are rendered in careful detail. It is a snapshot in time, capturing the massive and speedy development of the area in the short decade following Singapore's independence. Beyond its value as a historic document, what is also fascinating is the question of how Lai created this astonishing panoramic view. There is no single spot at that point in time where the artist could have stood to see this view, so he must have recreated the landscape from his imagination. There is also no single vanishing point on the canvas, with all the buildings, bumboats and buses in sharp focus. It is an impressive feat. 3. 1881 map of Singapore by Henry Edward McCallum, with handwritten annotations by H.T. Haughton A map of Singapore at Once Upon A Tide. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Henry Edward McCallum is responsible for designing the Raffles Museum, now the National Museum of Singapore , and introducing electricity to Singapore. As colonial engineer of the public works of the Straits Settlements (1885 to 1897), he also produced this detailed map of Singapore's bustling city centre. Pay attention to the map's title, and you will see the signature of Hancock Thomas Haughton, a civil servant who held multiple positions, including collector of land revenues, and who worked with McCallum. What is more intriguing are the notations in red, marking out road name changes for the land reclaimed from the Telok Ayer basin that became Singapore's Central Business District in the 19th and 20th centuries. You can see amendments where Robinson Quay became Robinson Road, and further extensions for Raffles Quay. 4. Diorama depicting a coolie room in the 1900s (c.1983), wood and metal Mar Edjawan, Elmer Gernale and Arthur Concepcion Miniature figurines depicting life in the time at Once Upon A Tide. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Visitors of a certain age will recognise this diorama, a traditional style of museum display in the 1980s and 1990s. It was one of several dioramas the museum has saved from its old displays and captures in lifelike detail the quarters of coolie labourers. Check out the narrow three-tiered bunks, which crammed people in cheek by jowl. In real life, each bunk bed might even have been shared by two men sleeping in shifts, depending on their work schedules. 5. Majie Leong Kun Toh's samfoo top and trousers (mid-20th century) cotton and silk Traditional Chinese patchwork baby carrier (c.1950) fabric A mannequin with a black-and-white samfoo and a traditional Chinese patchwork baby carrier at Once Upon A Tide. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG This charming display will intrigue crafters. The baby carrier is a beautiful example of practical home sewing, with an attractive triangle patch pattern and straps that are quilted for strength and comfort. Note the touch of decorative embroidery on the straps. The conservator sewed a baby doll to display this carrier, making sure it was lightweight so as to reduce wear and tear on the fragile fabric. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
