Celebrating the growth of Singapore's contemporary arts sector

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. A very good afternoon to you, and thank you for joining us here at the opening of Dapunta Hyang: Transmission of Knowledge by Zai Kuning, at the 57th Venice Biennale.

Singapore’s participation at the Venice Biennale

2. Singapore is delighted to be participating in the Venice Biennale, one of the most established platforms for contemporary art in the world. This year marks Singapore’s eighth participation in Venice; and is also the second time that we are presenting the Singapore Pavilion at the Arsenale.

3. We recognise that this is an important platform for our visual artists and their technical specialists to present their works to the global audience. We have been particularly encouraged by the warm reception given to our previous editions. Our artists, such as Zulkifle Mahmod who represented Singapore in 2007, have also used the Biennale to launch their international careers.
   
   Dapunta Hyang at Venice Biennale 2017
   

4. This year, we are happy to present artist Zai Kuning, with his latest iteration of the Dapunta Hyang series. In this fifth edition – his most ambitious to-date – Zai brings to life the imagined vessel, steered by the first Malay King Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, of the seventh-century Srivijayan Empire.

5. This is a masterpiece nearly two decades in the making. Zai’s work is based on extensive research into the pre-colonial histories of the Riau Archipelago and its people. His interactions with the orang laut, sea people of the Riau Archipelago, reveal lesser known aspects of the region’s cultural heritage, such as mak yong, one of the oldest forms of Malay opera. Through his work, the audience is encouraged to reflect on the roots and history of the region.

6. For this project, Zai collaborated with art historian T.K. Sabapathy and Thai photographer Wichai Juntavaro. He is also supported by a strong, dedicated artistic production team, which I would like to acknowledge here: Producer - Tamares Goh, Exhibition Manager - Lin Shiyun, Technical Manager - Hafiz Osman and Production Assistant - Firusaffian Kamal. Thank you. Congratulations!
   
   Other Singaporean Artists Presenting in Venice
   

7. Besides Zai’s work in the Singapore Pavilion, we have other Singaporean artists participating in Venice. Erika Tan is presenting a video installation, The ‘Forgotten’ Weaver at the ‘Diaspora Pavilion’. Multidisciplinary artist Sarah Choo Jing is staging an immersive video installation called Art of Rehearsal at the ‘Personal Structures’ showcase. Curator and producer Annie Kwan, who is one of ten curators selected for the International Curators Forum, will bring together the works of Singaporean artists BoediWidjaja and Lynn Lu. We are proud to see our artists representing Singapore on the international stage and doing very well for themselves.

Growing arts scene in Singapore

8. The inroads that our artists have made internationally reflect the growth of Singapore’s contemporary art scene. This has been supported by the development of diverse programming platforms and art infrastructure. Platforms such as the Singapore Biennale and the Singapore Art Week create opportunities for experimentation and avenues for meaningful exchange of ideas, between the Singapore arts community and their international counterparts.

9. We have also expanded our arts infrastructure to further support the growth of the Singapore arts scene. The Singapore Art Museum, which focuses on Southeast Asian contemporary art, is currently undergoing a major upgrade to meet new demands. The National Gallery Singapore, an important institution of our visual arts sector, has collaborated with institutions such as Centre Pompidou and the Tate Britain, to provide a rich and diverse range of exhibitions. The Singapore Tyler Print Institute is making a name for itself internationally, by pushing the boundaries of contemporary art making in print and paper.

Conclusion

10. Singapore has made much progress towards arts excellence. As a young, vibrant nation with a rich multi-cultural heritage, I am confident that our artists will continue to practise and innovate, to take our arts scene to new heights.

11. Appreciation and congratulations goes out to Zai, his team, and everyone who have supported the making of this presentation. Thank you for helping to bring ancient Malay cultural history to life through this stellar piece of work. It is indeed a magnificent piece for our pavilion. And to our guests here this afternoon, thank you for being here and celebrating Singapore’s artistic journey with us.

12. And now, it gives me great pleasure to launch the Singapore Pavilion and to invite you to experience Dapunta Hyang: Transmission of Knowledge by Zai Kuning. Thank you very much.