Objects Exhibitions

SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World

by ARCH2
1 - 24 May • 10:00am
1 - 24 May • 11:00am

Explore Southeast Asia’s seafaring past through submerged treasures and underwater discoveries. This special showcase traces journeys of trade, craft, and culture shaped by regional sea routes, human hands, and presents maritime archaeology as a way to understand global connections, heritage, and the ethics of underwater discovery.

SHIPPED-Memoirs-from-Our-Maritime-World

*Programme tickets will go live on 22nd April 2026 12pm

This exhibition invites visitors to explore Southeast Asia’s maritime past through the fascinating world of underwater archaeology. Rather than presenting submerged finds as isolated relics, it brings them to life as evidence of movement. These objects are shaped by trade, craftsmanship, and the sea routes that connected the region to the wider world.

Anchored by artefacts recovered from Singapore waters, including materials linked to the Empress of Asia and ceramics from the renowned Jingdezhen kilns, the showcase traces each object’s journey from production and exchange to submergence, discovery, and interpretation.

Through stories, science, and conservation, the exhibition reveals how maritime archaeology works in practice while highlighting the cultural meanings and ethical questions involved in preserving and presenting shared underwater heritage today.

ARCH2

ArCH Square is the first education and outreach centre dedicated to archaeology and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in Singapore and the region. It serves as a platform and enabler for practitioners, academics, and enthusiasts to transmit knowledge, build capabilities and foster community. Through a collaborative model of programming with stakeholders, ArCH Square empowers individuals and communities to access and contribute to the fields of archaeology and ICH, fostering a deeper understanding of our cultural identity and shared heritage. ArCH Square is managed by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board.

Website: www.heritage.sg/arch-square
Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Arch-Square-Singapore
Instagram: www.instagram.com/archsquaresg





Other fascinating stories & events…

Archaeology 101!

21 May • 10:00am

New to archaeology? This four-week primer introduces Singapore’s archaeology through engaging theory and hands-on post-excavation work. Learn about artefacts, materials, vessels, and motifs while gaining six hours of practical processing experience designed for curious beginners.

Dragon Kiln Excursion and Pottery Workshop Experience

16, 23 May • 02:00pm

23 May • 10:00am

Explore Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle through a guided tour and hands-on workshop. Learn about the Dragon Kiln’s role in regional craft and maritime exchange, then create a batik-inspired cup to be fired and collected after 4–5 weeks.

Framing the Sea: Maritime Heritage as Evidence and Interpretation with Dr. Michael Flecker

16 May • 01:30pm

Dive into maritime heritage through stories of shipwrecks and underwater discoveries. Drawing on Dr Michael Flecker’s fieldwork, this conversation explores how maritime archaeology reveals trade, technology, and cultural exchange in Southeast Asia further expanding on how we have come to understand, study, and share heritage today.