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In The Spotlight
Diary of an NUS Museum Intern: Nichole Lim
Diary of an NUS Museum Intern is a series of blog posts written by our interns about their experiences during the course of their internships. Working alongside their mentors, our interns have waded through tons of historical research, assisted in curatorial work, pitched in during exhibition installations and organised outreach events! If you would like to become our next intern, visit NUS Museum’s student development page for more information.
Nichole Lim is a fourth-year Geography student at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Together with Stephanie, Nichole has assisted in research and execution of various outreach projects during her time here as our Museum Outreach intern.
No stranger to these material aspects of Singapore’s transformation, I wonder what lies beyond this one-way street towards urban modernity. Ploughing through academic texts (across urban theory, geography and history), literary works, anecdotes and newspaper articles, the task of creating a Gallery Guide for the Radio Malaya exhibition compelled me to consider a wider diversity of voices imbued in the process of urban modernization. More than these uni-directional arrows depicted in the dominant, linear narrative of nation-building, perhaps it would be better to re-represent these arrows as bi-directional and criss-crossing, for further dialogues between past and present (and even future) to be unearthed.
Ilsa Sharp’s newspaper commentary titled ‘Winds of Change Constantly Blowing’ was especially thought-provoking, and here I cite my favourite quote:
“All of Singapore’s experience has been telescoped in time, compared with other countries. And so it is that, at only 13 years of age, Singapore is entering middle age. Having gone through a rugged childhood and a wild youth, it is now a saner, more self-questioning Singapore that we see.”
Fast forward 2019, what more could be said of Singapore that is soon turning 54 years old, if she was metaphorically ‘entering middle age’ in 1978?
—
Stephanie and I also assisted in the publication of the Museum’s Anniversary Lecture on William Willetts. Willetts was a lecturer of Art History and curator of the Art Museum (the precursor of NUS Museum) in the then University of Singapore. While Mr Kwa may never read this blog post, I would still like to say a big thank you for your eye-opening lecture because it foundational to our subsequent encounters during the internship such as:
1. Cataloguing books in the Resource Library and freaking out because “isn’t this the publication* Mr Kwa mentioned in his lecture?!”
2. Marvelling at the Resource Library’s collection of books donated by art historian TK Sabapathy, if only to capture a glimpse into the extensive material he has read over the years, after Mr Kwa’s multiple mentions of “Kanaga”
3. Recognizing the Head of a Bodhisattva terracotta sculpture and some mandalas in the Asian Civilisations Museum, then secretly whispering to Stephanie, “haven’t we’ve seen this before?!”
Mini victory (nerdy) moments like these made the internship even more memorable!
*PS: It’s the Foundations of Chinese Art: From Neolithic Pottery and Modern Architecture by William Willetts and we have many other publications in the Resource Library!
Apart from indulging in our nerdy “material pleasures” of books and artefacts, we had many interesting visits to various museums in Singapore too. I especially enjoyed interacting with the super awesome Kate Pocklington, a conservator in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. She shared about what happens behind-the-scenes, some of which includes hunting down crocodile-sighting records and how-to-handle-a-beached-sperm-whale (just wow!).
We had the opportunity to attend a workshop about the conservation and preservation of artworks. Techniques of restoration aside, metaphysical questions of for whom and why should we restore (or not) were surfaced during our discussions, and all these remain pertinent questions with no definite answers.
Connecting these experiences across this one-month internship, an undercurrent of differing rhythms and flows of time becomes apparent, in our everyday tasks and encounters inside and outside the museum. There are no fixed or straightforward answers, and many in-between moments that remain to be discovered.
—
Many thank yous to my supervisor, Michelle, for her constant guidance and support (and for sending us cool links related to our interests). A shout out to Wardah, Mary Ann, Amalina, JJ, all the museum staff and wardens (Yati, Jon and Philip) for helping us around the office and galleries – thank you for all the fun and laughter you’ve showered upon us over the past month! Last but not least, to my fellow interns, thanks for making this as sublime an experience as it was!
- Student Voices
18 November 2025
16 May 2025
NUS Baba House to undergo two years of conservation works
Enthusiasts can look forward to a slate of programmes ahead of and during the temporary closure.
6 October 2023
NUS Museum receives largest-ever donation of Straits Chinese artefacts
"Collected by Mrs Alice Tan over a 30-year period, the donated artefacts will contribute to a deeper study of the impact of Straits Chinese culture in Singapore and the region, and provide broadened avenues for interdisciplinary collaborations."
15 August 2023
From personal photo collection to exhibition: NUS Museum's latest showcase features visual narratives by 9 members of the NUS community
Titled Photography Journal Open Call (PJOC), the exhibition presents an eclectic collection of photographic works by nine NUS students, alumni artists and academic staff.
12 April 2021
Nurturing a creative campus through public art advocacy
The Public Art Initiative was launched to underscore NUS’ commitment to deepening the role of public art in holistic, interdisciplinary and broad-based education.
8 October 2019
October at the NUS Museum: between war and the artist, art and the tropics
This October, NUS Museum unveils two new exhibitions surveying the art historical in the region from distinct positions.
31 May 2019
New exhibition from Gilles Massot to be unveiled at NUS Museum
“…you have to lose your way to find yourself in the right place” presents the works of Singapore-based French artist, Gilles Massot. Featuring a selection of photographs, videos, sketches and writings from his extensive corpus of works.
14 February 2019
Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking
Following eleven years of giving glimpses of a Peranakan family’s domestic life in the early 20th century, NUS Baba House presents the exhibition Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking.
22 March 2018
NUS' cultural icon refreshed for a new generation
The University Cultural Centre's first major renovation improves the high standard of guest comfort, efficiency and production possibilities.
3 February 2017
Exhibition: From the Ashes: Reviving Myanmar Celadon Ceramics
NUS Museum presents ongoing attempts to revive the technology of making ash-glazed ceramics in Myanmar.
23 November 2016
Exhibition: Between the brush lines of Lim Tze Peng
Solo exhibition at NUS Museum considers 70-year oeuvre of Singapore's oldest living artist.
1 November 2016
Book Launch: NUS Baba House launches inaugural guidebook
From architecture to social history, book reveals the myriad facets of Singapore's only restored Straits Chinese family home.
21 October 2016
Exhibition: Looking within - What makes an exhibition?
NUS Museum presents exhibition introspecting into curatorial impulses and the exhibitionary medium.
1 July 2016
Exhibition: "Who wants to remember a war?"
NUS Museum draws on war posters, woodcuts and drawings to explore contemporary narratives of the Vietnam War.
10 May 2016
Award: NUS Museum wins inaugural award for innovative museological practice
International Committee of University Museums and Collections recognises efforts to facilitate conversation between audiences and exhibitions.
14 April 2016
Exhibition: Figuring Ng Eng Teng
NUS Museum reveals unstudied elements and works from the late Cultural Medallion recipient’s practice.
Student Voices
Diary of an NUS Museum Intern: Nichole Lim
Diary of an NUS Museum Intern is a series of blog posts written by our interns about their experiences during the course of their internships. Working alongside their mentors, our interns have waded through tons of historical research, assisted in curatorial work, pitched in during exhibition installations and organised outreach events! If you would like to become our next intern, visit NUS Museum’s student development page for more information.
Nichole Lim is a fourth-year Geography student at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Together with Stephanie, Nichole has assisted in research and execution of various outreach projects during her time here as our Museum Outreach intern.
No stranger to these material aspects of Singapore’s transformation, I wonder what lies beyond this one-way street towards urban modernity. Ploughing through academic texts (across urban theory, geography and history), literary works, anecdotes and newspaper articles, the task of creating a Gallery Guide for the Radio Malaya exhibition compelled me to consider a wider diversity of voices imbued in the process of urban modernization. More than these uni-directional arrows depicted in the dominant, linear narrative of nation-building, perhaps it would be better to re-represent these arrows as bi-directional and criss-crossing, for further dialogues between past and present (and even future) to be unearthed.
Ilsa Sharp’s newspaper commentary titled ‘Winds of Change Constantly Blowing’ was especially thought-provoking, and here I cite my favourite quote:
“All of Singapore’s experience has been telescoped in time, compared with other countries. And so it is that, at only 13 years of age, Singapore is entering middle age. Having gone through a rugged childhood and a wild youth, it is now a saner, more self-questioning Singapore that we see.”
Fast forward 2019, what more could be said of Singapore that is soon turning 54 years old, if she was metaphorically ‘entering middle age’ in 1978?
—
Stephanie and I also assisted in the publication of the Museum’s Anniversary Lecture on William Willetts. Willetts was a lecturer of Art History and curator of the Art Museum (the precursor of NUS Museum) in the then University of Singapore. While Mr Kwa may never read this blog post, I would still like to say a big thank you for your eye-opening lecture because it foundational to our subsequent encounters during the internship such as:
1. Cataloguing books in the Resource Library and freaking out because “isn’t this the publication* Mr Kwa mentioned in his lecture?!”
2. Marvelling at the Resource Library’s collection of books donated by art historian TK Sabapathy, if only to capture a glimpse into the extensive material he has read over the years, after Mr Kwa’s multiple mentions of “Kanaga”
3. Recognizing the Head of a Bodhisattva terracotta sculpture and some mandalas in the Asian Civilisations Museum, then secretly whispering to Stephanie, “haven’t we’ve seen this before?!”
Mini victory (nerdy) moments like these made the internship even more memorable!
*PS: It’s the Foundations of Chinese Art: From Neolithic Pottery and Modern Architecture by William Willetts and we have many other publications in the Resource Library!
Apart from indulging in our nerdy “material pleasures” of books and artefacts, we had many interesting visits to various museums in Singapore too. I especially enjoyed interacting with the super awesome Kate Pocklington, a conservator in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. She shared about what happens behind-the-scenes, some of which includes hunting down crocodile-sighting records and how-to-handle-a-beached-sperm-whale (just wow!).
We had the opportunity to attend a workshop about the conservation and preservation of artworks. Techniques of restoration aside, metaphysical questions of for whom and why should we restore (or not) were surfaced during our discussions, and all these remain pertinent questions with no definite answers.
Connecting these experiences across this one-month internship, an undercurrent of differing rhythms and flows of time becomes apparent, in our everyday tasks and encounters inside and outside the museum. There are no fixed or straightforward answers, and many in-between moments that remain to be discovered.
—
Many thank yous to my supervisor, Michelle, for her constant guidance and support (and for sending us cool links related to our interests). A shout out to Wardah, Mary Ann, Amalina, JJ, all the museum staff and wardens (Yati, Jon and Philip) for helping us around the office and galleries – thank you for all the fun and laughter you’ve showered upon us over the past month! Last but not least, to my fellow interns, thanks for making this as sublime an experience as it was!
- Student Voices
News
18 November 2025
16 May 2025
NUS Baba House to undergo two years of conservation works
Enthusiasts can look forward to a slate of programmes ahead of and during the temporary closure.
6 October 2023
NUS Museum receives largest-ever donation of Straits Chinese artefacts
"Collected by Mrs Alice Tan over a 30-year period, the donated artefacts will contribute to a deeper study of the impact of Straits Chinese culture in Singapore and the region, and provide broadened avenues for interdisciplinary collaborations."
15 August 2023
From personal photo collection to exhibition: NUS Museum's latest showcase features visual narratives by 9 members of the NUS community
Titled Photography Journal Open Call (PJOC), the exhibition presents an eclectic collection of photographic works by nine NUS students, alumni artists and academic staff.
12 April 2021
Nurturing a creative campus through public art advocacy
The Public Art Initiative was launched to underscore NUS’ commitment to deepening the role of public art in holistic, interdisciplinary and broad-based education.
8 October 2019
October at the NUS Museum: between war and the artist, art and the tropics
This October, NUS Museum unveils two new exhibitions surveying the art historical in the region from distinct positions.
31 May 2019
New exhibition from Gilles Massot to be unveiled at NUS Museum
“…you have to lose your way to find yourself in the right place” presents the works of Singapore-based French artist, Gilles Massot. Featuring a selection of photographs, videos, sketches and writings from his extensive corpus of works.
14 February 2019
Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking
Following eleven years of giving glimpses of a Peranakan family’s domestic life in the early 20th century, NUS Baba House presents the exhibition Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking.
22 March 2018
NUS' cultural icon refreshed for a new generation
The University Cultural Centre's first major renovation improves the high standard of guest comfort, efficiency and production possibilities.
3 February 2017
Exhibition: From the Ashes: Reviving Myanmar Celadon Ceramics
NUS Museum presents ongoing attempts to revive the technology of making ash-glazed ceramics in Myanmar.
23 November 2016
Exhibition: Between the brush lines of Lim Tze Peng
Solo exhibition at NUS Museum considers 70-year oeuvre of Singapore's oldest living artist.
1 November 2016
Book Launch: NUS Baba House launches inaugural guidebook
From architecture to social history, book reveals the myriad facets of Singapore's only restored Straits Chinese family home.
21 October 2016
Exhibition: Looking within - What makes an exhibition?
NUS Museum presents exhibition introspecting into curatorial impulses and the exhibitionary medium.
1 July 2016
Exhibition: "Who wants to remember a war?"
NUS Museum draws on war posters, woodcuts and drawings to explore contemporary narratives of the Vietnam War.
10 May 2016
Award: NUS Museum wins inaugural award for innovative museological practice
International Committee of University Museums and Collections recognises efforts to facilitate conversation between audiences and exhibitions.
14 April 2016
Exhibition: Figuring Ng Eng Teng
NUS Museum reveals unstudied elements and works from the late Cultural Medallion recipient’s practice.
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