On/OFF Exhibit gives feel-good retro experience- literally and figuratively

Our Parents can rejoice! Gen Zs like us can now better understand when you say "Back In My Day"thanks to On/Off 1970s to 2000s exhibits.

Written by Y.S. Chia

Gen Z's can't seem to get enough of nostalgia, be it vinyl or polaroid cameras. That being said, we're seriously selective about what we bring back.

That's why when our parents and grandparents reminisce about their good old days, the image in our head is probably far out of date.

With the National Museum of Singapore's FREE ON/OFF Exhibit, however, we can all have a better idea of “back in the day”.

The exhibit, which goes on to October 30 October, aims to recreate the recreate the sights and sounds of the 1970s to 2000s.

What we saw:

The exhibits consist of four areas - Work In Progress - an exhibit showcasing a 1970s office, Hello Mobile - a collection of phones over the years, The Art of Living - showcasing a living space from the 80s and Game On - where you can play a digital version of old-time pinball games.

So without further ado, here’s what we thought about it:

Touch and see, be happy:

Ever been to a museum, and seen something really cool but resisted touching it thanks to some “do not touch” sign? Well On/Off leaves this frustration in the past.

From Work In Progress’ Typewriters; to the various phones on display at Hello Mobile and even the radio in Art of Living - On/Off gives you a full-contact experience!

This made me feel way more engaged in the exhibits as I touched and listened to the charm of the past. I was fully immersed in the sets - thanks to the careful detail - from seats for visitors throughout the scenes to flippable switches.

That said, I was a bit disappointed when I learnt I could not interact with the old computers shown on display. Instead, we saw an underwhelming screen of people’s recollections of these computers - interesting, but not the same.

Letting Current Tech do the talking:

Make no mistake, this is a retro exhibit but that doesn’t mean you can’t have digital activities.

While you won’t touch a pager or old Nokia at Hello Mobile, an interactive screen that lets you simulate texting - a welcoming and fun touch.

The Art of Living’s darkroom also uses a clever screen to showcase the art of developing photos in the “tray”. I was a little creeped out but nevertheless impressed that the photos appearing were taken at the photo booth prior.

The Game On Station’s reliance on current tech falls short, however. The exhibit aims to replicate pocket toy games - in particular the pocket pinball game. While it does a decent replica, I felt more games or pinball variations could be covered.

I was also disappointed that they didn’t have any physical playable pocket toys(or like the ones you saw as a kid at the doctor). While I know they may not entirely coincide with the 1990s/2000s, they could always place the ones from the 1990s in displays too.

Yesterday’s Scenes, Today’s Photoshoot:

Vibrant colours? Checked! Aesthetic location? Checked! Easy Photo ops? Checked!

On/Off delivers the sets of 1970s to 2000s shipped ready to your social media feed.

It might just be me but I think the exhibits were lighted brighter than your typical museum fair - which if true I really appreciate.

Whether you want a lowkey Squid Game-themed shot at Game On, or your “Day in the office” at Work in Progress, there’s plenty of space for people to get photos.

Our Honest Opinion:

"The Past is a present not to be missed.” - 4/5

With impressive exhibits and interactive opportunities everywhere, On/Off really immerses you in a snapshot of the world our parents and grandparents lived in.

Making the deal even better is its FREE for all Singaporeans and the exhibit itself isn’t very long - you could cover it in 2 hours or less. Perhaps the only downside is the Game On exhibit’s lack of game selection. If you’re a Gen Z like me, I would really encourage you to check this out. Our parents have spent years trying to decode our slang, obsessions and TikTok dances - perhaps it’s time we

tried to understand the world they grew up in.

On/Off is a museum exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore and goes on till 30 October 2022. You can visit it between 10am-7pm any day of the week(times may differ for Escape Room Nights). —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Found something interesting but don’t wanna spend the money on it yet? Share it with us through our DMs and we may just check out the place for you!

You can also contact us via getahonestreview@gmail.com

About the Writer: - Writer Bio: Y.S. Chia(he/him) is our 20-year-old Honest Agent who loves going on adventures - be it hiking nature trails or checking out Singapore's latest festivals. When he's not out and about, you can find him being a potato watching Netflix or on the rare occasion - at the gym.