The Albatross File Exhibition

I served as Audio Design Lead for The Albatross File: Singapore’s Independence Declassified, an immersive exhibition exploring the political negotiations and decisions leading up to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965. Through firsthand documents, oral-history interviews, and narrative environments, the exhibition brings to life the human and political dimensions of this pivotal moment in Singapore’s history.

The work spans sound design, original composition, dialogue editing, and multichannel mixing across distinct zones including The Room, Records, Chatbook, Atlas, and the Entrance. Each space was treated as a self-contained environment while contributing to a cohesive overall sonic language. Music, sound design, and dialogue were developed in close coordination with creative, lighting, and spatial design, allowing sound to respond naturally to content, architecture, and pacing.

The exhibition opened on the 8th of December 2025 in the National Library, Singapore (Level 10) and is a permanent exhibition.

Credits

Creative Direction: Beatrice Chia-Richmond, Michael Chiang

Exhibition Production:Pico

Project Management: Presplay — Luanyin Yeo, Venissa Foo

Technical Managers: Kenny Wong, Denise Low, Ian Lee

Film Director: Brian Gothong Tan

Animation/Visuals: Ben Kee/Anomalyst Studio

Lighting Design: Michael Chan

Interactive Programming: Pico, Accenture

Audio Design Lead:
Avik Chari

Sound Design & Composition:
Avik Chari — The Room, Records, Chatbook, Atlas, Entrance
Yen Yuting — The Room

Dialogue Editing:
Avik Chari — Archival (The Room, Records)
Yen Yuting — Filmed (The Room)

Re-recording Mix:
Avik Chari — Atlas
Yen Yuting — GRYD Studio (The Room)

Audio Consultation: Edric Hwang — GRYD Studio

Audio Support: Job Jaciela, Jordan Thiam Hao Wei, Lucas Tay

Recording Musicians (Atlas):
David Loke — Violin, Viola
Bekhzod Oblayorov — Cello

Voice-over Actors (The Room – background dialogue, Entrance):
Rishi Vadrevu, Riqi Hanzrudyn, Wayne Lim