The Encounters of (Land + Sea) Scapes

Encounters delves into the evolving landscapes of the region, exploring how they have been portrayed and transformed over time. The collection of artworks in the sections here invites reflection on the interaction between local and colonial influences, shifting perspectives of history and identity, and the complexity of cultural encounters. Through paintings, prints, and other media, the exhibition presents diverse interpretations of the region’s physical and social ‘scapes,’ encouraging viewers to engage with both the forgotten and enduring aspects of these ever-changing environments.

Section 1

☉ Level 4, After the Entrance

This section features artworks from the paintings by Charles Dyce and woodblock prints by Lim Yew Kuan from NUS Museum's collections.

Dyce’s The River from Monkey Bridge (1842–43) vividly depicts Boat Quay, showcasing the now-elusive settlements of the orang laut and their navigational crafts, while contrasting the leisurely activities of Europeans with the labor of local communities, subtly revealing the colonial gaze. Similarly, his Malacca - Creek (1846–53) anchors the viewer in Malacca's colonial past, juxtaposing European architectural influences with the region's natural landscape. In contrast, Lim Yew Kuan's poignant woodblock print reflects on the aftermath of the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee fire, which obliterated over 2,000 kampong houses, serving as a stark reminder of a lost vernacular landscape. Additionally, The Town and the Roadstead from Government Hill (1842–47) provides a panoramic view of Singapore’s urban morphology, featuring enduring landmarks that continue to resonate today.

Displayed Artworks

The River from Monkey Bridge
Charles Dyce, 1842-43
Watercolour Painting (Reproduction)

Malacca – Creek
Charles Dyce, 1846-53
Watercolour Painting (Reproduction)

Malay Kampong (Attap Singapore)
Lim Yew Kuan, 1966
Woodblock Print (Reproduction)

The Town and the Roadstead from Government Hill
Charles Dyce, 1842-47
Watercolour Painting (Reproduction)

Section 2

☉ Level 4, Opposite 360imx

This section brings together artworks by Charles Dyce and woodblock prints by Lim Mu Hue, enhanced by related literature from NUS Libraries.

It explores the maritime and urban landscapes of Southeast Asia, showcasing Dyce's watercolour paintings that capture urban and natural views of the Straits Settlements, alongside prints by Lim Mu Hue and Japanese artist Kubota Beisen. Beisen’s brief but impactful visit to Singapore in the late 1800s resulted in a series of woodblock prints reflecting local life and flora, featured in 8½ Hours in Singapore. Meanwhile, Lim Mu Hue’s work offers a local perspective, exemplified by Kelantan Village, which depicts traditional architecture and daily life. Together, these artworks and resources provide valuable insights into the region’s rich cultural and historical narratives.

Displayed Artworks

Malacca from the Sea
Charles Dyce, 1846
Watercolour Painting (Reproduction)

Georgetown and Fort Cornwallis from the Roads, Penang
Charles Dyce, 1846
Watercolour Painting (Reproduction)

Malacca Fort 马六甲古堡 (Edition 7 of 15)
Lim Mu Hue, 2003
Woodblock Print (Reproduction)

Kelantan Village, Malaysia (Edition 14 of 15)
Lim Mu Hue, 2003
Woodblock Print (Reproduction)

Displayed Books

Teo, Jeslynn , Poh, Kathy and Maimon Hussin.
8½ hours in Singapore: Late 19^th-Century Perspectives of the Island through Kubota Beisen's Woodblock Prints.
Singapore: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, 2024.

Wong Hong Suen
Singapore through 19^th Prints & Paintings.
Singapore: National Museum of Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2010.

Lim, Irene.
Sketches in the Straits: Nineteenth-Century Watercolours and Manuscript of Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Batavia by Charles Dyce.
Singapore: NUS Museum, National University of Singapore, 2003.

Lim, Irene., ed.
Sketching the Straits: A Compilation of the Lecture Series on the Charles Dyce Collection.
Singapore: NUS Museum, National University of Singapore, 2004.

Edney, Matthew H.
Mapping an Empire: the Geographical Construction of British India, 1765-1843.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997.

Mitchell, W.J.T. ed.
Landscape and Power, 2nd ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2022.

Thomson, John Turnbull.
Glimpses into Life in Malayan Lands.
Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1984.

Said, Edward W.
Orientalism.
London: Penguin, 2003.

Hall-Jones, John.
The Thomson Paintings: Mid-Nineteenth Century Paintings of the Straits Settlements and Malaya.
Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1983.

Recommended Additional Reads

Kubota Beisen.
米僊漫遊画乘 / 著作者: 久保田米僊. Beisen man'yū gajō (Beisen's Travel Album)
From NUS Libraries Special Collections: Digital Gems

Vol.1

Vol.2

Scott, Emily Eliza and Swenson, Kirsten, eds.
Critical Landscapes: Art, Space, Politics.
Oakland, Califorina: University of California Press, 2015.

Marryat, Frank.
Borneo and the Indian Archipelago: With Drawings of Costume and Scenery.
London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1848.
From NUS Libraries Special Collections: Digital Gems

Kwa Chong Guan.
"The 19th-Century "Origins" of Singapore Art."
In Charting Thoughts: Essays on Art in Southeast Asia, ed. Low Sze Wee and Patrick D. Flores, 34-43.
Singapore: National Gallery Singapore, 2017.

Teo, Marianne, Chong, Yu-Chee and Oh, Julia.
Nineteenth Century Prints of Singapore.
Singapore: National Museum, 1987.

Burke, Peter.
Eyewitnessing: The Uses of Images as Historical Evidence.
London: Reaktion Books, 2001.

McAlpin, Sophia.
The Landscape Palimpsest: Reading Early 19th Century British Representations of Malaya.
Clayton, Victoria: Monash Asia Institute, Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, 1997.

Savage, Victor R.
Lion City Narratives: Singapore Through Western Eyes.
Singapore: World Scientific, 2022.