140 Hill Street, 6th Storey, MICA Building Singapore 179369 T: 65 6270 7988 F: 65 6837 9480 E: mica@mica.gov.sg www.mica.gov.sg
Issue 9 • Apr - Jun 2009
An Unbroken Line: The Wu Guanzhong Donation Collection 9 April 2009 – 16 August 2009
Singa’s Back… For Kindness!
Singapore HeritageFest 2009 15 July 2009 – 26 July 2009
Showcasing all 113 of renowned China artist Wu Guanzhong’s donated works, An Unbroken Line: The Wu Guanzhong Donation Collection at the Singapore Art Museum, marks the highest-value donation to a public museum in Singapore. Valued at S$73.7 million, the artworks span five decades (1957 to 2007) of the artist’s creative output.
Singapore Arts Festival 2009: Encompassing, Engaging, Exhilarating
Heritage Road Show 1 August 2009 Wu Guanzhong: Continuing a Legacy of Giving
Formation of the Ministry of Culture
Singapore Day 09
Singapore Hosts 26th Icsid World Design Congress 2009
Dear Readers This year marks the 50th year of MICA’s establishment. From her humble beginnings as the Ministry of Culture which was formed on 5 June 1959, MICA has grown and evolved over the past 50 years. In this issue, we bring you a snapshot of the birth of the Ministry of Culture in 1959.
Snapshots – events roundup
Editorial Board Julia Hang Gavin Chelvan Contributors Diana Ng Felix Siew
You can also read about the number of initiatives that MICA and its agencies have embarked on such as the recent Singapore Arts Festival and the Singapore Kindness Movement’s Project Gracious.
Nur Diana Jamaludin
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Resonance.
Photo Credits
Gavin Chelvan Karen Au-Yong
What do you recall of your own life against the backdrop of significant events that took place in Singapore in the last 50 years? The Heritage Road Show this year focuses on the theme of ‘I Remember Singapore’ and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s self-governance from 1959 to 2009. Your experiences and stories form a part of the history of Singapore and we want to hear from you! If you have written narratives, print materials or photos of these significant events and milestones in your life, do share your life experiences with the National Library Board at iremember.sg@nlb.gov.sg. Your stories and photos may be selected and showcased on www.iremember.sg. Your contributions stand to win cash prizes of up to $5,000!
The Singapore HeritageFest turns six this year as it returns bigger and better than before! Reconnect with your neighbours and rediscover the vibrant cultures of the people who call Singapore home. That shouldn’t be too hard to do as there are a whole lot of activities for everyone – whether you are young or old, or whether you are a music or photography lover. And for those who simply want to avoid the city crowds during the weekends, there will be six satellite hubs visiting the neighbourhood malls near you! Visit www.heritagefest.org.sg for more details.
EVENTS ROUNDUP
Here’s a sneak preview of the line-up of exciting events that MICA has in store for 2009.
Baba Bling: The Peranakans and Their Jewellery 29 May 2009 – 13 December 2009 There’s some serious bling happening at the Peranakan Museum till December. Presenting some of the finest jewellery from the Peranakan Museum and collections of Peranakan families and private collectors, Baba Bling: The Peranakans and Their Jewellery, is set to dazzle with treasures and heirlooms ranging from functional jewellery to ornate gems. Visit www.peranakanmuseum.sg to find out more.
National Arts Council Singapore Art Museum Overseas Singaporean Unit Singapore Kindness Movement National Archives of Singapore
Julia Hang (Mrs) Chairperson, Resonance Editorial Board resonance:08:09
SINGAPORE HOSTS 26TH ICSID WORLD DESIGN CONGRESS 2009 The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) World Design Congress 2009 will be held from 23 to 25 November for the first time in Singapore. Themed “Design Difference – Designing Our World 2050”, the Congress will directly address today’s global challenges in an attempt to deliver powerful propositions that will shape the world of 2050. This year, the event will go beyond the conventional congress and reduce the one-too-many speaker effect, by approaching and engaging keynote speakers, design leaders and delegates to interact and collaborate before, during and after the Congress. In the months leading to the event, a group of renowned creative experts will head up seven highly interactive and participative “Design2050 Studios”, each of which consists of four to six individuals from multi-discipline backgrounds. They will create Design2050 propositions by imagining, conceptualising and visualising a desired future. Delegates will be invited to discuss and refine the propositions in partnership with the Design2050 Studios during the Congress. Acting as the Principal Advisor to the Design2050 Studios is Arnold Wasserman, chairman of The Idea Factory, and founding partner of Collective Invention. The confirmed leaders of each Studio and their propositions are listed as follows. Bill Mitchell, the Alexander Dreyfoos Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences at MIT Media Lab, will lead his team to “Reinventing the Automobile 2050”. His latest book, Reinventing the Automobile, will be published by the MIT Press in Spring 2010. Bill currently directs the Smart Cities group at the MIT Media Laboratory and MIT Design Laboratory. Chris Bangle, of Chris Bangle Associates, will lead his Design Studio to consider “Emotional Mobility 2050”. No other designer has had such a far-reaching impact in the automotive industry as Chris Bangle. As former Director of Design of BMW, his daring designs have helped BMW become the global leader in premium car sales and bring in legions of new fans, spurning rivals to follow suit in emulating his distinctive style.
DATES Congress: 23-25 November 2009 General Assembly: 26-27 November 2009 CONGRESS VENUE Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre Website: http://www.suntecsingapore.com/ For more information and registration please visit: www.icsidcongress09.com
Chris Luebkeman, Group Director for Foresight and Innovation, at Arup Group will lead his team to contemplate “NetZero 2050”. He spends most of his time and energy building a better understanding of the way in which the driving forces of global change should be incorporated into effective global business strategies. Ravi Naidoo, founder of Design Indaba, will take his Design2020 team to conceptualise “Protofarm 2050”. Indaba is recognised as one of the world’s leading design institutions through its flagship conference and expo annually held in Cape Town.
SINGA’S BACK... FOR KINDNESS!
An icon roars back into action - Singa the lion has been around for more than 25 years, and he is back encouraging Singaporeans to be gracious.
After several years of low-key activities, the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), fronted by Singa the courtesy lion, roared back into the spotlight by launching Project Gracious this April. The initiative was accompanied by a television commercial featuring a catchy jingle (downloadable from Kindness.sg). Print advertisements were also produced and 800 volunteers in bright yellow t-shirts took to the streets over four weekends to demonstrate how easy it is to be gracious. In addition, 20 life-sized Singa statues were “released” into the streets and malls, appearing in public areas such as the Esplanade, along Orchard Road and in VivoCity, acting as friendly reminders for Singaporeans to share kindness.
Richard Hassell & Wong Mun Summ, and founding architects of WOHA, will take their team to consider “Architects Save the World and Bring Joy to Millions: Singapore 2050”. Winners of numerous international awards, the founding architects of WOHA have taken on projects across diverse locations in the Asia-Pacific region, focussing on the architectural potentials within each project. Stefano Marzano, the CEO and Chief Creative Director of Philips Design, will lead his Design2050 Studio to invent “Healthcare 2050”. Both the man and the company are widely recognised as being in the forefront of the design profession. Named by BusinessWeek as one of the “International Innovators of the Year 2005”, he has spoken and written on Philips Design’s works and the humanistic philosophy on which it is based. Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather will lead his Design2050 Studio team to help “Save the Planet 2050”. Widely recognised as one of the world’s most awarded creative directors, Khai Meng is arguably “One of the most influential people in the communications business”. Toshiko Mori is the Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and she is the principal of Toshiko Mori Architect. She and her team will explore Blindspots in Design. Toshiko’s strong research-based approach to design has been commended in awards and invitations to lectures, exhibitions and symposiums around the world. ld.
Don’t be shy to show kindness - Give up your seat to those who need it more, or move in to avoid blocking the doors; volunteers explain how easy it is to be kind.
Personalities such as actor Edmund Chen and Dr Ann Tan have volunteered their time to be ambassadors for kindness.
But behind the gloss and gleam of Singa lies a serious strategy to tackle poor social behaviour. A survey commissioned by SKM in December 2008 highlighted key gaps, such as the lack of consideration shown to other commuters on public transport, as well as poor driving habits. To tackle these issues, SKM is working on programmes targeting five areas – at home, in schools, at the workplace, in public spaces, and to the world. For example, SKM has partnered the Land Transport Authority to encourage commuters to move into trains and avoid blocking the doors when boarding, and to offer their seats to those who need them more. SKM is also working with the Housing Development Board and National Environment Agency to improve cleanliness in the living environment for all. Existing programmes are also being revamped for a more focussed approach. While there is much debate on how long it will take to make Singapore a kinder and more gracious place to live in, there is much to be optimistic about. General Manager, SKM Secretariat, Mr Teh Thien Yew explains,” Singaporeans are inherently kind. It’s just that we are a little ‘paiseh’ or shy to show it. But when everyone takes a step to show kindness, the result is a visibly more gracious society for all to enjoy.” resonance:00:01
Since 1977, the Singapore Arts Festival has been organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) as a national celebration of the arts to position Singapore as a global city for the arts. Indeed, this is one of the signature arts events which locals and tourists alike have come to look forward to annually for a dose of top international and local acts. Over the years, the Festival has evolved and established itself as the leading and largest performing arts platform in Singapore with a signature focus on theatre, dance and music. The Festival continues to offer an eclectic yet accessible programme that champions local arts makers while showcasing inspiring international productions. From 15 May to 14 June 2009 this year, the Festival featured 26 core productions and over 400 free outreach performances, exhibitions and special events. These were aimed to inspire and engage audiences of all arts appreciation levels with its wide range of ticketed and free arts programming. The programme featured 7 new commissions, which included 2 world premieres and 1 Asian premiere.
This year, the Festival reached out to the public at an exciting array of venues. It opened at the new Marina Barrage with a magnificent largescale show, and ended with spectacular closing celebrations at Yishun Central 1. The month-long Festival also featured a broad range of Festival Outreach events for the young and old, ranging from the Asian Showcase and Arts On The Move to Family Funfest, a 3-day festival for the family. The Festival worked with the Esplanade, Public Utilities Board, Singapore Street Festival, Community Development Councils, and other partners to bring the arts to the wider community. Other than revising ticket prices downwards to increase the accessibility of performances this year, the Festival also extended its outreach efforts through special education programmes to students. These Fest Connect Arts Education Programmes (AEPs) have been introduced for the first time to enhance students’ access and appreciation of the Singapore Arts Festival. They have been jointly developed with five local arts groups, in conjunction with eight Festival productions.
SINGAPORE DAY 09 The grounds of the stately Hampton Court Palace, in the south-west of central London, came alive on 25 April, with the sights, sounds and smells of Singapore. Authentic Singapore food, performances by local artistes and even a beeping ERP gantry – all these formed a colourful and familiar backdrop which welcomed Singaporeans to the event. Singapore Day 2009 saw a record attendance of 12,000 Singaporeans based in London and other parts of Europe. Organised by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) in the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore Day is an annual event which reaches out to all Singaporeans living overseas. Singapore Day 09 provided a wonderful opportunity for overseas Singaporeans to experience a slice of home. Guest-of-honour, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng remarked “We have a big Singaporean diaspora overseas, and in good times or bad, we should continue to keep in touch with them. Even in this economic downturn, we should not overlook overseas Singaporeans as they are part of our larger Singapore family.Through Singapore Day, our Singaporeans overseas can have a good feel of the latest developments at home.”
Visitors at Singapore Day 09 made a beeline for the wide range of popular traditional local delights like satay, nasi lemak, roti prata, chicken rice and hokkien mee. These dishes were specially prepared by Singaporean cooks whose food stalls were carefully selected by local food guru K.F Seetoh. The entertainment, hosted by Adrian Pang and Michelle Chong, comprised of performances by local artistes such as home-grown singers Rui En and Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah, blogger Mr Brown, comedians Hossan Leong and the Dim Sum Dollies. Acapella Ini, a group of overseas Singaporean university students studying in London, also performed a series of medleys. Singapore Day is held every year in different cities with significant communities of overseas Singaporeans. The first Singapore Day was held in New York in 2007 while Singapore Day 08 was held in Melbourne. It is a collaborative effort between the public, private and people sectors - an event by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans.
MICA’s special showcase “Made By Singapore” highlighted the latest developments and achievements in the creative industries. Staff of the National Resilience Division (NRD) in MICA spent several months conceptualising and producing the showcase. Films by Singaporean directors were also screened at the MICA showcase, including Eric Khoo’s ‘My Magic’ and ‘Singapore Dreaming’ by the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Woo Yen Yen and Colin Goh.
SINGAPORE ARTS FESTIVAL 2009
Overseas Singaporeans were also encouraged to keep in touch with Singapore through the mySingapore.sg portal, a community website for Singaporeans both at home and abroad.
The visitors enjoyed the performances put up by various home-grown artistes
ENCOMPASSING, ENGAGING, EXHILARATING resonance:06:07 The ERP gantry at the entrance - a tongue-in-cheek reminder of home - was a warm welcome for many who started queuing hours before the start of the event.
O
n 21 November 1958, Singapore obtained self-government under a Yang di-Pertuan Negara, with the establishment of a new Constitution. Defence and external affairs however remained under the purview of the British government. The swearing-in and appointment of the Prime Minister and Ministers of the new government took place on 5 June 1959 at City Hall. S Rajaratnam became the first Minister of Culture, which was the forerunner to the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA). Mr Rajaratnam was charged with the responsibilities of public relations, press, cultural activities and the state annual report.
open-air variety concerts were held on national and special occasions at the City Hall steps and fortnightly at different parts of the city and the rural areas. Thousands of artists participated and the number of spectators came up to some 320,000.
According to the Singapore Annual Report 1959, the Government created the Ministry of Culture in order to channel popular thinking and feeling along national lines. Also, the Ministry was to reorganise the Information Services and the administration of mass media for the dissemination of information. Seven divisions within the Ministry of Culture were formed – Headquarters, News, Publicity, Broadcasting, Library, Museum and Printing divisions.
When the new Government took office, the Raffles National Library and the Raffles Museum were transferred from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education to that of the Ministry of Culture. The Raffles National Library building was then opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara on 12 November 1960. There were also four library branches at Siglap, Serangoon, Joo Chiat and Yio Chu Kang.
Mutual understanding between different cultural groups was promoted by the reordering of the programme policies of Radio Singapore and by the regular organisation of Aneka Ragam Rakyat or People’s Cultural Concerts. These
Gathering of villagers for a film show by the Field Section in 1960
In addition, the Field Section of the Publicity division explained to the masses the objectives, policies and programmes of the Government through the exhibition of films and by public address. Three or four units were at work every evening throughout the year and audiences totaling 171,000 were reached at the film shows during the second half of 1959.
The Ministry of Culture would go through a number of name and structural changes before finally becoming MICA as it is known today. To read more about the history of MICA’s past 50 years, log on to the MICA website at www.mica.gov.sg to read weekly historical excerpts.
Aneka Ragam Rakyat at the Botanic Gardens in 1959
FORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE The Raffles National Library Building was opened in 1960
resonance:04:05
O
n 21 November 1958, Singapore obtained self-government under a Yang di-Pertuan Negara, with the establishment of a new Constitution. Defence and external affairs however remained under the purview of the British government. The swearing-in and appointment of the Prime Minister and Ministers of the new government took place on 5 June 1959 at City Hall. S Rajaratnam became the first Minister of Culture, which was the forerunner to the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA). Mr Rajaratnam was charged with the responsibilities of public relations, press, cultural activities and the state annual report.
open-air variety concerts were held on national and special occasions at the City Hall steps and fortnightly at different parts of the city and the rural areas. Thousands of artists participated and the number of spectators came up to some 320,000.
According to the Singapore Annual Report 1959, the Government created the Ministry of Culture in order to channel popular thinking and feeling along national lines. Also, the Ministry was to reorganise the Information Services and the administration of mass media for the dissemination of information. Seven divisions within the Ministry of Culture were formed – Headquarters, News, Publicity, Broadcasting, Library, Museum and Printing divisions.
When the new Government took office, the Raffles National Library and the Raffles Museum were transferred from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education to that of the Ministry of Culture. The Raffles National Library building was then opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara on 12 November 1960. There were also four library branches at Siglap, Serangoon, Joo Chiat and Yio Chu Kang.
Mutual understanding between different cultural groups was promoted by the reordering of the programme policies of Radio Singapore and by the regular organisation of Aneka Ragam Rakyat or People’s Cultural Concerts. These
Gathering of villagers by the Field Section for a film show in 1960
In addition, the Field Section of the Publicity division explained to the masses the objectives, policies and programmes of the Government through the exhibition of films and by public address. Three or four units were at work every evening throughout the year and audiences totaling 171,000 were reached at the film shows during the second half of 1959.
The Ministry of Culture would go through a number of name and structural changes before finally becoming MICA as it is known today. To read more about the history of MICA’s past 50 years, log on to the MICA website at www.mica.gov.sg to read weekly historical excerpts.
Aneka Ragam Rakyat at the Botanic Gardens in 1959
FORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE The Raffles National Library Building was opened in 1960
resonance:04:05
WU GUANZHONG:
Continuing a Legacy of Giving
Following the string of successful international collaborations that it had catalysed in previous editions, the Festival returned with three new co-commissions with international arts festivals. In one of these, the Festival joined hands with Napoli Teatro Festival Italia for the second time, to co-commission and co-produce Visible Cities (left) by Singapore playwright Chay Yew and Italian director Giogio Barberio Corsetti. This work will travel to Naples after its world premiere in Singapore. Singapore theatre talent also brought new works to the stage, including Toy Factory Productions’ The Crab Flower Club (previous page), which draws inspiration from poems from Dreams of the Red Chamber, and tells a story of five women huddling in the kitchen to whip up a crab dish for their father’s 60th birthday. Dance choreographer daniel k returned to Forward Moves with a new full length work Q&A, where the audience decided what kind of dance show they got to see. Acclaimed local experimental band The Observatory also collaborated with visual artist and filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen to present a multimedia concert titled Invisible Room (below). The Singapore Arts Festival 2009 concluded with an overall Festival attendance of close to 800,000. This was an increase of about 200,000 compared to last year. The Festival also achieved a record 92.5 per cent house attendance, the highest since 1986. There were also 14 sold-out productions out of the 26 ticketed core productions, the highest since 2000. Indeed, if the record-breaking ticket sales and sold-out performances of this year’s Singapore Arts Festival are anything to go by, the Arts Festival team has certainly hit upon a winning formula combining the accessible with the eclectic and engaging in a comprehensive outreach programme to the public.
resonance:02:03
Since 1977, the Singapore Arts Festival has been organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) as a national celebration of the arts to position Singapore as a global city for the arts. Indeed, this is one of the signature arts events which locals and tourists alike have come to look forward to annually for a dose of top international and local acts. Over the years, the Festival has evolved and established itself as the leading and largest performing arts platform in Singapore with a signature focus on theatre, dance and music. The Festival continues to offer an eclectic yet accessible programme that champions local arts makers while showcasing inspiring international productions. From 15 May to 14 June 2009 this year, the Festival featured 26 core productions and over 400 free outreach performances, exhibitions and special events. These were aimed to inspire and engage audiences of all arts appreciation levels with its wide range of ticketed and free arts programming. The programme featured 7 new commissions, which included 2 world premieres and 1 Asian premiere.
This year, the Festival reached out to the public at an exciting array of venues. It opened at the new Marina Barrage with a magnificent largescale show, and ended with spectacular closing celebrations at Yishun Central 1. The month-long Festival also featured a broad range of Festival Outreach events for the young and old, ranging from the Asian Showcase and Arts On The Move to Family Funfest, a 3-day festival for the family. The Festival worked with the Esplanade, Public Utilities Board, Singapore Street Festival, Community Development Councils, and other partners to bring the arts to the wider community. Other than revising ticket prices downwards to increase the accessibility of performances this year, the Festival also extended its outreach efforts through special education programmes to students. These Fest Connect Arts Education Programmes (AEPs) have been introduced for the first time to enhance students’ access and appreciation of the Singapore Arts Festival. They have been jointly developed with five local arts groups, in conjunction with eight Festival productions.
SINGAPORE DAY 09 The grounds of the stately Hampton Court Palace, in the south-west of central London, came alive on 25 April, with the sights, sounds and smells of Singapore. Authentic Singapore food, performances by local artistes and even a beeping ERP gantry – all these formed a colourful and familiar backdrop which welcomed Singaporeans to the event. Singapore Day 2009 saw a record attendance of 12,000 Singaporeans based in London and other parts of Europe. Organised by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) in the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore Day is an annual event which reaches out to all Singaporeans living overseas. Singapore Day 09 provided a wonderful opportunity for overseas Singaporeans to experience a slice of home. Guest-of-honour, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng remarked “We have a big Singaporean diaspora overseas, and in good times or bad, we should continue to keep in touch with them. Even in this economic downturn, we should not overlook overseas Singaporeans as they are part of our larger Singapore family.Through Singapore Day, our Singaporeans overseas can have a good feel of the latest developments at home.”
Visitors at Singapore Day 09 made a beeline for the wide range of popular traditional local delights like satay, nasi lemak, roti prata, chicken rice and hokkien mee. These dishes were specially prepared by Singaporean cooks whose food stalls were carefully selected by local food guru K.F Seetoh. The entertainment, hosted by Adrian Pang and Michelle Chong, comprised of performances by local artistes such as home-grown singers Rui En and Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah, blogger Mr Brown, comedians Hossan Leong and the Dim Sum Dollies. Acapella Ini, a group of overseas Singaporean university students studying in London, also performed a series of medleys. Singapore Day is held every year in different cities with significant communities of overseas Singaporeans. The first Singapore Day was held in New York in 2007 while Singapore Day 08 was held in Melbourne. It is a collaborative effort between the public, private and people sectors - an event by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans.
MICA’s special showcase “Made By Singapore” highlighted the latest developments and achievements in the creative industries. Staff of the National Resilience Division (NRD) in MICA spent several months conceptualising and producing the showcase. Films by Singaporean directors were also screened at the MICA showcase, including Eric Khoo’s ‘My Magic’ and ‘Singapore Dreaming’ by the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Woo Yen Yen and Colin Goh.
SINGAPORE ARTS FESTIVAL 2009
Overseas Singaporeans were also encouraged to keep in touch with Singapore through the mySingapore.sg portal, a community website for Singaporeans both at home and abroad.
The visitors enjoyed the performances put up by various home-grown artistes
ENCOMPASSING, ENGAGING, EXHILARATING resonance:06:07 The ERP gantry at the entrance - a tongue-in-cheek reminder of home - was a warm welcome for many who started queuing hours before the start of the event.
SINGAPORE HOSTS 26TH ICSID WORLD DESIGN CONGRESS 2009 The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) World Design Congress 2009 will be held from 23 to 25 November for the first time in Singapore. Themed “Design Difference – Designing Our World 2050”, the Congress will directly address today’s global challenges in an attempt to deliver powerful propositions that will shape the world of 2050. This year, the event will go beyond the conventional congress and reduce the one-too-many speaker effect, by approaching and engaging keynote speakers, design leaders and delegates to interact and collaborate before, during and after the Congress. In the months leading to the event, a group of renowned creative experts will head up seven highly interactive and participative “Design2050 Studios”, each of which consists of four to six individuals from multi-discipline backgrounds. They will create Design2050 propositions by imagining, conceptualising and visualising a desired future. Delegates will be invited to discuss and refine the propositions in partnership with the Design2050 Studios during the Congress. Acting as the Principal Advisor to the Design2050 Studios is Arnold Wasserman, chairman of The Idea Factory, and founding partner of Collective Invention. The confirmed leaders of each Studio and their propositions are listed as follows. Bill Mitchell, the Alexander Dreyfoos Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences at MIT Media Lab, will lead his team to “Reinventing the Automobile 2050”. His latest book, Reinventing the Automobile, will be published by the MIT Press in Spring 2010. Bill currently directs the Smart Cities group at the MIT Media Laboratory and MIT Design Laboratory. Chris Bangle, of Chris Bangle Associates, will lead his Design Studio to consider “Emotional Mobility 2050”. No other designer has had such a far-reaching impact in the automotive industry as Chris Bangle. As former Director of Design of BMW, his daring designs have helped BMW become the global leader in premium car sales and bring in legions of new fans, spurning rivals to follow suit in emulating his distinctive style.
DATES Congress: 23-25 November 2009 General Assembly: 26-27 November 2009 CONGRESS VENUE Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre Website: http://www.suntecsingapore.com/ For more information and registration please visit: www.icsidcongress09.com
Chris Luebkeman, Group Director for Foresight and Innovation, at Arup Group will lead his team to contemplate “NetZero 2050”. He spends most of his time and energy building a better understanding of the way in which the driving forces of global change should be incorporated into effective global business strategies. Ravi Naidoo, founder of Design Indaba, will take his Design2020 team to conceptualise “Protofarm 2050”. Indaba is recognised as one of the world’s leading design institutions through its flagship conference and expo annually held in Cape Town.
SINGA’S BACK... FOR KINDNESS!
An icon roars back into action - Singa the lion has been around for more than 25 years, and he is back encouraging Singaporeans to be gracious.
After several years of low-key activities, the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), fronted by Singa the courtesy lion, roared back into the spotlight by launching Project Gracious this April. The initiative was accompanied by a television commercial featuring a catchy jingle (downloadable from Kindness.sg). Print advertisements were also produced and 800 volunteers in bright yellow t-shirts took to the streets over four weekends to demonstrate how easy it is to be gracious. In addition, 20 life-sized Singa statues were “released” into the streets and malls, appearing in public areas such as the Esplanade, along Orchard Road and in VivoCity, acting as friendly reminders for Singaporeans to share kindness.
Richard Hassell and Wong Mun Summ, founding architects of WOHA, will take their team to consider “Architects Save the World and Bring Joy to Millions: Singapore 2050”. Winners of numerous international awards, the founding architects of WOHA have taken on projects across diverse locations in the Asia-Pacific region, focussing on the architectural potentials within each project. Stefano Marzano, the CEO and Chief Creative Director of Philips Design, will lead his Design2050 Studio to invent “Healthcare 2050”. Both the man and the company are widely recognised as being in the forefront of the design profession. Named by BusinessWeek as one of the “International Innovators of the Year 2005”, he has spoken and written on Philips Design’s works and the humanistic philosophy on which it is based. Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather will lead his Design2050 Studio team to help “Save the Planet 2050”. Widely recognised as one of the world’s most awarded creative directors, Khai Meng is arguably “One of the most influential people in the communications business”. Toshiko Mori is the Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and she is the principal of Toshiko Mori Architect. She and her team will explore Blindspots in Design. Toshiko’s strong research-based approach to design has been commended in awards and invitations to lectures, exhibitions and symposiums around the world. ld.
Don’t be shy to show kindness - Give up your seat to those who need it more, or move in to avoid blocking the doors; volunteers explain how easy it is to be kind.
Personalities such as actor Edmund Chen and Dr Ann Tan have volunteered their time to be ambassadors for kindness.
But behind the gloss and gleam of Singa lies a serious strategy to tackle poor social behaviour. A survey commissioned by SKM in December 2008 highlighted key gaps, such as the lack of consideration shown to other commuters on public transport, as well as poor driving habits. To tackle these issues, SKM is working on programmes targeting five areas – at home, in schools, at the workplace, in public spaces, and to the world. For example, SKM has partnered the Land Transport Authority to encourage commuters to move into trains and avoid blocking the doors when boarding, and to offer their seats to those who need them more. SKM is also working with the Housing Development Board and National Environment Agency to improve cleanliness in the living environment for all. Existing programmes are also being revamped for a more focussed approach. While there is much debate on how long it will take to make Singapore a kinder and more gracious place to live in, there is much to be optimistic about. General Manager, SKM Secretariat, Mr Teh Thien Yew explains,” Singaporeans are inherently kind. It’s just that we are a little ‘paiseh’ or shy to show it. But when everyone takes a step to show kindness, the result is a visibly more gracious society for all to enjoy.” resonance:00:01
An Unbroken Line: The Wu Guanzhong Donation Collection 9 April 2009 – 16 August 2009
Singa’s Back… For Kindness!
Singapore HeritageFest 2009 15 July 2009 – 26 July 2009
Showcasing all 113 of renowned China artist Wu Guanzhong’s donated works, An Unbroken Line: The Wu Guanzhong Donation Collection at the Singapore Art Museum, marks the highest-value donation to a public museum in Singapore. Valued at S$73.7 million, the artworks span five decades (1957 to 2007) of the artist’s creative output.
Singapore Arts Festival 2009: Encompassing, Engaging, Exhilarating
Heritage Road Show 1 August 2009 Wu Guanzhong: Continuing a Legacy of Giving
Formation of the Ministry of Culture
Singapore Day 09
Singapore Hosts 26th Icsid World Design Congress 2009
Dear Readers This year marks the 50th year of MICA’s establishment. From her humble beginnings as the Ministry of Culture which was formed on 5 June 1959, MICA has grown and evolved over the past 50 years. In this issue, we bring you a snapshot of the birth of the Ministry of Culture in 1959. You can also read about the number of initiatives that MICA and its agencies have embarked on such as the recent Singapore Arts Festival and the Singapore Kindness Movement’s Project Gracious. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Resonance.
Snapshots – events roundup
Editorial Board Julia Hang Gavin Chelvan Contributors Diana Ng Felix Siew Nur Diana Jamaludin Gavin Chelvan Photo Credits
What do you recall of your own life against the backdrop of significant events that took place in Singapore in the last 50 years? The Heritage Road Show this year focuses on the theme of ‘I Remember Singapore’ and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s self-governance from 1959 to 2009. Your experiences and stories form a part of the history of Singapore and we want to hear from you! If you have written narratives, print materials or photos of these significant events and milestones in your life, do share your life experiences with the National Library Board at iremember.sg@nlb.gov.sg. Your stories and photos may be selected and showcased on www.iremember.sg. Your contributions stand to win cash prizes of up to $5,000!
The Singapore HeritageFest turns six this year as it returns bigger and better than before! Reconnect with your neighbours and rediscover the vibrant cultures of the people who call Singapore home. That shouldn’t be too hard to do as there are a whole lot of activities for everyone – whether you are young or old, or whether you are a music or photography lover. And for those who simply want to avoid the city crowds during the weekends, there will be six satellite hubs visiting the neighbourhood malls near you! Visit www.heritagefest.org.sg for more details.
EVENTS ROUNDUP
Here’s a sneak preview of the line-up of exciting events that MICA has in store for 2009.
Baba Bling: The Peranakans and Their Jewellery 29 May 2009 – 13 December 2009 There’s some serious bling happening at the Peranakan Museum till December. Presenting some of the finest jewellery from the Peranakan Museum and collections of Peranakan families and private collectors, Baba Bling: The Peranakans and Their Jewellery, is set to dazzle with treasures and heirlooms ranging from functional jewellery to ornate gems. Visit www.peranakanmuseum.sg to find out more.
National Arts Council Singapore Art Museum Overseas Singaporean Unit Singapore Kindness Movement
Julia Hang (Mrs) Chairperson, Resonance Editorial Board resonance:08:09
140 Hill Street, 6th Storey, MICA Building Singapore 179369 T: 65 6270 7988 F: 65 6837 9480 E: mica@mica.gov.sg www.mica.gov.sg
Issue 9 • Apr - Jun 2009