A controversial yet revolutionary material, plastic has become ubiquitous in our everyday lives – from aesthetic packaging and commonplace household goods to iconic architecture. Discover the history and future of plastics in a special travelling exhibition titled Plastic: Remaking Our World, which makes its Asian debut at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) from 27 January to 23 June 2024.
Plastic: Remaking Our World is a travelling exhibition by the Vitra Design Museum, V&A Dundee and maat, Lisbon that charts the material’s meteoric rise in the 20th century, its environmental impact, and cutting-edge solutions for a more sustainable way of using plastics in our society. Featuring over 300 objects, posters, films, and photographs, including rarities from the dawn of the plastic age, objects of the pop era as well as contemporary designs and projects, the exhibition also includes a local narrative of Singapore’s history with plastics, featuring a blend of physical and digital displays of National Collection items as well as an interactive space.
The exhibition is divided into 3 sections that cover the theme of plastic and its prevalence in society over the years.
Kalpa: An immersive film installation created by Asif Khan Studio contrasting the long-term formation of oil with the rapid generation of plastic waste.
Synthetica, Petromodernity and Plasticene: Plastics from 1850 until Today: Featuring global design movements and the increasing pervasiveness of the material, this section describes the development of early natural and synthetic plastics, the evolution of the material and the shifting perceptions of plastics from their beginnings in the mid-19th century to their global omnipresence today.
Re-: The final section explores how we can achieve a circular plastic economy and aims to spark conversations on using plastic in a more sustainable way. The exhibition continues outside the gallery with a sorting zone where visitors can learn about the different types of plastic, and an injection machine that repurposes waste plastic into functional household items.
Visitors will see familiar artefacts in the exhibition such as iconic Barbie dolls and Plack picnic ware and discover unique uses of plastics in the home that includes Bakelite, the historic material that facilitated the creation of household electrical appliances, and furniture design such as the futuristic Space Age Ball Chair.
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1
Admissions: $5 for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (Adults)
When: 27 Jan - 23 Jun 2024,
By: National Museum of Singapore
