Sometimes, the best way to express yourself is through fashion. And you don't need a passion for fashion, either. While Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall's latest exhibition showcases the clothes worn by Chinese women since the 19th century, it's more than just clothing trends. From June 12 to December 12, the heritage institution is using fashion to chart the history and evolution of modern women in Singapore and China.
See how women's status, roles and lifestyles have changed over the past century or so through close to 100 artefacts and photographs which are heavily focused on Chinese women's clothing and accessories. Some even dating almost 100 years back!
For easy navigation, the exhibition is split into three separate sections. The political changes in society from the 1890s to the 1930s are showcased in Charting Change Through Fashion; the evolving notion of a modern woman from the 1930s to the 1960s can be found in Imagining the Ideal Modern Woman; and how fashion empowered working women in Singapore from the 1950s to the 1970s is in Dressing Modern Working Women in Singapore.
On using fashion, assistant curator Ms Tan Yan Ni says, "Fashion, besides being a form of self-expression, is often a reflection of the times. This is why we chose fashion as a medium to tap into broader conversations, to discuss women's multi-faceted and ever-changing roles across history, and how their contributions are integral to the political, social and economic development of a society." She continues, "It is also timely for us to explore this topic as 2021 is the Year of Celebrating SG Women, and we hope to spark off more discussions amongst Singaporeans about what constitutes a modern woman today."
For more information on Modern Women of the Republic: Fashion and Change in China and Singapore, visit sysnmh.org.sg.