SINGAPORE — Those were carefree days of island living: Swimming in clear waters, walks by the sea with the woman who later became his wife, and free outdoor movie screenings, three times a week. But Mr Sugiman Jahuri’s idyllic life became a thing of the past when he moved to mainland Singapore at the age of 25 after living on one of the nation’s offshore islands for 12 years.

Mr Sugiman, now 75, was one of the residents on Pulau Bukom, an offshore island south-west of Singapore that is now home to the largest Shell oil refinery in the world. His story is one of those being captured in an exhibition by the National Heritage Board at the National Museum of Singapore, called Balik Pulau: Stories from Singapore’s Islands, which seeks to document the stories of those who lived, worked and played on the more than 70 islands that made up the Singapore archipelago.

Most Singaporeans have never had the chance to learn about the history surrounding these islands. Ms Angelita Teo, director of the National Museum of Singapore, said this is the first time the museum is exploring the heritage of Singapore’s many islands in such detail.

“Although the islands are small in size, their stories are anything but that. In fact, they are big in heart and soul, and speak volumes of island life back in those days,” said Ms Teo.

The exhibition is designed to be immersive so visitors can get to experience what island life was like. It also aims to inspire the present generation to visit the islands. Said curator Marcus Ng, 39, whose interest in the islands began after he visited a few of the offshore islands: “It’s a very interesting juxtaposition ... it’s an operational landfill (Pulau Semakau), but yet it’s a thriving habitat for mangroves and coral reefs.”

Before the oil refinery expanded in 1961, Pulau Bukom used to house a small community of about a thousand people.

Mr Sugiman was of primary-school age when he moved to the island from mainland Singapore. He began working for the oil refinery in 1956, but he was asked to leave the island a decade later, along with the last remaining villagers who lived there. “You really cannot find a place like that here anymore. Life was very simple then,” he reminisced. “Now, it’s so fast-paced.”

Mr Teo Yan Teck, who ran a provision shop on Pulau Sakeng for about 40 years until 1994, used to take a boat to nearby islands such as Pulau Semakau. Said the 82-year-old: “On the island, there was no stress. I was very upset when I had to leave for the mainland.”

So was Mr Sugiman’s wife, Mdm Annah Sarip, 66. “When I left Pulau Bukom, I missed my friends and the free movies the most.”

“Balik Pulau: Stories from Singapore’s Islands” is held in conjunction with Singapore HeritageFest 2014. The exhibition is running till Aug 10 from 10am to 6pm daily. Admission is free.