(8 August 2025 – 1 March 2026) Set Sail with the National Museum of Singapore on a Time-Travelling Singapore Odyssea

Dates: 8 August 2025 – 1 March 2026

Venue: Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda, National Museum of Singapore

Admission: Free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents

A Fresh SG60 Gift to the Nation

Following a ten-month closure, the Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda at the National Museum of Singapore will reopen with a brand-new permanent installation, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time. Presented as the museum’s SG60 gift to the nation, this multi-sensorial showcase replaces the beloved Story of the Forest installation.

Through immersive visuals, soundscapes, and interactive features, Singapore Odyssea chronicles 700 years of Singapore’s history. Visitors will embark on a time-travelling voyage that blends history, art, and technology, offering fresh perspectives on the nation’s journey from its pre-colonial beginnings to imagined future landscapes.

Experiencing 700 Years of History in Four Episodes

The journey begins with a futuristic view of Singapore before travelling back through key historical eras:

Opening: Glimpse of the Future – Singapore as a green, connected city of tomorrow
Episode 1: Setting Sail – From independence to present-day Singapore
Episode 2: Riding Out the Storm – Wartime and postwar Singapore
Episode 3: Age of Exploration – Colonial-era Singapore
Episode 4: Shores of Singapura – Pre-colonial coastal communities

Visitors “board” a virtual vessel, encounter a stunning suspended LED globe mapping maritime routes, and descend a spiral ramp through animated projections and rich soundscapes. The journey concludes at a cinematic digital waterfall curtain, where interactive floors respond to each step with ripples that merge with those of fellow visitors.

Magical Companions and Sustainability Themes

Sustainability is a key undercurrent of Singapore Odyssea. At the start, visitors can adopt a magical animal companion using an RFID-enabled wristband. Inspired by native fauna such as pangolins, hornbills, and coastal crabs, these companions react to movements, reveal hidden animations, and guide visitors through the experience.

At the end of the journey, guests release their companions at a digital “well,” symbolising the return of borrowed gifts from nature. Alongside this, myths like the tide-moving giant crab and the Pauh Janggi tree are reinterpreted to link past legends with today’s environmental challenges, including climate change, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss.

Part of a Larger SG60 Celebration

Opening on 8 August 2025, Singapore Odyssea will run alongside other National Museum highlights for SG60:

Once Upon A Tide – A commemorative exhibition on Singapore’s maritime history
National Day Celebrations (9 August 2025) – LEGO installations, art activities, live performances, and the projection show Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey

Plan Your Visit

Dates: 8 August 2025 – 1 March 2026
Venue: Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda, National Museum of Singapore
Admission: Free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents

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Written by

Gio Adriano

Singapore Odyssea