Expressing our Singapore identity through art

Mr Peter Seah, Chairman of LASALLE

Mr Koh Seow Chuan

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1. I am very pleased to join you this evening. It is good to be here in the Institute of Contemporary Arts, which is one of the largest spaces devoted to contemporary arts in Singapore. ICAS is also a solid reminder of the role of arts patronage in Singapore. This space used to be known as the Earl Lu Gallery, named after one of our biggest art philanthropist. It is thanks to early arts champions like Earl Lu, and of course, LASALLE founder Brother Joseph McNally, that the arts scene in Singapore has flourished.

2. And this tradition of art philanthropy and patronage continues today. As Mr Peter Seah mentioned just now, this exhibition would not have been possible without the support and generosity of art patrons like Mr Koh Seow Chuan and his friends. Because of them opening up their private collections, we are able to have this very special exhibition today. So let’s give a big round of applause to thank them for making this exhibition possible.

3. I would say one more thing. This exhibition was also made possible also through support from my Ministry’s Cultural Matching Fund. It is the Cultural Matching Fund that provides government funding, dollar for dollar, for every private sector donation to the arts. So this is truly in many ways, a partnership between the government, private institutions and individuals, all coming together to support the arts.

4. I think it is very meaningful that we’re doing it this year. It is our 50th anniversary of independence and there is much to celebrate. Certainly, amongst the many things that we can be proud of is the fact that Singapore has developed a distinctive sense of our culture and identity. And that’s very much what this exhibition sets out to do. 

5. We have over 80 artworks around us. They are done by 35 artists from the 1930s to the present time. Collectively, they tell the evolution of art in Singapore. They are some of our most important works done by artists across the last 50 years. Many of these artworks were painted by Singapore’s art luminaries – from art pioneers like Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi, to younger artists who may have been inspired by them. These paintings you see around you showcase familiar images of Singapore over the decades. For example, you will see women in sarongs standing around a well, labourers hanging fishing nets, street scenes and landscapes of shophouses around the Singapore River. So what we have here, captured in these remarkable artworks, are the collective voice of generations of artists, searching to define and to express our national identity through the stories of everyday people and places in Singapore.

6. And that’s why the arts is so important to all of us. Because it provides us a platform for self-expression. It provides a mirror to our lives. And it expresses the heart and soul of our local people in a way that nothing else can. So the arts makes us more humane, more cultured. It reminds us of what make us Singaporean, and helps us imagine a future of possibilities.

7. Even as you see around here artworks that tell the Singapore Story over the last 50 years, imagine what would happen in 50 years’ time when we celebrate SG100. We can have another collection of wonderful art that will be able to tell how the Singapore Story continues to evolve, with a new generation of artists reflecting the Singapore identity. That’s the beauty of art, because it expresses our people, our culture in a way that no other medium can.

8. That is why we have been investing in the arts heavily over the years. And today I would say we have built up a fairly vibrant arts scene in Singapore. We have a wonderful institution in the Singapore Art Museum, which is a champion for contemporary art and emerging artists. We have a world-class print-making institute in the Singapore Tyler Print Institute. In fact, it is now showcasing the exhibition of LASALLE alumni Suzann Victor. She’s a very accomplished artist and her artworks are being exhibited there now. We have first-grade art educational institutions like LASALLE and NAFA and we are home to many galleries. In fact, I think we have more than 200 galleries, and that’s quite a large number for a small country like ours. The number of visual art fairs, art exhibitions is steadily increasing and we are drawing more people year by year. So all these testifies to the growing appetite for art, and also the rich diversity of art offerings in Singapore.

9. And in a few months time, we will be opening and unveiling the new National Gallery of Singapore. This will be another jewel in our visual arts landscape and will showcase the best of Singapore and Southeast Asian artists. So I’m optimistic about the future of the arts in Singapore. And with the continued strong support of our artists, our art schools, our galleries, our patrons and supporters like, I’m sure we will continue to achieve great things for Singapore art.

10. So finally, let me extend my warmest congratulations to the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore and LASALLE College of the Arts for this special SG50 exhibition. And since we are on the eve and eve of Chinese New Year, let me wish all of you good health, happiness and abundance in the year of the Goat. Thank you very much.