Malay Heritage Centre holds last exhibition ‘Cerita’ till Jul 31 before major revamp

As part of restoration works to preserve Singapore’s national monuments, the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) is set to close its doors for a two-year revamp later this year.

But from now till Jul 31, it has in store Cerita, a special exhibition showcasing over 80 artefacts that highlight the shared stories of life in the Malay Archipelago. Cerita means “stories” in the Malay language.

The exhibition spans two curated galleries, namely Kita, which will highlight everyday life and customs, and Me-reka, which will showcase unique craft traditions of the Malay world. 

Aside from the artefacts, the exhibition will display 10 digital animation videos produced in collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic School of Design & Media, retelling the classic Malay folklore of The Attack of the Garfish.

At the exhibition’s launch, Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development & Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, said: “I hope the exhibition and festival will encourage reflection and spark meaningful discussions on the Singaporean Malay identity.”

Running alongside the exhibition is the annual Malay CultureFest, which will be held over three weekends till Feb 13. The festival parallels the themes of Cerita, with various on-site and online activities.

This exhibition is open to the public and admission is free. There are also guided tours, offered in English, Malay and Mandarin languages, with specific dates and times found on MHC’s website.