‘Now Is Not The Time’ – celebrating LKY’s legacy

X3D Studios collaborated with New York-based contemporary artist, Daniel Arsham for this exhibition. He is known for his blend of art, architecture and performance. (PHOTO: Yrika Chan)

Visiting exhibitions is always a must during my semester breaks. Utilising A.I and AR technology, the Now is Not the Time exhibition enlightened me about Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

X3D Studios collaborated with New York-based contemporary artist, Daniel Arsham for this exhibition. He is known for his blend of art, architecture and performance. (PHOTO: Yrika Chan)

In today’s day and age, technological advancements have made the unimaginable possible. Harnessing A.I and AR technology, we can now delve into realms of innovation like never before. 

The Now is Not the Time exhibition is one such exhibition that uses software such as ChatGPT and A.I to generate short films. 

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Paying homage to Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy for his 100th birthday, Now Is Not The Time is an interactive exhibition that is open to visitors from Sep 10 to Sep 24, 2023.

Curated by X3D Studios, the exhibition includes different art displays that merge various mediums such as virtual production, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), generative art, architecture, sculpture, film and music. 

With five zones to explore, visitors can expect a one-of-a-kind experience throughout the exhibition, with some displays making use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology, A.I. generated short films, and a reinterpretation of Lee Kuan Yew’s speeches through ChatGPT. 

Done by LASELLE students, this display used ChatGPT. The students gave the software Lee Kuan Yew’s speeches and prompted it to turn into monologues. (PHOTO: Yrika Chan)

MY EXPERIENCE

As an avid fan of museums and exhibitions, I was looking forward to my visit. Although I did not find myself pondering about the art displays as much as other exhibitions I have been to, it did give me a stronger sense of appreciation.

The art displays taught me more about Lee Kuan Yew’s life and the work he had put in for Singapore. The use of different technologies made me curious to learn as it felt engaging and fun to do so. With interactive elements such as scanning a QR code with my phone that opened up an Instagram filter on Instagram.

I was quite impressed at the use of an Instagram filter for this display. They managed to work with a platform that a lot of people would have on their phones, to convey information, instead of just having it written on physical boards. 

Some of the AR displays made use of the Instagram app for visitors to learn more about Lee Kuan Yew’s personal life. (PHOTO: Yrika Chan)

The A.I. generated short film, The Ode, stood out to me the most. Although A.I generated media is not something up my alley, watching the film was a captivating experience. Seeing A.I. generated clips and images of Lee Kuan Yew at different points in Singapore’s history as his speech plays in the background fascinated me. 

‘The Ode’ was entirely made with generative A.I. and animation. (PHOTO: Yrika Chan)

Overall, I enjoyed how the exhibition was able to incorporate technology into the displays to tell a story. Apart from the experience being a unique one, it helped to bridge the gap between history and modern times. It deepened my understanding of Singapore’s history and ultimately made me proud to be living in Singapore. 


Be sure to also try out the food and beverages available at the location. They have small bites like pastries or ice cream, nostalgic snacks and coffee drinks to offer. 

MORE INFORMATION

The exhibition is located at 25 Pasir Panjang Road. They have a shuttle bus service available for free from Harbourfront MRT Station at Exit D. 
It is a free exhibition but a booking is required to enter. The exhibition is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit  https://www.nowisnotthetime.sg/.