HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION – ArtScience Museum, Singapore!

UPDATED!

Just yesterday I was at the press conference for Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. As I had a flight to catch right after, I had swiftly edited and posted half of the pictures I took at the exhibition here on my blog.

Now that I’m back in KL, I have added the rest of the pictures as well as additional information of the exhibition here. Feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions and do share about this to any Harry Potter fans you know! Trust me, they would want to know about this!

For a start, do you know that this exhibition is the very FIRST for Asia?

Well, it is!
The ArtScience Museum, Singapore showcases Harry Potter’s grand collection of items in wonderfully detailed settings inspired by the film sets. For the FIRST time ever in Asia, HARRY POTTER: The Exhibition is offering fans an exclusive inside the famous wizard’s magical world and the opportunity to experience the amazing craftmanship of hundreds of AUTHENTIC costumes and props from the Harry Potter films; from the 1st instalment to the 8th!

HARRY POTTER: The Exhibition officially opens today. Just yesterday at the press conference everyone present was astonished when the Phelps twins appeared to unveil the opening of the exhibition!

Right after the press conference, members of the media were escorted in small groups to the exhibition area. Yes, we were the first in Asia to visit the exhibition before it was even open for the public!

Each group were assigned a “tour guide” who gave short explanations of the props on display. Admittedly, I’m not a die-hard fan of Harry Potter but I found the whole exhibition mesmerizing as the attention to detail was amazing!
Mr. Nick Dixon, Executive Director, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands said in his interview that he wanted every visitor to Harry Potter: The Exhibition to feel as if they were part of the movie itself, swept into the magical world and adventures of Harry Potter and all the cast from the movies right from the moment they stepped through the entrance till the end of the 6 galleries in the exhibition.

Exhibition Walkthrough:
As I have mentioned earlier, there are all together 6 galleries where visitors will be transported to some of their favorite locations in the films via themed vignettes, including the Gryffindor common room, a Hogwarts classroom, Hagrid’s hut, the Forbidden Forest, the Great Hall, and more.

So, here’s a general synopsis of what guests to ArtScience Museum will encounter as they make their way through Harry Potter™: The Exhibition, exploring unique costumes, props and sets from the various Harry Potter film series.

SETTING 1:
Sorting Hat™
Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded more than 1,000 years ago by Godric Gryffindor™, Helga Hufflepuff™, Rowena Ravenclaw™ and Salazar Slytherin™. At the beginning of each school year, the Sorting Hat divides new students into the four Hogwarts houses named after each of the four founders. In the first setting, one guest per group (referring to groups of visitors to the exhibition starting TODAY) is sorted prior to entering the Pre-Show of the exhibition.

SETTING 2:
Pre-Show.
During the Pre-Show, guests watch an eight-screen montage of the Harry Potter film series.

At the climax, a train whistle is heard, followed by the roar of the Hogwarts Express. The wall of the Pre-Show rises to reveal the epic sight of a replica of the Hogwarts Express. Guests are escorted along the platform into the Portrait Gallery, which marks the formal beginning of the exhibition area.

SETTING 3:
Gryffindor Common Room.
Setting three takes visitors into the house of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley™ and Hermione Granger™.
Known for bravery, daring, nerve and chivalry, members of Gryffindor house wear scarlet and gold, which can be seen in the school uniform costumes displayed in this scene.

The Gryffindor area is guarded by a painting of the Fat Lady, similar to the gatekeeper of the common room in the films. On display in this area are many original artifacts that belonged to Harry, Ron and Hermione in the film series. Harry’s wand and glasses are displayed, along with Ron’s monogrammed sweater and wool hat, and the Howler sent from his mother. Also in this area, guests can see the Marauder’s Map.

The Marauder’s Map.

Classrooms. (panaroma mode on the Sony 5n)

The fourth setting explores some of the classes the students experience at Hogwarts. In the Potions area, guests can view Professor Snape’s original costume, alongside his bubbling potions.

In the Divination area, guests can marvel at the details of the exotic wardrobe of Professor Trelawney and gaze into her crystal ball in an effort to predict the future.

Students at Hogwarts learn to defend themselves against Dark Magic in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, which contains a number of magical artifacts used during lessons. Here, guests explore displays featuring costumes and props from the classrooms of Professors Lupin™, Lockhart™ and Umbridge™, including a Cornish pixie.

SETTING 5:

Quidditch™
Quidditch, the most popular sport in the wizarding world, is featured in setting five. Harry became the youngest Seeker in a century at Hogwarts during his first year when he was selected for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Ron and Ginny Weasley™ joined the team in later years, as Keeper and Chaser, respectively. Artifacts from their matches, including dozens of detailed Quidditch costumes and props, even the Golden Snitch™, are on display. Fans will see the Quidditch World Cup and Harry’s Nimbus 2000™ broom. Guests can try their hand at Quidditch, toss a Quaffle and earn a point for their house.

SETTING 6:

Hagrid’s Hut
Rubeus Hagrid™, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, is the focus of the sixth setting. This unique area of the exhibition allows guests to see Buckbeak™ the Hippogriff and provides the opportunity to enter and tour a recreation of Hagrid’s hut, complete with a bubbling cauldron and hatching dragon egg. As Hagrid is half-giant, all of the furniture and many of the other items in his home are over-sized. This immersive environment allows guests to sit in Hagrid’s chair.

SETTING 7:
Forbidden Forest
Setting seven takes visitors to the dense woods on the Hogwarts grounds, the Forbidden Forest, which is strictly off limits to all students. Home to all types of magical creatures, including unicorns, Acromantula (giant spiders), centaurs and Thestrals, the Forest is well-known to Hagrid —who lives at its edge—and Harry, who has some frightening encounters in this area in each film. Fans will recognize life-size centaurs, used as study models, as well as the Hungarian Horntail dragon and even Acromantula.

SETTING 8:

Dark Forces
Setting eight showcases Dark Magic elements used by Lord Voldemort™ and his followers, the Death Eaters, to gain power in the wizarding world. A collection of the darkest elements from the film series fills this environment, including a close-up look at Lord Voldemort’s costume and horcruxes, the Death Eaters’ robes and masks, and a Dementor™.

 

SETTING 9:

Great Hall
Lit by candles that float above the room, the Great Hall at Hogwarts serves as the main meeting area for students. The climax of the exhibition, setting nine features props and artifacts from the magnificent Yule Ball, as well as costumes from notable characters such as Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore™. Features in this area include the collection of Deathly Hallows (Elder Wand, Invisibility Cloak and Resurrection Stone) an ice sculpture centerpiece, stools, Christmas celebration crackers, place settings, platters, a table cloth and Yule Ball programs, invitations and tickets—all props used in the films.

Tickets go on sale from 1 May 2012 at www.MarinaBaySands.com. The exhibition is from 2 June – 30th Sept 2012.

So, who’s excited for this exhibition??
Oh, I have an important community message to share here!
Tickets sales has started since 1st May 2012 and the response has been tremendous!

Thus Mr. Nick Dixon, Executive Director, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands has strongly advised that online booking to be made early on  www.MarinaBaySands.com, and to further accommodate visitors’ schedules, the ticketing system not only allows you to book in advance; but with your specific dates and TIME of visit!
Thoughtful isn’t it? You do not have to queue for your tickets nor do you have to wait for your entry turn. Just book online, come to the ArtScience Museum on the dates you booked the tickets for, grab your tickets and you’re allowed immediate entry!
As entry to the museum is carefully scheduled with controlled number of visitors allowed at specific intervals, this ensures that all visitors would be given ample time and space to browse around in the exhibition without it being too crowded. Damn, I love the professional and diligent planning.
TICKETS HERE: http://www.artsciencemuseum.com.sg/harrypotter/tickets.php

Note: Photography is not allowed in the exhibition hall so if you’re planning to visit, there isn’t a need for you to bring your camera. Yes, we were extremely privileged as we were allowed to take pictures of the exhibits, only on the day itself!
My Sony 5n handled the dim environment extremely well. I didn’t have to edit or brighten much of the pictures at all.

ArtScience Museum, HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore