Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco

31 May 2024 to 1 June 2025
Daily, 10am–7pm | Fridays, 10am–9pm

Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco reunites a set of 84 hand-carved model pagodas for the first time in over a century. Originally made in Shanghai, they travelled thousands of miles away to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 – a massive world’s fair that attracted over 18 million visitors during its 288-day run.

Exquisitely detailed, the models are based on real structures, and embody the diversity of iconic pagodas from different regions and historical periods. For many visitors to the exposition, they offered a first, tantalising glimpse of China’s rich architectural heritage. Together with related works, they paint a vivid picture of cosmopolitan Shanghai and San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century.

Pagoda Odyssey will be complemented by Towers of Faith, a photography display of religious landmarks in Singapore, and Journey into the Pagoda, a virtual reality fantasy experience. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of public programmes, including weekend festivals, curator-led tours, and talks.