The latest exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore is a stark reminder of world’s climate, a showcase of the fragility of the Amazon rainforest, and an urgent call for greater climate action today
Amazonia is an extraordinary photographic odyssey by internationally acclaimed Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado. Making its highly anticipated Asia-Pacific debut from Nov 22, 2024 to Mar 2, 2025, this travelling exhibition transports visitors into the heart of one of the world’s greatest ecosystems with over 200 images of Salgado’s signature evocative medium of black-and-white photography.
While the Amazon may be half a world away, it is deeply connected to the world’s climate and affects all of us, even in Singapore. “Amid a heightened awareness and urgent call for greater climate action today, we hope that visitors will be inspired by Salgado’s remarkable photos and the exhibition’s message to appreciate and take action to protect our natural world while respecting and learning from the Indigenous peoples who live in, and with, the rainforest,” says Chung May Khuen, director of the National Museum of Singapore.
The exhibition unfolds along two distinct but intertwined lines. The first showcases breathtaking photography of the Amazon’s naturescapes, and the second of the Indigenous communities living in, and with, the rainforest. From aerial panoramas of the waterfalls and storm-laden skies to dramatic images of mist-draped peaks, visitors can admire the natural wonders and phenomena unique to the Amazon rainforest.
The second theme of the exhibition spotlights the diverse Indigenous communities in the Amazon. Explore three structures modelled after traditional Indigenous homes called ocas. Within this space, visitors can explore 100 striking photographs of the 12 Amazonian communities with whom Salgado engaged, complemented by video interviews with their leaders.
The experience is complemented by an immersive soundcape by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre that envelopes visitors in a symphony of natural sounds – the rustling of trees, animal calls, bird songs and the gushing of waters from the mountain tops – as well as voices and songs of the communities, drawn from the Museum of Ethnography’s sound archives in Geneva.
The journey continues in two projection rooms featuring forest landscapes and portraits of Indigenous people, and a dedicated space highlighting the work of Instituto Terra, the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. The exhibition also features Amazonia Touch, the first photographic volume specifically designed for blind and visually impaired audiences in partnership with Visio Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting cultural inclusion of blind and visually impaired persons. Visitors can engage with tactile images rendered on brass plates and complemented by 21 panels made of acrylic resin and natural minerals.
Beyond the exhibition, the museum has introduced Eco Sanctuary, a themed interactive space furnished with elements inspired by the rainforest, engaging visitors’ senses of touch, hearing and smell.
Amazonia is a ticketed exhibition. Tickets cost $11 each for Singaporeans and permanent residents. Note that the exhibition features photographic artworks with male and female nudity and contains imagery of dead animals. Visitor discretion is advised. For more information, visit go.gov.sg/amazonia.
