The Louvre Comes to Singapore! |
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Southeast Asia gets a rare treat as the National Museum of Singapore presents the Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition from 9 Dec 2007 to 16 Mar 2008
Singapore, 22 November 2007 – In a historical move, the National Museum of Singapore and the world famous Musée du Louvre of France have collaborated to bring an amazing collection of 130 priceless Classical Greek and Hellenistic artefacts to Singapore. This will be the first time that the collection of ancient Greek artefacts will be showcased in Southeast Asia.
Presented by the National Museum of Singapore, Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre is a rare treat for art and history lovers in this part of the world. The Louvre rarely loans out more than a dozen items at any one time but has made an exception due to extensive refurbishment to the section containing its Classical Greek and Hellenistic collection. The last time the Louvre changed its Greek and Hellenistic galleries was some 200 years ago. Said the Director of the National Museum of Singapore, Ms Lee Chor Lin, “The museum is committed to showcasing the world’s best art and culture here in Singapore. For people who have not visited the Louvre, this will be a wonderful opportunity to take a look at this historically significant collection, and for those who have, this exhibition will let them experience the beautiful artefacts in a whole new way. The Louvre is a world-class institution and one of the most prestigious museums in the world, and we are definitely honoured and excited for this partnership.” Equally enthusiastic about the partnership, Musée du Louvre Director Mr Henri Loyrette said, “We are happy and proud that the Louvre’s first exhibition in Singapore is taking place at the National Museum, magnificently renovated and enriched just one year ago. I hope that this special exhibition, by its breadth and by the quality of the objects on display, will shed new light for the Singaporean public on one of the most ancient and most beautiful of all human civilisations.” The artefacts that have travelled to Singapore include large free standing sculptures, heads and busts, vases and vessels, and ornaments and instruments. Made from various materials such as marble, terracotta, gold, silver and bronze, the artefacts span a period that stretches from the 5th to the 1st century BCE. The Singapore showcase at the National Museum will offer a different perspective from how the pieces are normally displayed in separate sections of the Louvre galleries in Paris. The exhibition will present them thematically and visitors will be able to appreciate not just the stunning artwork and craftsmanship, but also gain a better understanding of life in ancient Greece. Back home in Paris, the pieces are normally grouped according to materials or type. Their location within the building is also spread out – the heavier stone pieces are usually exhibited on the ground floor while the relatively lighter vases, bronzes and terracotta figurines are displayed on the upper floor. In Singapore, the same pieces will be displayed in the National Museum’s new climate-controlled and column-free exhibition galleries, and grouped under four broad themes: • Athens in the Classical Period While these four themes make it easier for visitors to get a comprehensive picture of what life was like in ancient Greece, the Museum expects that the section on religion that features larger-than-life sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses will be the showstopper. One of the largest sculptures in the collection is that of the Venus d’Arles which stands 2.2m tall and weighs over 450kg. Due to the large and delicate nature of the precious sculptures, the museum staff had to deploy a special method of installation that ensured minimal handling. The process required the artefacts to be brought straight to the exhibition area where they were then carefully set down and prepared for display without moving them from their original crates. Accessibility is key as the Museum would like visitors to make the most of this rare exhibition and enjoy the Louvre’s timeless Greek classics. To make the experience more meaningful and memorable, docents, or volunteer guides speaking in English, Mandarin and Japanese will be at the Museum at selected times to guide visitors through the exhibition. (Please refer to Notes to the Editor for details on free guided tours to the exhibition.) For those who would like to take a piece of the Louvre exhibition back home with them, there is a specially commissioned full-colour catalogue for the Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition. The 140-page soft cover treasure trove features colour photographs of the magnificent artefacts from the collection and retails at the affordable price of S$22.50 (inclusive of GST). In conjunction with the Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition, the Museum has lined up a bumper crop of thematic public lectures, films, workshops and in-gallery activities. Parents will be pleased to note that these activities have not only been carefully researched and selected for historical accuracy and relevance, they also promise lots of fun and interactivity to capture the hearts and minds of younger museum visitors. (Please refer to the Notes to Editor for details). If that’s not enough, the Museum has also prepared a special performance programme entitled Not Just the Classics to accompany the Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition. These range from a quirky dance on outrageously high platform shoes, to stage comedy peppered with clever dialogue, and even an ultra cool free-wheeling version of a Shakespearian classic. The contemporary performances are guaranteed crowd pleasers set to entertain and provoke as they challenge classical ideals. For more information on the exhibition and the latest programming details, please visit www.nationalmuseum.sg. Media Contact Samantha Liew Melvin Ang Candy Li About the National Museum of Singapore With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1887, the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore’s oldest museum with the youngest and most innovative soul. Designed to be the people’s museum, the 120-year-old prides itself on introducing cutting-edge and varied ways of presenting history to redefine conventional museum experience. Described as the latest cultural icon, the museum hosts challenging and vibrant festivals and events all year round and is far from being just a space for exhibitions and artefacts. The programming is supported by a wide range of facilities and services including F&B, retail, Resource Centre, Gallery Theatre and the Public Sculpture Garden among others. With a rich history dating back to 1887, the National Museum of Singapore re-opened in December 2006. For more information, please visit www.nationalmuseum.sg. Acknowledgements The Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors and partners: About the Exhibition Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre |
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