When Jules Verne published the novel Around the World in 80 days in 1873, he could never have imagined that 150 years later, it would inspire Alliance Française de Singapour’s exhibition Around the World, which showcases the best of French transportation across the ages.
Around the World Exhibition at Alliance Française
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through transport-related innovations that emerged from France. This spans different modes of travel from land to sea to air, and even space.
On from now till 15 July 2023, the Around the World exhibition delves into different eras of transportation, casting the spotlight on French engineering and innovation.
When visitor first arrive at the Itinerary Office at the start of the exhibition, they can pick up an exhibition passport and boarding pass.
These are important, not only for visitors to take notes, but because they allow visitors to be in the running to win an air ticket to France by completing a code on the boarding pass.
Also on display at the start of the small exhibition is Jules Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages, which includes the novel Around the World in 80 Days.
Land Transportation
Inside the land transportation gallery, visitors can learn about French innovations such as the TGV high-speed train.
While many Singaporeans associate the Michelin brand with food, the company’s core products are represented at this section too. Amongst its innovations on display is a puncture-proof tire.
Sea Transportation
Take a peak into the luxury and romance of sea travel by imagining what it must have been like to sail onboard the SS France. There is a detailed model of this ocean liner in the sea section of the exhibition, along with records of other sea-related innovations by the French.
Air Travel
France has a long association with air travel. This began as far back as the 1780s when the Montgolfier brothers took to the air in a hot air balloon, right up to the 20th Century with the development of the record-setting Concorde.
Amongst the artefacts on display at the air gallery are the tableware and toiletry bag gifted to passengers on board the Concorde. An Air France menu also shows how delicacies like caviar and truffles were served onboard the supersonic plane as it flew between Paris and New York.
Space Travel
Space is the final frontier at the Alliance Française de Singapour exhibition. One highlight here is a VR experience. This places visitors into the shoes of Thomas Pesquet, the French European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut who spent six months in the International Space Station.
MOVE! Programmes
To complement the Around the World exhibition, Alliance Française de Singapour is also be holding the MOVE! Programme which will feature a series of talks, film screenings and activities.
Families with young children can look forward to selection of films that includes the film adaptation of Jules Verne’s timeless masterpiece, Around the World in 80 Days, a chuck glider making workshop, and storytelling sessions at the Alliance Française library that will immerse kids into world of aviation.
Get details about the Around the World exhibition and the MOVE! programmes at Alliance Française.
Where to View the Around the World Exhibition
The exhibition can be found at the gallery on the second floor of Alliance Française.
The gallery is open from Tuesdays to Fridays, 1 pm to 7.30 pm, and on Saturday 9 am to 5.30 pm. Admission is free.
