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03.08.05
3 August 2005, Singapore - Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is proud to receive the donation of 95 artworks from Times Publishing Ltd. This is one of the largest single corporate donations to SAM. The donation comprises 94 paintings and a sculpture by eminent Singapore artists such as Chua Mia Tee, Cheong Soo Pieng, Choo Keng Kwang, Shi Xiangtuo, Ng Eng Teng, Seah Kim Joo and Lee Boon Wang. This donation is a significant addition to SAM collection as it represents the work of important Singaporean artists in the period of the 1970s and early 1980s. This period in Singapore's art history is also significant as it coincides with the post-independence nation-building years, and the Times Collection reflects the creative responses of artists to the changes they witnessed.
To commemorate the donation of this important body of works to SAM, SAM has curated an exhibition showcasing highlights of the donation from the Times Collection, on show at SAM Donations Gallery from 4 August 2005 to 5 February 2006. In conjunction with the exhibition, Times Publishing has published a catalogue of the 95 donated works.
To mark this occasion, a donation ceremony cum book launch will be held on 3 August (Wednesday) at 6.30pm, SAM, with Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, and Health as guest-of-honour.
Says Mr Kwok Kian Chow, Director of SAM, "We are pleased to be the recipient of such a significant donation. We understand that Times Publishing Ltd felt that the collection had great art historical importance and should be kept intact as part of the national art collection to narrate the story of Singapore in the 70s and 80s. We would like to acknowledge Times Publishing Ltd's great generosity as art patrons, and to thank them for supporting SAM's vision. SAM has been actively collecting important works by Singapore and Southeast Asian artists, and the donation significantly enlarges SAM's contributions to the regional visual arts community and Asian art museology."
The paintings were commissioned by Times Publishing Ltd, then part of The Straits Times Press Group, some 32 years ago, as a special project for publishing a series of calendars. Depicting vanishing trades, street scenes and the lifestyle of the people, the artworks have great educational value for the younger generation of Singaporeans as they informed the socio-cultural landscape of that time.
Says Mr Lai Seck Khui, CEO of Times Publishing Limited, "Apart from the artistic merit of these paintings, the Times Collection forms a significant part of our national art heritage and past social history. This is a rare collection with an extensive thematic coverage, and it would be irreplaceable if it is allowed to be broken up for sale at an auction."
In conjunction with the Times Collection exhibition, SAM has lined up a series of exciting competitions and fun activities for students, ranging from Art Sticker - Stories, Heritage Sketches, Re-inventing Tradition: Design A Mooncake and Break The Rules to Play Curator and Art Writing . Winners for the competitions will be invited to the Ice-cream Buffet Party held in December at SAM. Full programme details are appended. Log on to www.singart.com for updates. Ice-cream sponsored by Magnolia.
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About Singapore Art Museum Collection
The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) has been actively collecting Singapore and Southeast Asian Modern and Contemporary Art since its establishment in 1995. Since its opening, the Museum's permanent collection has grown from under 2,000 art works to over 6,500, making it the world's largest public collection of 20th-century Southeast Asian art. Dedicated to the display of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian art within the broader Asian context, the museum also features a range of international blockbusters and temporary exhibitions alongside a selection of iconic artworks by renowned local artists such as Liu Kang and Georgette Chen from its permanent collection.
About Times Publishing Limited
Times Publishing Limited's "Total Service" concept engages our diverse businesses in every stage of the printed word-from conceptualisation right through to printing and distribution-for the benefit of our consumers and business partners.
A leading educational publisher of school textbooks in Asia, the Group has content that has also expanded to include General Interest, Home & Library Reference and Business. We publish in 13 languages and maintain a publishing presence in Europe, America and Asia. Our printing operation has, likewise, attained international status with a highly integrated one-stop service that encompasses every stage of print production. Today, we have printing plants in the Asia-Pacific region with an international marketing network located in key cities around the world. Through our distribution arm, we operate more than 4,000 consumer touch points and are supported by our retail and warehousing facilities. We represent major book and magazine publishers from around the world and are a leading distributor of English books and related media in the Asia-Pacific region.
Today our Group operates a global network of 20 international offices, 40 subsidiaries and four associated companies in key cities in Asia, Australia, Europe, the UK and the US.
Times Publishing Limited is a member of the Fraser and Neave Group.
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