The Lighter Side of Singapore In Pursuit of Everyday Joys
Magical Mini Museums of Singapore There are some nifty little museums around Singapore that are definitely worth checking out. One common theme of the three that I’ve chosen is the deep passion the curators have for their collections. Their zealousness is indeed infectious and you will come away with not only a greater understanding of their unique pieces, but also a deep appreciation as well. Vintage Camera Museum Next time you’re galavanting around Kampong Glam, check out the Vintage Camera Museum. You can’t miss it as the museum is a giant white camera-shaped building. You’ll discover a collection of over 1000 amazing antique cameras including rare finds like a Japanese Machine Gun Camera, a huge six-meter Mammoth Camera and James Bond-style spy cameras. Our guide even showed us light-weight reconnaissance cameras that were attached to pigeons, the original drone cameras! Be prepared to spend about a full hour here marveling over the cameras and historic photographs on display. Marta and I enjoyed the fond memories of the first cameras we used as kids and also goofing around with the interactive Click Art portion of the museum.
by Sandy Harford
charming display of over 40 music boxes. My husband, Rob, and I were lucky enough to have a private tour by the collector himself, Mr. Mr Naoto Orui. He took us back in time to when music boxes were prominent symbols of 19th and 20th century European culture. Brought up by his grandfather in Nagoya, Mr Orui was surrounded by rare antiques and cuckoo clocks which created a desire to find out how things tick. Scouring flea markets in Germany and Switzerland, he started collecting and restoring music boxes. Incredibly ornate music boxes would stand on first class train platforms in London where you would throw a coin in to hear the magical notes of the William Tell Overture. Alas, Mr. Edison came along with his gramophone which ushered in a brand new era and end to music boxes. Thankfully, there are passionate people around, like Mr Orui, who have preserved these lovely treasures to share with us. www.singaporemusicalboxmuseum.org
www.vintagecamerasmuseumsg.com
Beatles Display at the Musical Box Museum
Vintage Camera Museum
Singapore Musical Box Museum This delightful museum is housed in a beautiful UNESCO former Chinese girls school right next to one of Singapore’s oldest temples. Upstairs from the Peranakan cafe is a Marta "greeting" LKY at Camera Click Art 30
AWA Magazine May/June 2022
