POP-UP IN THE MUSEUM

28 June Friday – 21 July Sunday 2024

POP-UP In The Museum features thematic guided tours & workshops, cinematic screenings, collaborative exhibitions, shopping events and F&B experiences in the museum happening at curated periods of time along the year. 

Pop-up concepts have a history that dates back many centuries to the earliest known travelling merchants and grew in popularity from the early 2000s and brands used temporary locations to build awareness and promote products that can appeal to customers. 

POP-UP In The Museum at the MINT Museum of Toys carries an edge over regular pop-ups by bringing out the nostalgia and significance of pop-up culture and brands while still tapping into contemporary trends that draws in various communities in the museum industry, arts & culture sector or collecting world. 

Collaborative Exhibition (28 June – 13 July 2024)

For Women by Women, A Collection of Door of Hope Dolls & Vintage Handbags

For Women by Women, A Collection of Door of Hope Dolls & Vintage Handbags features Door of Hope Dolls made between 1910s – 1930s from Shanghai, China from the museum’s Childhood Favourites toy collection as well as a line of vintage and rare luxury handbags from the 1990s such as Chanel Dianas and Hermes Kellys. The exhibition explores the parallels of women’s roles and power during the early 20th century and present day. 

Established in 1901 in Shanghai, China, the Door of Hope Missionary was founded by Miss Laura M, White, a southern Baptist missionary with the primary goal of rescuing, sheltering, educating and training young Chinese girls and women who were often victims of poverty, human trafficking and exploitation. These women were offered a safe environment and learnt skills such as sewing, embroidery and wood carving to make handcrafted dolls dressed in traditional attires, ethnic and religious garments reflective of life in the 1900s Shanghai. These handcrafted dolls became a significant source of income for the missionary and contributed to the legacy of the Door of Hope Mission today, highlighting the impact of early missionary work that has helped improve the lives of vulnerable populations through education and training. 

In the Present Day, the roles and power of women has shifted significantly from a time  where women were limited to domestic roles with limited education, employment and restrictive social expectations which dictates dress codes, behaviour and societal participation. Today, women participate in a wide range of roles involving leadership, entrepreneurship and have far greater access to higher education and career opportunities. 

This exhibition aims to highlight the transformation of women’s roles from the 1900s to the present day, marked by significant advancement in rights, education and employment.

Free Access

Open House

20 July Saturday 2024 & 21 July Sunday 2024

Exhibition

The Museum’s Largest Exhibition of Vintage Toys & Collectables

Specially for POP-UP In The Museum Free Access Open House Weekend, the museum’s largest exhibition of vintage toys and collectables – Collectables is available for self-guided exploration for free.

In Level 2: Collectables, the exhibition explores the wide array of vintage toys beginning from the collection of early toys and traditional folk games which evokes a sense of nostalgia to the golden age of toys during the industrial revolution. Following the mass production of toys since the industrial revolution, the exhibition also showcases the impacts of globalisation leading to the commercialisation of toys. In addition, the exhibition will also investigate how toys can document history and become catalysts for social and political movements in the past.

Thematic Guided Tour

Unveiling the Glamour of Beauty Trends Since 1920s

This guided tour explores fashion as an ever-evolving concept since the roaring 1920s era to the era of innovation in the 1930s, turbulent war period during 1940s as well as post-war period of 1950s. 

Our guide will provide you insights into the captivating world of vintage makeup, hairstyles and fashion through curated displays of toys and collectables from the museum’s Collectables toy collection. Learn about some of the influential figures and cultural shifts that shaped glamorous looks such as the first modern swimsuit which came into the fore during 1930s and understand how some of these trends continue to inspire modern beauty today. 

Vintage Luxury Handbags Shopping

A line of vintage and rare luxury handbags from the 1990s such as Chanel Dianas and Hermes Kellys sourced by online luxury boutique – My Grandfather’s Things will be on display and sale. 

This is a 2-day free-access shopping event on 20 July 2024 & 21 July 2024 at the MINT Museum of Toys.

A Drinking Experience At The Public Gallery

Inviting all wine-loving folks to ‘wine’ down between 12pm – 630pm at the museum’s versatile yet unconventional gallery space – The Public Gallery located at the rooftop level. 

Happening during the last weekend of this season’s POP-UP In The Museum, guests can choose to enjoy either a full bodied rich Merlot or a light crisp dry Sauvignon Blanc, both from the French Winery – Les Producteurs Reunis. Enjoy this drinking experience at The Public Gallery by the glass or by bottle! This experience is available for booking at Level R (Rooftop) between 12pm – 630pm only.

Fees applies (No Service Charge & GST)

Exhibition: Vintage Enamel Advertising Signs

This exhibition located at the rooftop level of the museum (Level R) features the museum’s vintage enamel advertising signs collection which traces how vintage enamel signs document the many facets of everyday life for middle-class consumers between the 1800s to the mid-1900s. Two collections – Tasks at Home and Infant Care – investigate the domestic lives of women, while the Delicacies of the Middle Class collection offers a rare look at historic 19th century chocolate manufacturers. Or, discover the leisure activities of working and middle-class folk through the Industrial Alehouses and Travel and Transportation collections – which explore industrial drinking culture and innovations to transportation respectively.

Featured Exhibitions

Discover featured exhibitions at 5 stairwells of the museum namely:

• Stairwell R/5: Vintage Decorative Tins
• Stairwell 5/4: Birth of Astro Boy
• Stairwell 4/3: Spooky Horror
• Stairwell 3/2: Bedtime Stories
• Stairwell 2/1: Beatles Memorabilia

For enquiries about POP-Up In The Museum or if you are keen to collaborate with the museum for pop-ups, please email info@emint.com