Profiling Singapore And Our Artists

1. A very good evening. 

2. I am delighted to join all of you to start the new year in celebrating the return of our Singapore Pavilion from the Venice Biennale. 

Venice Biennale – Profiling Singapore & Our Artists

3. Singapore participated in the 59th Venice Biennale from April to November last year.

4. The Venice Biennale is one of the most established and prestigious international platforms for contemporary art. The Singapore Pavilion was one of only two national pavilions from Southeast Asia at the 2022 Biennale.

   1. While that was the 10th Singapore Pavilion exhibition at the Biennale, our Singapore artists have participated in this important platform since 2001.

   2. Singapore’s participation in [the] 2022 [edition] underscores our commitment to presenting Singapore arts internationally, even amidst challenging times.

   3. Our Singapore Pavilion saw a record-breaking turnout of more than 240,000 visitors, despite overseas travel having barely resumed.

   4. The installation, titled “Pulp III: A Short Biography of the Banished Book”, explores the history of book destruction and its impact on the future of knowledge. This is a tribute to the shared stories of humanity as told through the lens of print communities in Singapore and around the world.

   5. It received many positive reviews and was singled out by several reviewers as one of the must-see pavilions.

   6. On behalf of the National Arts Council (NAC), I want to extend our heartiest congratulations to our artist, Shubigi Rao, and curator Ute Meta Bauer. Thank you to both of you for this successful presentation at the Venice Biennale. You have made us very proud!

5. The presence of our home-grown artists at such prestigious international platforms is really heartening. NAC and MCCY will continue to profile Singapore and our artists internationally and show the world the diversity and range of Singapore artists as we develop our local arts scene.

Arts Connecting People

6. The Singapore Pavilion has now returned to our shores, and will be displayed at the ArtScience Museum from 6th to 24th January as part of Singapore Art Week 2023 (SAW). I hope Singaporeans will find the time to visit and experience the exhibition in person. 

7. Today, we have a special screening of the film “Talking Leaves” which accompanies the homecoming exhibition. 

   1. This film features stories of those who are fighting to protect printed books and libraries from obsolescence, and to keep the significant role of books in our lives.

   2. Through personal accounts narrated in this film, we discover how people get connected with each other, and how their lives becoming intertwined through the written word.

8. Just like how books link people through their repository of knowledge and tales, the arts have the power to connect us all and stir us towards deeper reflection and action.

   1. After tonight’s film screening, I’m sure we will all develop fresh viewpoints and resolve on how we can uphold the printed word and rejuvenate the universe of books.

   2. This is the kind of magic the arts have – to stir us, to move us, and to change the world.

9. NAC is deeply committed to developing our thriving arts sector, which has shown amazing resilience and strength, especially in the last three years of COVID-19.

   1. We now have a vibrant and diverse landscape of cultural institutions, practitioners, and arts groups.

10. The Government will work together with the community and sector to strengthen and bring our arts sector into a brighter and better future.

11. We have engaged more than 1,000 stakeholders to formulate Our SG Arts Plan for 2023 to 2027. 

    1. This masterplan will chart the direction for the arts sector for the next five years.

    2. One of the key tenets of the masterplan is to forge a connected society. We aspire for Singaporeans, young and old, and from all walks of life, to enjoy, benefit and contribute to the arts. Through shared arts experiences, we aim to enrich lives, strengthen communities, and also build strong ties.

    3. Through the arts, we will further develop our creative economy. The Government will create market opportunities to allow our arts practitioners to bring their works overseas. The Government will work closely with our various partners to develop a globally relevant and resilient arts and heritage ecosystem that will form the foundation of a future-ready creative economy, which provides good arts that nourish our souls, and also good jobs and prospects for our arts practitioners. 

    4. Under the masterplan, the arts sector will also play an important role in developing Singapore into a distinctive city where artists have diverse, affordable spaces to create and showcase their works. Activities like the Singapore Art Week, which will take place from the 6th to 15th of this month, enhance our city's vibrancy and appeal as an arts haven.

12. Conclusion

14. I hope you will take the opportunity to explore the interesting array of programmes curated for the Singapore Art Week. You can also look forward to an exciting arts and culture calendar for the rest of 2023 – a wonderful way to start the new year with an international buffet spread of arts and culture programmes. 

15. I wish everyone a wonderful evening ahead. Again, congratulations to Shubigi and Ute. Thank you.