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In the melting pot that is Singapore, Peranakan is the culture most associated with so-called old Singapore. It dates from the late 19th century, having evolved from the intermarriage of male migrant Chinese workers and local Malay women.
This unique culture that embraced baroque furniture, elaborate costumes and colourful porcelain is now predominately confined to the Asian Civilisations Museum on Armenian Street (which has just closed its doors for redevelopment and will reopen in 2008 as a Peranakan-themed museum) and in a few touristy shophouses in Katong.
But Peranakan culture has been embraced by artists and performers recently. Last month, a theatre troupe called the Main Wayang Company presented Baba Nyonya Mari-go-round, a colourful musical aimed at modern-day Peranakans.
'The idea is to reinvent our culture,' says director Richard Tan. 'Otherwise, it will be confined to antiques shops. Already, most of the younger generation doesn't understand the patois, so we're doing 70 per cent of the show in English to bring them in.'
Just a fortnight ago, award-winning writer and painter Desmond Sim opened Plenty - Show of Abundance, a solo exhibition in which nyonyas (Peranakan ladies) are brought to life through his Amedeo Modigliani-style paintings.