The beloved Story of the Forest exhibition by teamLab had its final hurrah last October after eight years, but a brand new experience takes its place at the Glass Rotunda at the National Museum of Singapore. Titled Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, this immersive permanent exhibition takes you on a time travel voyage through the Little Red Dot’s seven-century history, with a special focus on the role of the sea in our country’s development.
Look out for the giant ship-shaped structure on Level 2 of the museum – that’s where your adventure begins. Explore five multisensorial chapters, starting with a peek into the future before going on a throwback to our early days as a sleepy fishing village. Along the way, be mesmerised by stunning animated imagery of Singapore’s coastal landscapes and native wildlife, coupled with moving soundtracks further enhancing the magic.
Another highlight is a suspended LED globe, from which you’ll witness a two-minute light show detailing the web of maritime routes linking Singapore to the rest of the world.
For added fun, grab an RFID wristband to ‘adopt’ an animal friend that’ll accompany you through the experience – there are nine in total, including a pangolin, crab, and hornbill. Not only does this creature serve as a ‘guide’ as it brightens your way down the spiralled path, it also responds to motion and dishes out little surprises along the way.
At the end, bid goodbye to your animal companion as you release it into a well – a symbolic action that’s an ode to the importance of environmental sustainability and protection of our biodiversity.
Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time officially opens at the National Museum of Singapore on August 8, 2025, from 10am to 7pm daily (last entry at 6pm). Entry is free for Singaporeans and PRs, but you’ll be required to book a timeslot for crowd control purposes. As for everyone else, general entry is priced at $24 and also includes admission to the museum’s other galleries. Find out more and get your tickets here.
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