Doraemon Exhibition to arrive in National Museum Singapore that lets you explore the past, present, and future of Doraemon

Straight from Japan to Singapore, the first Doraemon Exhibition to be held outside of Japan will open at the National Museum of Singapore on 5 November, showcasing how one of the most beloved Japanese characters sprung out of the pages of a manga and into the hearts of generations of fans around the world.

Exploring the past, present and the future of Doraemon, the multi-sited exhibition offers several experiences that include a contemporary art show; a showcase of original drawings and sketches by its creator, the late Mr Fujiko F Fujio; a Doraemon-themed cafe and limited-edition merchandise that engage visitors to make new memories with the iconic Japanese manga character.

For the legions of new and existing fans who may be curious about Doraemon’s origins, The Doraemon Exhibition will cast a spotlight on the cat style robot’s humble beginnings as the central character in a Japanese manga series that debuted in December 1969. Written and illustrated by Fujiko F Fujio – the pen name of Japanese manga artist Hiroshi Fujimoto – its popularity surged after the manga was subsequently adapted into an anime series and movie features.

MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition

To acquaint you with the original manga version of Doraemon and offer insight into the mind of its creator, the exhibition in Singapore features an exclusive section titled MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition, comprising more than 70 drawings and sketches by the late Mr Fujimoto.

On loan from the Fujiko F Fujio Museum in Japan, this marks the very first public showcase of the original Doraemon creator’s inventive and formative illustrations outside Japan.

The drawings will take you on a journey to explore the beginnings of Doraemon and his friends, as well as the stories behind some of his fascinating gadgets such as the ‘Memory Bread’ and the ‘Lying Mirror’.

Doraemon the Movie series

In addition to the drawings, you can also experience selected highlights from the Doraemon the Movie series. You can interact with a reproduction of Mr Fujimoto’s desk in his workroom where he created many of the Doraemon drawings, featuring his drawing tools as well as books and figures on his favourite themes such as dinosaurs and outer space that inspired his rich world of works.

You can also get a glimpse of the manga production process, with insight from Mr Fujimoto himself, to better understand the creative process behind the iconic character.

Create Your Own Original Doraemon

The section titled Create Your Own Original Doraemon features contemporary artworks by 28 leading contemporary Japanese artists and arts groups who were invited to create their own unique version of Doraemon based on their personal memories, and situate the iconic character in today’s changing world.

The artworks range from painting and sculptures to graphics and photography, and they are divided into two acts:

Act 1: Featuring 18 Japanese artists and art groups, this segment presents artworks that respond to the prompt “Create Your Own Original Doraemon”. Artists were free to interpret and represent the unlimited possibilities of the iconic Doraemon character.

Act 2: In this segment, 10 contemporary artists created their own interpretation of Doraemon while taking reference from their favourite Doraemon movies produced over the years such as, Doraemon: Nobita’s Great Adventure into the Underworld and Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds, among others.

Two Singaporean artists were also specially commissioned to create their unique version of Doraemon for the Singapore edition of the exhibition, which will make its debut at the National Museum.

Contemporary artist Jahan Loh’s contribution to the exhibition, titled My Journey with Doraemon, is a sculptural artwork that explores the idea of teleportation and intergalactic destinations, inspired by his childhood memories of reading Doraemon manga. He imagines himself using one of Doraemon’s magical devices, while harnessing the power of art, science, and technology to explore the dizzying realms of the past, present and future, with Doraemon by his side.

The second artwork is by Singaporean photographer Leslie Kee titled, IMAGINE, which envisions a world of ‘Love, Peace, One, You, Me, Doraemon’. The artwork is a collaboration between nine models of diverse backgrounds, orchestrated by Kee, featuring Thom Browne’s Fall 2022 collection. The series of blue-tinted portraits is a light-hearted and fun take on the beauty and seriousness of skin tones, much like how he remembers the way Doraemon makes him feel.   

Doraemon-themed Café and Merchandise

In conjunction with the two exhibits, you can also expect a Doraemon-themed cafe experience at the Basement Gallery Foyer created in collaboration with Toraya, an esteemed wagashi (traditional Japanese confections) maker with a history of close to 500 years.

After exploring the exhibition, you can enjoy a Singapore-exclusive Dorayaki set inspired by the character’s favourite snack as well as other snacks imported from Japan.

If you’re looking to bring home a piece of the exhibition, there will also be an exclusive line-up of Doraemon merchandise from The Doraemon Exhibition and the Fujiko F Fujio Museum, as well as exclusive Doraemon collectibles. These include tote bags, mugs, and stationery items, among others.

Tickets

The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022 will open to the public from 5 November 2022 to 5 February 2023 from 10am to 7pm daily, with last admission at 6.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased here.

This exhibition is presented by LEYOUKI, with support from the National Museum of Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board.