Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas
A rich cross-cultural exhibition that explores trade between Asia and the Americas and Europe.
- Completed at FARM.
— PROJECT NAME
Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas
Special Exhibition,
Asian Civilisations Museum
— ROLE
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Large Format Design
— YEAR
2023
— SECTOR
Arts & Culture
Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas follows the trade routes that connected Asia to the Americas and Europe. Spanish ships sailed annually across the Pacific from Manila to Acapulco, carrying valuable goods such as porcelain, silk and spices, returning with pieces of silver.
The branding of the exhibition is a bold nod to the notion of a daring voyage: of land, sea, sails and movement of the galleon. The sublime and unpredictable ocean serves as the basis of the colour palette throughout spatial and graphic execution, with striking accents of coral and chartreuse highlighting the rich cultural history of Manila and Mexico.
Featuring wares and works of art from the 16th to the 20th century, the exhibition explores how people, goods and ideas circulate through the global port cities of Manila and Mexico City, and how they have created a unique shared cultural and artistic heritage. Manila Galleon looks at Manila as a precursor to Singapore’s status as a global port city – itself a distinct intermingling of cultures – and the importance of the role of port cities in cultural and artistic exchange.
Director: Willie Koh
Exhibition Design: Pamela Lee, Pluem Pongsipal
Graphic Design: Yolande Leong, Png Jun Kiat
Light Design: Auxilio Studio
Photography: Khoo Guo Jie
