Immerse yourself in playful nostalgia at National Museum of Singapore (NMS)’s new experiential pop-up. Happening from Jul 5, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025, Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play is a toy-themed showcase that will relive childhood memories and create new ones for the young and old.
Centred on toys and play, the pop-up brings together artists and collectors to share the fascinating stories of childhood toys across generations through an immersive showcase, large-scale artworks and digital gamified experiences.
It is developed as part of the NMS’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative which aims to showcase and collect memories and objects from recent decades. It also encourages visitors to explore the museum while it is undergoing restoration and upgrading works.
In fact, the temporary spaces and hoardings have become part of the pop-up. Five large-scale, interactive artworks by local artists adorn the museum’s facade. Serving as a prelude to the showcase, the artworks take visitors on a journey of collecting and the joy of toys in our lives.
Tiffany Lovage (Night Shift) and Candice Phang (Joy in the Making) illustrate the process of bringing toys into reality, while Shian Ng (Playtime Pandemonium) and Muhammad Izdi (Flea-ting Moments) capture the excitement of people getting their hands on toys. Kristal Melson’s When I Was Big encapsulates how toys cement themselves among our fondest memories as we grow up. Each of the artworks features interactive and tactile elements for visitors to “play”.
Toys galore
Inside, visitors are greeted by a tunnel housing a digital parade of toy figurines by local artist Lioncolony (also known as Oh Jia Hao) which are modelled after his iconic Gman character. From life-sized tamagotchis to Matchbox race cars, you’d probably recognise the characters inspired by toys from the 1950s to the 2000s.
Head upstairs for the Play:Date showcase featuring an eclectic array of over 250 locally and globally recognisable toys largely from the 1980s to present day. The collection highlights the socio-historical significance of toys in the Singapore story, told through the lens of local toy collectors and organisations.
The collection comprises three main sections: It’s a Small World features a selection of miniature character figurines such as McDonald’s toys, rare Barbie dolls and locally-designed Pop Mart figurines; Drive-Through Time displays familiar brands such as Hot Wheels, Tamiya and Matchbox (look out for the hidden Back To The Future collectible); and Batteries Included showcases retro game consoles before the days of touchscreen technology.
And what’s a toy-themed experience without the opportunity to play? Visitors can try their hand at games inspired by old-school gaming arcades, purchase tokens to participate in a Memory Match game, or attempt a Roadblock Highway game.
The showcase is not just about looking back; it acknowledges the future too. Visitors can design their own Play:Mate at the Discover Your Play-sonality section created in collaboration with local artists together with ActionCity. Choose from a selection of four digital toy avatars, and for a small fee, accumulate points by playing the on-site digital games and exchange them to customise their avatar with a variety of Singapore-themed accessories. Head over to the accompanying photo booth to take photos of themselves with their Play:Mate or opt for a physical photo printout with a donation to the museum.
Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play is a free showcase that runs from Jul 5, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025. Separate fees apply for the digital gamified experiences within the showcase.
