THE BAG: Carrier bags in Singapore from the 1950s to the 1980s
National Museum of Singapore
The Balcony, Level 2
93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897

duration: December 19th, 2009 – April 19th,  2010

admission: free

info:
We are no strangers to carrier bags made from paper or plastic as a common form of packaging. Paper carrier bags were first locally made in the 1950s for provision shops. Its survival was then challenged by plastic bags as the latter became increasingly popular in the 1970s.

These carrier bags were created for the customer’s convenience and as alternatives to the rattan basket, newspapers and leaves used to hold food and sundry items. Some households and street peddlers in the past also recycled the carrier bags to store personal effects and trade tools.

This exhibition showcases over 60 paper and plastic bags in the National Museum’s collection, many on display for the first time. Together with contextual photos, the display will highlight different uses of the ubiquitous carrier bag, its role as a mobile advertisement, and also shed light on the paper bag business in Singapore – a much forgotten trade that is still surviving today.

more info…
www.nationalmuseum.sg

wood block plate for printing.

all images shot with a Canon EOS 5D MKII w/ a 24-70mm f/2.8L and flipped in Apple’s Aperture 3.