Singapore, 30 July 2015 – The National Museum of Singapore and developer City Developments Limited (CDL) will commission award-winning sculptor Yeo Chee Kiong, to design and produce a special SG50 sculpture to commemorate the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence.
An open call was launched in November 2014 for the submission of concepts for this commemorative public sculpture. The proposed sculpture is centred on the theme of The Red Dot, Today and Tomorrow, representing the inspirations and ambitions of a forward-thinking Singapore.
Yeo‘s proposal was selected from the 48 submissions received from Singaporean or Permanent Resident artists as it best captured the essence of the theme. Yeo wanted to create a sculpture that expressed the significant values that contribute to our nation’s aspirations, and at the same time, share the heritage of the museum and surrounding Fort Canning site with visitors.
The sculpture will be located at the Fort Canning entrance of the National Museum and will be on display from September. It draws inspiration from the cultural legacy of the museum and reflects the National Museum as a cultural and architectural landmark in the heart of the city. Made of stainless steel, the sculpture resembles a blossoming flower, which symbolises our country’s flourishing success and achievements over the past 50 years of independence.
Angelita Teo, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “I’m looking forward to seeing the final artwork by Yeo Chee Kiong. There is no better way to begin a journey exploring Singapore’s history and culture in the museum by thinking about how far we have come and the endless possibilities for our future. I am glad the artwork makes use of our stunning location surrounded by Fort Canning and across the bustling city to create this platform for reflection. We are pleased to have like-minded partners such as CDL, whose generous gift has allowed us to share Chee Kiong’s sculpture with Singapore. I am sure this will be a great addition to the museum and will be enjoyed by all.”
Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited, said, “As a homegrown corporation, we are proud to celebrate Singapore’s golden jubilee with this iconic sculpture. For over a decade, CDL has enabled our local artists to realise their creative aspirations as public artworks through the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award initiative. Chee Kiong is a past winner of this Award, and it is especially meaningful to realise another work by him. We hope the community will enjoy this exciting new commemorative artwork, which will enrich our nation’s cultural legacy.”
In the Eye of the Red Dot will be on display from mid-September on the lawn at the Fort Canning entrance of the National Museum, close to the museum’s PLAY@NMS area on Level 3. It will be located next to Singapore’s largest red pepper, the Pedas-Pedas, by artist Kumari Nahappan.