Launch of Ho Kah Leong solo exhibition

Dr Ho Kah Leong
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good afternoon!

1. I am no longer with MCCY, but I have agreed to come to support Dr Ho. There are a few reasons why I support him. Dr Ho was a member of parliament for my former constituency in Boon Lay. He was a member of parliament in Jurong for 13 years! He was my mentor and elder in Boon Lay, a respected political and community leader in the constituency, and also because his love for the arts and all that he has done for the arts; I thought it would be good to come and give him some support and open this exhibition. Let me start by saying a few words in Chinese, and then continue in English. 

2. 大家下午好！
   

3. 今天，我非常荣幸能来出席何家良博士的个人画展。大多数人都知道何博士多才多艺。除了是一位资深的国会议员，也是一位著名画家兼美术教育家。 即使工作繁忙，何博士还会在百忙之中抽出时间来绘画。
   

4. 除了贡献在公职外，何博士亦于1997年担任南洋艺术学院院长，在他任期内他协助南艺筹款在明古连街建起巍峨的校舍，让莘莘学子有更舒适的学习环境。因为有像何博士一样坚信文化与艺术重要性的建国一代，和他们不懈的努力，才有今日新加坡艺坛欣欣向荣的景象。
   

5. 今天在这里展出的画，不单单是何博士旅游写生的作品。你看到的不只是世界各地的绮丽风景。今天展出的是一位画家的热忱与意志,和他多年坚持不懈活到老学到老的精神。
   

6. 最后，我诚挚的恭喜何家良博士， 也祝大家身体健康、万事如意!
   

7. As many of you would know, Dr Ho has not just been a political leader or MP for many years. He was also an office holder, serving as a Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and then Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts. His contributions in public service are well-documented. 
   

8. Not many people may know that he is also an acclaimed amateur artist. Despite his busy schedule, as he said earlier, he would always find time for painting. While most of us relax by watching TV, or watching a movie, shopping, Dr Ho is different; his relaxation was to paint and he draws inspiration from painting. Everywhere he goes, he will paint. Even when he went overseas for duty during office, he will bring his easel and painting set to paint. 

9. It is this dedication to art that has brought about sixty years of art works from Dr Ho's own collection and his own art works. What you see here is a sample of the paintings that he has done from his travels in the many different countries. I think this is something we should celebrate – both his contributions in the Ministry, in the community, as well as his personal achievements as a painter. 
   

10. Not only is he a painter, he also has a heart for the community. He would often participate in charity events and projects. I believe he participated in the Presidents' Art Charity some years back. Recently, when I was still an MP in Boon Lay constituency before the elections, we did a fundraising; Dr Ho also generously donated one of his artworks for us to put up for auction as part of our fundraising efforts to help some vulnerable families in Boon Lay community. He is a painter and an artist with a heart for the poor and the community. Thank you very much Dr Ho, I think we should give him a big round of applause to thank him. 
    

11. The exhibition today adds to the growing collection of Singapore artworks that we have around us. There are many art galleries and exhibitions nowadays because the arts scene is becoming much more vibrant, and next month we will be opening the National Gallery of Singapore. This is the former Supreme Court and City Hall building. The building is ready, and by 24th November, it will be opened to the public and there will be a wonderful showcase of Singapore's masterpieces from Singaporean artists as well as Southeast Asian artists. I hope this will continue to enhance and grow the arts scene in Singapore.
    

12. More importantly, I hope Dr Ho's exhibition here will inspire each one of us. We may not be a master artist like Dr Ho, but all of us can aspire towards his passion for the arts, and his own way of expressing himself through the arts. Whatever your interest is – whether it is oil painting, sketching, drawing, water colour, music or different art forms – I hope all of us can draw some inspiration from Dr Ho. As he said, he is a lifelong painter; we can be lifelong artists in our own way. We don't have to be a Picasso, or a Monet, but all of us can aspire to express ourselves through the arts. The more we do so, I believe we can all lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives, and become happier as a people.
    

13. Thank you very much and enjoy the exhibition!