Speech by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Artsat the Opening of Art and PhotographyExhibition “A Tale of Two Cities –Celebrating Singapore & Venice”

Speech by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister forInformation, Communications and the Artsat the Opening of Art and PhotographyExhibition “A Tale of Two Cities –Celebrating Singapore & Venice”

His Excellency Dr Folco de Luca Gabrielli, Ambassador of Italy;                

Mr Tan Kay Yong, Chairman of the Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors;

Professor Giuseppe Borrello;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Good Evening.

1. It gives me great pleasure to join you in this art and photography exhibition that celebrates the unique confluence of two different cultures - Singapore and Italy. This exhibition is an interesting dialogue between Italy's long history of western art and design, and Singapore's multi-cultural heritage and contemporary lifestyle.
   
2. Such artistic exchanges are useful in helping us gain a better understanding and appreciation of different cultures and societies. They will add to mutual understanding and respect among our friends from around the world. Singapore Poly students who participated in the workshop and exhibition would have certainly gained an insight into the exciting and rich cultural heritage of Venice in Italy. It would have provided you an insightful and memorable illustration of how heritage and culture shaped social values. Indeed, art can help us to better understand the aspirations of different societies over time.
   
3. The Singapore Poly's art and photography exhibition also contributes to the vibrancy of the Singapore's arts scene. We welcome more of such efforts to make the arts a part of our life not just in our museums and art galleries but also in our schools and institutes of higher learning and our homes.
4. Besides inspiring us through frequent interaction and exposure, the arts can provide an additional platform for Singapore to engage the international community. For example, we had celebrated the Singapore Arts Festival in June this year and recently concluded the 2008 Singapore Biennale. Both events brought many international artists and performing companies to Singapore.
5. In recent years, we are able to enjoy more arts and cultural events organised by various communities and institutions including members of the European Union. This growing arts scene has made our city more interesting and exciting for our citizens and visitors.
   
6. Singapore also reaches out to the international community through the arts. For instance, we have regular exchanges with the Italian arts and creative communities. Singapore artists have been participating in the Venice Biennale since 2001, and more recently in the Venice Biennale International Architectural Exhibition. Italian artists have also presented their artworks here through the Singapore Arts Festival and the Singapore Design Festival, amongst others. Such exchanges serve to promote our artists on the international stage as well as reinforce international dialogues and mutual appreciation.
   
7. I note that today's exhibition also features photographic works. Indeed, photography has become an accessible and popular art form in Singapore.  In fact, there has been a recent surge of interest and activity in contemporary photography in Singapore. For example we held the inaugural Singapore International Photography Festival and the Month of Photography this year. The Singapore Biennale 2008 featured several top international photographers' works. There is even a new, dedicated photo gallery 2902 at Old School and the on-going Season of Photography at the National Museum to cater to lovers of art photography. 
   
8. This exhibition by Professor Giuseppe Borrello and students of Singapore Poly will certainly contribute to the growing interest in photography and the arts.
9. On this note, it now gives me great pleasure to declare the "Tale of Two Cities" Art and Photographic Exhibition open.
10. Thank you and have an enjoyable evening.