LKY: THE EXPERIENCE - A Deep Dive into Lee Kuan Yew's Legacy
Mr Lee Kuan Yew is synonymous with his larger-than-life political clout and sharp-witted, sometimes uncompromising leadership.
And his name needs no introduction worldwide (fun fact: a dad in Tamil Nadu, India, even named his son Jeyaprakash Lee Kuan Yew).
So it was with great anticipation that I went to LKY: THE EXPERIENCE, hoping to get a more intimate understanding of the architect of modern Singapore, beyond his political career, of course.
When you first arrive at 11 Prinsep Link (the exhibition’s site), you won’t miss the signs that lead you to the three-storey building housing the exhibition, spread across 20 rooms and 17,000 feet, each detailing every chapter of his life, from unseen snippets of his childhood to when he became a visionary statesman.
Level 1: The Moments
Your visit begins with a storytelling session on the first floor, where 100 regular folks share their tales. These tales are all about their memories and thoughts on Mr. Lee's leadership and the important moments he was part of.
The stories were interesting, and it was good to see people of all different backgrounds tell their tales.
Thankfully, things became fascinating once I entered “The Beginnings” and “Growing Up Harry” rooms.
These rooms shone a light on Mr Lee’s early life, with little knick-knacks like an English-Chinese dictionary and personal details like toys, posters, and notebooks giving you an inkling of the child before the man.
The exhibition took a darker turn, with “The Dark Years” homing in on the effects of World War Two, with special pyrotechnic effects and props depicting a charred and devastated home ravaged by the fires of bombing.
I was truly impressed with the sensory effects, too - there was even a “smoky” smell emanating from the “fire”.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however.
When you move along, other rooms showcase the happier chapters of Mr. Lee’s life, like his courting of Kwa Geok Choo, whom he secretly married at William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.
The rooms “Blossoming Romance”, “Twice Again”, and “Beyond The Veil”, showed what a romantic guy Mr. Lee was.
It was fascinating looking at his wedding dinner’s menu for the night held at the Raffles Hotel, with dishes like peach gum cheng teng and stir-fried Australian beef with mushrooms and bell peppers, probably fancy for its time but standard fare in the present-day.
There were other touching aspects that I found out about Mr. Lee, too.
Like how he ended all his social engagements by 10pm, returning home to accompany Mrs. Lee when she couldn’t get out of bed, and reading her favourite poems and books to her.
Dedication, indeed.
Level 2: The Beliefs
Level 2 was about ramping up the interactivity at "The Beliefs." The entire gamified second floor is inspired by Mr. Lee's life and ideas. And here, you'll need to complete tricky obstacle courses that test your quick reflexes and skills.
My favourite was the typewriter challenge, which was surprisingly difficult. Basically you had to type as accurately as possible one of Mr. Lee’s iconic speeches under a timer.
There was also a wall with various “issues” the government had to deal with at the time, and you had to hit it as fast and accurately as possible whenever it lit up.
And for some weird reason, water pollution kept blinking whenever I pressed it - probably referring to the great clean-up of the Singapore River and Kallang basin way back in the 60s and 70s.
Even kids were having fun and kept entertained by obstacle courses like a ball pit and a massive slide, and there was also a strong Instagrammable element with illuminated archways and a mirrored walkway.
Level 3: The Unwritten
Once I worked up enough of a sweat, it was on to level 3, and it was here that I tried my best (and failed miserably) to recreate Mr. Lee’s iconic poses at “Lee-ding The Beat”.
It’s also a level where you could pen down how you felt about the experience, how you feel about Singapore, or just random thoughts. If I remember correctly, someone drew a robot-looking merlion.
Wrapping up LKY: THE EXPERIENCE
LKY: THE EXPERIENCE was a fantastic showcase of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and the immense contribution he made to Singapore.
I liked that it went beyond the political aspects of things, and I arrived hoping to clarify what made the man who he was and I got what I was looking for.
The exhibits were well-thought-out, beautifully designed and ideal for people of all ages, from elderly folks to kids,
LKY: THE EXPERIENCE might be tailored towards Singaporeans. But if you’re in town and willing to learn more about Singapore’s history and culture beyond Gardens by the Bay or the Singapore Flyer, I highly recommend this experience.
"LKY: THE EXPERIENCE" takes place from October 6th to December 31st, 2023, with opening hours from Monday to Sunday, between 10am to 8pm.
Please note that the last entry is at 7.30pm.
To begin the activity, kindly present your mobile or printed voucher to the staff at the counter. This unique experience is made by Lucid Experiences in partnership with TRCL and Community Chest.
Address: 11 Prinsep Link, Singapore 187949 (map)