You have kaya toast and eggs for brekkie, go about the day telling your friend about the ‘luoli’ that cut your lane on the way to work, and order a ‘kopi-o siu dai’ to perk you up during the afternoon slump at the office. All these may come naturally to you but have you ever thought about how these uniquely Singaporean terms that are a rojak of Chinese, Malay and other dialects came about?

No, we’re not asking you to go for social studies tuition. Instead, there’s a cool new exhibition that’s just opened its doors that will lend to that purpose just perfectly. SINGAPO 人: Discovering Chinese Singaporean Culture is the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s inaugural permanent exhibition delves into the Chinese Singaporean identity, from food and festivals to music and language. Visitors will experience immersive exhibits spread across five IG-ready zones. Among the exhibits are loans from local personalities, including Stefanie Sun’s Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist in 2000. Foodies will rejoice in an interactive hawker centre room where you can watch local dishes such as chilli crab and Hainanese chicken rice come to life, or test your kopitiam lingo knowledge.

Here’s a peek at what to expect before you check out the free exhibition for yourself.

If your favourite part of history lessons in school was sleeping in class, you’ll be relieved to know that the first zone, which traces the Chinese Singaporean’s roots from migrant community in the 19th century till today, comes replete with ’grammable neon lights and objects such as quaint attap houses to hornbill skulls that are worth at a photo, or three. Either way, you’ll have no problems staying awake for this one.

These artfully displayed exhibits are actual doors and windows from HDB flats. But why come to an exhibition to look at something you can see from the comfort of your own couch? Besides providing an in-depth look at the values and festivals that Chinese families in Singapore pass down, there’s also a hipster-approved secret door which opens up to… well, you’ll have to visit to find out.

Low in calories, high on fun. This immersive multimedia feast of local delicacies such as Hainanese chicken rice and chilli crabs is perfect for those hungry for knowledge of how their favourite local food came about.

Or if you’d much rather show off, duke it out in a kopitiam lingo battle on an interactive table display at this experiential zone too.

Where else can you snoop around mod-Sin chef Willin Low’s personal recipe journal? This room spotlights the achievements of Chinese Singaporeans who’ve made their mark through reinvention.

For your daily dosage of local pride, schlep right over to this final room which highlights our well-loved local exports, whether it’s JJ Lin’s chart-toppers or Old Chang Kee curry puffs finding their way to London.

SINGAPO 人: Discovering Chinese Singaporean Culture is open daily, from 2-8pm on Mon and 10am-8pm (Tue-Sun), at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Gallery, Level 2. Admission is free. More info at https://www.singaporeccc.org.sg/.

Photos: SCCC