Travel back to when Telok Ayer was a landing ground for Chinese immigrants by tuning in to nine audio tours on Spotify from 16 April 2021.
For a walk down memory lane at Kampung Gelam, check out your daily feed on Instagram.
Launching on 12 April and available till 11 June, this series is part of Project Rediscover – a project by LASALLE College of the Arts’ BA (Hons) Arts Management students with support from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) – to uncover historical and contemporary stories of heritage districts.
Inspired by oral recounts from residents of Telok Ayer, the rich history of the once-bustling bay comes to life through characters who lived, worked and played in the area.
Developed and conceptualised by the Arts Management students to resemble a radio show, audiences can expect an immersive experience unlike any other as they tune in from the trail start point at Telok Ayer Green or from the comfort of their homes.
Joining in sonically for chats with the show hosts are “guest” actors whose voices will be set against the lush soundscape of The TENG Ensemble, who will take audiences on a tour of the conservation area which today remains a melting pot of cultures and religions.
Project Rediscover also ventures for the first time into Kampung Gelam, one of Singapore’s four historic districts which was gazetted as a conservation area in 1989.
Through personal narratives shared by former and current residents, audiences will get an intimate look at the festivities, food, trade and kinship that characterise the social, cultural and spiritual centre of Singapore’s Muslim community.
Users can look forward to a constant stream of interactive content on the project’s Instagram page (@projectrediscoversg) which includes oral recounts from residents of Telok Ayer on IGTV and quick quizzes on IGStories.
This is the second edition of Project Rediscover. With its expansion to include Kampung Gelam as well as migration onto a digital space, the hope is for more local and international audiences to learn more about the historical character and conservation efforts of historic districts in Singapore.
“Project Rediscover is an invaluable opportunity for our students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and gain on-the-ground experience in developing artistic interventions while working with communities and other creatives. Through this collaboration with URA, LASALLE hopes to equip our students with important skills and networks before they step into the workforce,” said Professor Adam Knee, Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, Media and Creative Industries at LASALLE.
