Mr Feng Zhengjie;

Mr Koh Seow Chuan, Chairman, Singapore Art Museum;

Excellencies;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

1.         Good afternoon.  I am delighted to be here today at the Donation Ceremony of the artwork My Parents by Mr Feng Zhengjie.

2.         This is a very personal piece for the artist. In some ways, this artwork is also representative of Mr Feng’s own journey of coming to an illumination on the dualities of loss and new beginnings. It has been rarely exhibited and selectively so, by the artist, at prominent art spaces and museums in Korea and China, including a very special exhibition in Tibet. 

3.         We are very happy that Mr Feng has chosen the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) as the custodian for this very special painting. This significant donation will be an important addition to the Museum’s permanent collection.

4          Donations play an important role in developing a nation's arts and cultural landscape. They complement our museums’ collection as seen in the public museums.  Many Singaporeans are also realising the importance of contributing to and preserving our cultural heritage.  For example, SAM received over S$26 million worth of donated works in the last five years, including works of some of our most important artists such as Liu Kang, Anthony Poon and Lim Tze Peng, and abstract artist Wong Keen.  Another growing trend is the emergence of more private museums, such as Art Retreat.  These private museums complement our existing cultural institutions and help position Singapore strongly as a global city of arts and culture in Asia. 

5          The Government therefore welcomes this encouraging trend, and other acts of cultural philanthropy from the private and people sectors.  We look forward to more corporate and individual collectors who may be inspired to open up or contribute their collections of art and cultural artefacts to the public.  Together, they will offer a more complete representation of Singapore’s culture, heritage, identity, and nation-building journey.

6          In this respect, Mr Feng’s donation will add to the diversity of our arts and cultural collections. It will also contribute to fostering artistic and intellectual exchanges between Singapore, China and the world.  On behalf of the Singapore Art Museum, I thank Mr Feng Zhengjie for this precious donation. 

7          Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will enjoy this masterpiece by Mr Feng Zhengjie.  As it is the Yuanxiao Festival, or the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, today, let me wish everyone here a Happy Yuanxiao. 

8          Thank you.