“From the great Tualang tree began a soft deep hum. Like an ancient spirit exhaling and inhaling, breathing…”
The Tale of Hitam Manis and the Tualang Bees tells the story of a gifted palace gardener, Hitam Manis, falling in love with a prince. She was then ordered to be killed by the Sultan. Instead of dying, she turned into a honey bee and flew into the rainforest surrounding the palace. Years later, while out hunting, her prince was drawn to a magnificent honeycomb on a tall Tualang tree. Their reunion awaits.
Inspired by a folktale from traditional honey hunters, the synthesised images of "MADU" (English: 'Honey') were developed by training an AI model on selected datasets from the National Museum Digital Collection. Through examining visuals from our colonial histories and Southeast Asian traditions, "MADU" is an attempt to rejuvenate our connection by uncovering living links between nature and our cultural heritage.
Inspired by a folktale from traditional honey hunters, the synthesised images of "MADU" (English: 'Honey') were developed by training an AI model on selected datasets from the National Museum Digital Collection. Through examining visuals from our colonial histories and Southeast Asian traditions, "MADU" is an attempt to rejuvenate our connection by uncovering living links between nature and our cultural heritage.
This project was exhibited as part of the “Spinning Connections: Creative Takes on Intangible Cultural Heritage” programme presented by the National Museum of Singapore from 2 May - 6 August 2023.
Story Inspired by
Heidi Shamsuddin, ‘Hitam Manis & the Tualang Bees', Nusantara - A Sea of Tales
Heidi Shamsuddin, ‘Hitam Manis & the Tualang Bees', Nusantara - A Sea of Tales
Animation
Studio 1914
Adzlynn
Hong Hu
Studio 1914
Adzlynn
Hong Hu
MUSIC & SOUNDSCAPE DESIGN
Hong Hu
Hong Hu
MICROSITE DESIGN
Adzlynn
Adzlynn
Archival Photographs
Hasnoor Hussain, ‘Honey Hunters of Ulu Muda'
Hasnoor Hussain, ‘Honey Hunters of Ulu Muda'
The synthesised images in this film have been created by training on selected datasets with permission from the
‘Collection of Asian Civilisations Museum',
'Collection of the Peranakan Museum',
'Collection of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board. Gift of Mr. G. K. Goh.’
‘Collection of Asian Civilisations Museum',
'Collection of the Peranakan Museum',
'Collection of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board. Gift of Mr. G. K. Goh.’
PRESS
THE STRAITS TIMES
Arts Picks: Animated short Madu, The Glasshouse’s tete-a-tetes, and Difference Engine book launches
Arts Picks: Animated short Madu, The Glasshouse’s tete-a-tetes, and Difference Engine book launches
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE
The National Museum of Singapore and the Maybank Foundation celebrate the diverse intangible cultural heritage of Singapore and Southeast Asia with new series of commissioned videos
The National Museum of Singapore and the Maybank Foundation celebrate the diverse intangible cultural heritage of Singapore and Southeast Asia with new series of commissioned videos
