I checked out the recent ACM’s installation of a new family friendly space called ACM & ME and thought this could be a great option for parents to bring their kids this June holidays. In fact, I think adults can be the kids for once in this safe space. No judgement. As you can see, I am enjoying myself at the “Who Am I?” zone.
Over at this zone, you get curious with who you are and get creative in a super fun way! Grab some paper and stamps, and make a cool self-portrait of yourself. Then, add your masterpiece to the awesome community art wall! Plus, you can mess around with magnets and fun shapes to jazz up your reflection in a mirror. There is a giant, life-size picture with cool pagoda shapes (inspired by the Pagoda Odyssey 1915 exhibit) just waiting for you to add your artistic touch!
At each section, there are suggested probing questions to connect with your inner selves, or to hone the child’s ability to express their thoughts in a safe space. When is the last time you make a funny face?
Ever wonder what is your reply to a question, “What’s my story?” The next zone lets you find out with two super cool interactive spots! First up, “Fantastic Creatures.” Get inspired by the mythical beasts you see in the galleries and then build your very own wild and wonderful creatures using colorful shapes (think animal body parts!). You’ll feel like an ancient storyteller as you beam your creations onto old-school overhead projectors and share their tales.
These projectors bring back tons of forgotten memories during my primary school days. Back then, these projectors only project serious maths equations and we stare blank at these transparencies (the transparent plastic sheets) when we were called out to write our answers.
There are engaging content and questions beautifully designed on the walls for participants to work with. The Dragon and Qilin illustrations are found on artefacts on display around the Asian Civilisation Museum. This really spurs up interest to explore the museum and sight these historical pieces.
For a moment from afar, I wondered why a Dragon looks like a slim jar while a Qilin becomes a flowery dish. Check them out at the Tang Shipwreck Gallery and the Ceramics Gallery respectively.
This test of imagination is a real stress test I believe. I wish there are more avenues in our children’s education curriculum to install belief to dream, to imagine, to think out of the box.
The 3rd section at ACM & Me, “What can I create?” This area is all about everyone having a blast together with movement, tunes, and playing as a team! Get ready to bust a move – as you dance around, colorful lights will turn your actions into a super cool shadow show. Then, for the little ones (and the young at heart!), there’s an awesome play zone packed with giant soft blocks and comfy cushioned floors. It’s the perfect safe spot for kids to build, climb, and just make stuff up!
Sometimes as grown-ups, we conform to the rules that was built around us for years. Are we setting up rules for our children’s conformity too?
This colour stamping station lets you choose the type and colour of clothes your character gets to wear. Then jazz up your character with colour pens and shape stamps. Stop thinking, start colouring!
There are no right or wrong answers. There are only shapes, colours, movement and feelings and mix that all up.
More mirrors here but shaped like a diamond sitting on a miniature rotating banquet table. You can colour the figurines, and rotate the diamond-shaped mirrors. Then, watch the figurines come alive in the reflection! The faster you spin, the faster they run. Brings a whole new meaning to spinning a story.
If all that excitement is too much for you, there is a calm corner for you to chill it out. Back then we have a naughty corner for the naughty ones. Even further back then, we have a cane corner…..
Right by the exit, there’s also a community weaving wall. It’s a chance for you to express yourself and whatever you’re feeling by using strips of cloth made from recycled clothes. Pick a colour that vibes with you, add it to the display everyone’s building together, and snap some photos with it as a cool way to end your trip!
If you still have any energy left from all the sections, pick up this Object Hunt brochure and start hunting! Your hunting ground? The entire Asian Civilisation Museum is at your disposal! Try to keep up!
ACM & ME opens at ACM’s Contemporary Gallery from 23 May 2025 and it is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. For our foreign visitors, it is $25 per adult but free as well for children below 6 years old. Opening hours is 10am to 7pm daily, and till 9pm on Fridays. It closes between 12.30pm to 1.30pm for cleaning and sanitisation.
