Inspired by History

Hidden History Brought to Life in a Game

From burial grounds to secret societies, HiddenSG weaves historical materials into immersive adventures across the island.

The Urban Heritage Explorer: One Man’s Mission to Uncover Singapore’s Past

From leading heritage walks to educating on social media platforms, Ho Yong Min is reintroducing the history of Singapore’s urban landscape.

From Ancient Maps to Modern Designs: How a 500-Year-Old Map Became Fashion

When Singapore designer Afton Chen chanced upon the Mao Kun Map, she decided to embark on a new fashion collection.

Crafting Stories from History

From research to reimagination, the library and archives have shaped Felix Cheong’s creative processes.

Excavating the Past

Writing a memoir involves personal experiences, digging deep into our memories and the emphasis on factual information.

Karikal Mahal: Stories Reimagined and Retold

History, research and compelling storytelling come together to bring the story of Karikal Mahal to life.

Interview with Rachel Heng

The Great Reclamation is a work of historical fiction set in Singapore that has received rave reviews from the New Yorker and the New York Times. A coming-of-age love story, the novel took Singaporean author Rachel Heng five years of research into topics such as land reclamation, the Japanese Occupation, and postwar politics in Singapore. We speak to her about her book, her research process, and the challenges of writing historical fiction.

The Borobudur, Mysterious Gold Plates and Singing Maps

Unsolved historical puzzles from Southeast Asia are key elements of the recently published thriller The Java Enigma by debut novelist Erni Salleh.

A Different Sky: The Other Side of the Looking Glass

Meira Chand recounts how hours of listening to oral history interviews permeated her subconscious and created a memory that she could call her own when writing her novel.