Facing sea monsters at the Science Centre

Here is your chance to immerse yourself in an underwater experience on dry land.

Get close to and learn about 14 life-sized prehistoric sea creatures - and two from the present - at Asia-Pacific's largest animatronics showcase, the Monsters of the Sea exhibition at the Science Centre Singapore (SCS).

Covering 2,000 sq m, the exhibition was actually designed and created in Argentina by Aurea Exhibitions.

It is the second collaboration between Aurea and SCS, the first being 2013's prehistoric Titans of the Past that featured some of the largest dinosaur skeletons in the world.

Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, the centre's chief executive, said the inspiration behind the new monster exhibit was because "the deep sea has always raised many questions...Therefore, the mysterious ocean is the topic we approached for this exhibition".

FAMILIAR SIGHT: The Mosasaurus display at the Monsters of the Sea exhibition.

Inside the exhibit, a "submarine" leads you to a lost ocean where all the sea monsters - many based on real beasts and some on myths - come together in one location.

BLOCKBUSTER FILM

The animatronics displays mimic the movement and behaviour of the creatures. Each has its own informative display.

"It took us six months to conceptualise and develop this exhibition, and another six months to build it," said Mr Ezequiel F Pena, director of Aurea Exhibitions. Along with his team, Mr Pena worked closely with palaeontologists to accurately create the creatures.

Some of the exhibits will be more familiar than others. Many may recognise the Mosasaurus - all 18 metres of it - after it was heavily featured in the blockbuster film, Jurassic World.

Less well known but equally impressive is the crocodile-like Purussaurus. It patrolled the South American region up to 13 million years ago and is believed to have the strongest bite of four-footed animals.

DEVELOPERS: Mr Ezequiel F. Peña (left) and Mr Tobias Pratt, both directors of Aurea Exhibitions, standing in front of the Purussaurus display. 

 

Mr Pena explained that the animatronics creatures begin as a steel skeleton before having motors attached. It is then covered in foam and later carved to shape before being coated in silicone.

The displays range from 250kg to 2,000kg in weight and were shipped from Argentina in eight 12-metre-high shipping containers.

Prof Lim said he hopes the exhibition will spark visitors' interest in marine biology, especially since Singapore is surrounded by sea.

Mr Pena said: "Educating and entertaining is always the aim with our exhibitions."