Khoo, C.S.G., & Tan, E.A.L. (2025). Knowledge graph system for digitised archival collections: Learning from the life, work and times of past masters. In R.Y.P. Kan & C.S.G. Khoo (Eds), Signature pedagogies for professions in arts and design: Issues, methods, contexts, practices (Chapter 10, pp. 149-175). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2616-8_10

Abstract. This chapter discusses an underutilised resource in arts educational institutions that have a significant history: their archival collections, including the personal archives of famous artists and musicians who taught at the institution, were trained there, or were otherwise associated with the institution. The kinds of knowledge, insights and narratives that can be derived from such archival collections are examined. The authors propose knowledge graph as a suitable knowledge organisation scheme for representing items in the personal archives and their inter-relationships as well as links to concepts and resources on the Web. Three approaches to developing a knowledge graph are illustrated using the personal archive of two pioneer musicians and composers in post-World War II Singapore as case studies: Zubir Said and Leong Yoon Pin. A digital archive system comprising a graph database management system for storing the knowledge graph, and a graph visualisation interface for presenting the knowledge graph was developed. The initial results of a user study of the system and interface are described. The authors suggest that it is important for arts professionals to understand the development of their art in the locale in which they are practising, and to consider how their artistic practice can draw from the artistic heritage of the community. They refer to this kind of learning as a pedagogy of artistic tradition and heritage.