A new exhibition by the Founders’ Memorial, opening at the National Gallery Singapore, invites visitors to rediscover how Singapore’s multicultural identity was forged and continues to evolve.
Singapore, 24 October 2025 – In celebration of SG60, the Founders’ Memorial presents Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore, an exhibition held at the City Hall Chamber of the National Gallery Singapore from 31 October 2025 to 29 March 2026.
The exhibition takes visitors back to 1950s–1970s Singapore, a formative period when the nation’s multicultural identity was actively shaped through government policies, community initiatives, and the everyday interactions of its people. It raises thought-provoking questions on how multiculturalism was debated and lived, inviting audiences to consider what this value means today and how they contribute to its continuing story.
Following its 2023 pilot exhibition, Semangat yang Baru: Forging a New Singapore Spirit, Not Mere Spectators, marks the Founders’ Memorial’s second experimental showcase. It continues to test curatorial and engagement formats ahead of the Memorial’s official opening in 2028. Through art, multimedia installations, and interactive elements, the exhibition explores the founding value of multiculturalism and its enduring relevance in Singapore’s national identity.
Professor Tan Tai Yong, Co-Chair of the Founders’ Memorial Committee, explained, “This pilot exhibition, together with the other initiatives of Project Citizens – The First Million, is a key part of the Founders’ Memorial’s continued public engagement efforts. We enter a deeper exploration of the decisions, dilemmas, and lived experiences surrounding multiculturalism and how this value defines and shapes Singapore. The conversations and insights gained will bring us closer to the vision of the Memorial as a shared space that belongs to Singaporeans of all walks of life.”
A focal point of the exhibition is the historic Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat (“People’s Cultural Concerts”), a series of open-air performances launched by the Ministry of Culture in 1959 to promote cultural harmony. At the finale of National Loyalty Week on 9 December 1959, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew addressed the crowds gathered on the steps of the former City Hall, calling them “not just mere spectators” but “active participants” in building a nation that belonged to all—a phrase that inspired the exhibition’s title.
These concerts, which showcased Singapore’s diverse cultural expressions on one stage, serve as both a starting point and a metaphor for the nation’s multicultural journey—intentional, participatory, and continually evolving.
Veteran Indian dance pioneer Dr Uma Rajan, who performed at Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat and contributed to the exhibition, reflected: “My experience participating in Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat helped me understand and develop myself as a true multiethnic Singaporean. It was more than just arts and culture development; it brought us closer as a people as we were learning how to be a cohesive and harmonious society. I hope that through this exhibition, younger Singaporeans can gain insights into our heritage and the efforts that went into developing our multicultural identity.”
Visitors can expect an engaging mix of multimedia presentations, artworks, and interactive features at the City Hall Chamber. Highlights include:
- A two-minute immersive animation on Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat by Finding Pictures, and a three-part audio play by playwright Kaylene Tan, inspired by S. Rajaratnam’s 1957 radio series A Nation in the Making;
- Artworks such as Eating on Banana Leaves (1979) by Chua Mia Tee and Lovers on a Train (2021) by Yeo Tze Yang, offering reflections on connection and difference;
- Motion-sensor dance projections and a photobooth featuring Singapore’s shared community spaces;
- Artefacts, including original 1966 correspondence on the National Pledge between Ministers Ong Pang Boon and S. Rajaratnam;
- Personal narratives of interracial relationships, adoption, and the 1964 racial riots, alongside historical and contemporary “aunt agony” letters from interracial couples published in both English and vernacular media.
Not Mere Spectators ultimately invites visitors to re-examine the ideals that shaped Singapore’s early years and consider how the nation’s founding values continue to guide it today. The exhibition concludes with a reflection space that links the words of the National Pledge — “one united people” — to contemporary experiences of living in a multicultural society.
