Celebrating Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World

I am delighted to join you this evening for the opening of Andrew Gn, Fashioning the World. Tonight is a special occasion as we celebrate the first international retrospective of a Singaporean fashion designer.

Singapore, just like America, is home to many cultures, in Malay, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian communities. This rich diversity is part of our daily lives. It is reflected in our food, our language, festivals, and everyday interactions. The arts play a vital role in celebrating and sustaining this multicultural identity. From traditional dance performances to music and design, the arts provide a platform for stories to be shared and traditions to be preserved while embracing innovation and creativity.

Over the years, our arts and creative sector have flourished. It has helped to bridge connections, not only among communities within Singapore, but also this very special relationship with America and the world. The remarkable success of Andrew's 2023 exhibition in Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum was testament to his growth. Today's showcase at PAM marks a new milestone in our cultural dialogue on a global stage.

Andrew's work exemplifies how artistic excellence transcends boundaries. Born and raised in Singapore, his creative journey began at the crossroads of cultures. The distinct threads of our multicultural society flow together like colourful streams into a river of endless possibilities that comes alive vividly in Andrew's designs.

One iconic example is the Lotus palm coat from 2003.This masterpiece features Javanese batik motifs, South Asian ikat techniques, and shoulder applets referencing Chinese and Thai traditional costumes. Very pleased that this piece from our national collection has been included in the exhibition, so please keep a lookout for it.

We are immensely proud of Andrew and his accomplishments. His retrospective showcases nearly a hundred pieces of his work. As we explore Andrew's work and his creative philosophy, three qualities stand out.

First, is the constant reinvention to stay relevant. With the fast-moving world of fashion, Andrew has done this remarkably well for close to three decades. His designs move gracefully between east and west, tradition and modernity.

While staying true to his artistic vision, Andrew draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, Chinese literature, French films, Turkish Islamic ceramics, Japanese kimono, and more. His work evolves thoughtfully, bringing fresh interpretations tuned to the time.

Second, is his openness to sharing and exchange. As Andrew says, London taught me the dream. Milan taught me about the industry, and New York taught me how to turn passion into a business.

With his instinctive appreciation for Asian aesthetics and his willingness to embrace diverse influences, Andrew creates designs that are deeply rooted and globally resonant. Having benefited from observing masterpieces up close while studying at Parsons, New York, Andrew now shares his own legacy through a generous donation of a few pieces to the Asian Civilisations Museum, forming the first significant contemporary archival donation to the design collection of Singapore. I am happy to know tonight that there are also other few pieces to hand, but this archive will allow our young designers of both countries to study his exceptional craftsmanship firsthand. Thank you, Andrew, for inspiring our next generation of creative talents.

Third quality, is his continued pursuit of excellence. Fashion demands more than creativity. It requires dedication, precision and technical mastery. As Andrew puts it, there are no shortcuts to producing beauty. At the studio, almost all components are designed in house - from hand drawn motives, especially crafted materials. Every detail reflects Andrew and his team's commitment to quality and excellence. These same qualities, reinvention, openness and excellence, have been key to both Singapore and America's journey. Like Andrew, we constantly reinvent what's been true to our identity.

We embrace global exchange and inspirations while cherishing our heritage, and we pursue excellence in all that we do. This ACM and PAM collaboration also honours the friendship between Singapore and the United States, and reaffirms how cultural exchange determines shared understanding.

But just as the texture, movement and presence of a garment must be appreciated in person, I warmly welcome all of you to visit Singapore and have a look at the Marina Bay Sands, to experience and discover an exciting tropical global city, alive with culture, design and creativity. Andrew, thank you for sharing your artistry and vision with the world, and with us here tonight. To our friends gathered here, thank you for your support that made this possible. I wish you a wonderful and memorable evening and wonderful journey with Andrew Gn Fashioning the World. Thank you.