Artist’s Proof: Singapore at 60
Voices & Vision – Art Thought Leadership Symposium
Presented by The Culture Story
26 – 27 July 2025, Sat – Sun
1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Voices and Vision is a 2-day art thought leadership programme on the occasion of AP60 that creates a space for meaningful exchange and deeper engagement with real-world issues. Join us in shaping the dialogue on our shared past, present, and future.
Register for each talk on the Eventbrite links below. Please note that a separate ticket is required for each panel discussion.
SATURDAY, 26 JULY 2025
Welcome Address by Family Office for Art and Mastercard
1:30PM–2PM
Opening Note by Prof Tan Tai Yong
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
The symposium kicks off with Prof Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS and respected historian, who will share his thoughts on the history of nation-building in Singapore.
Speaker: Prof Tan Tai Yong | President of the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Honorary Chairman of the National Museum, Co-Chair of the Founder’s Memorial Committee
Panel #1 – Proof of Concept: The Artist’s Role in a New Nation
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
The formation of a new nation is more than a political or economic endeavour—it is a cultural birth. In such formative times, artists play a critical role, acting as both mirrors and architects of collective identity. Collectively, this panel will explore how artists serve as the “proof of concept” for a nation’s ideals, aspirations, and contradictions, shaping the soul of a country before or alongside its institutions.
Speakers:
- Paul Tan (Moderator) | Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of Singapore, Former Deputy Chief Executive, NAC; Poet
- Adeline Chia | Independent Art Writer, Reviews Editor at ArtReview Asia
- Dr Seng Yu Jin | Director (Curatorial, Research & Exhibitions) at National Gallery Singapore
Panel #2 – The Power of Patronage: Shaping Art, Culture, and Lasting Legacies
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Throughout history, the development of art and culture has often depended not only on talent and inspiration, but also on financial and institutional support. Patronage—the backing of artists by individuals, institutions, or governments—has been a powerful force in shaping artistic movements, cultural identity, and legacies.
This panel explores how patronage has functioned as both a catalyst and a curator of creativity, influencing what is made and how it is valued, what is remembered, celebrated and preserved. Patronage has always shaped the cultural landscape—and understanding patronage is crucial to help us shape a more equitable and inclusive future.
Speakers:
- Usha Chandradas (Moderator) | Advisor, Withers KhattarWong, Co-founder of Plural Art Mag and former Arts NMP
- Mae Anderson |Chairman of ArtOutreach
- T. Sasitharan (Sasi) | Co-founder and Director of Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI)
- Prof Ho Puay Peng | Project Lead, Shaw Heritage research and interpretation project
SUNDAY, 27 JULY 2025
Panel #3 – Changing Skylines: Evolving Practices in Urban Planning and Cultural Stewardship
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
As cities grow, they don’t just expand outward or upward—they evolve in meaning, identity, and function. Urban planning today is no longer just about infrastructure; it’s about the values we embed in physical space. How do cities stay resilient while balancing our response to climate change and preserving cultural continuity. This panel explores the dynamic intersection of urban planning and cultural stewardship, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in shaping cities that honour both progress and memory.
Speakers:
- Ho Weng Hin (Moderator) | Founding Partner of Studio Lapis, Architectural Conservation Specialist
- Darren Soh | Artist, Researcher
- Prof Ho Puay Peng | Professor and former Head of Department, Department of Architecture, College of Design and Engineering, NUS
- Karen Tan | Founder of Pocket Projects and The Projector
Panel #4 – Present and Away
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
This panel explores the complex realities of artists who live and create across borders—physically, emotionally, and culturally. In an era marked by movement—whether voluntary, economic, or forced—artists increasingly embody multiplicity. “Present and Away” is a recognition of the tension between here and there, now and then, and the art that arises in that in-between space. These are not just stories of presence or loss, navigating places or distances, but also of reinvention and reconnection. We invite artists to reflect on how displacement, duality, and radical redefinition have shaped their artistic identity and practice.
Speakers:
- Dr Adele Tan (Moderator) | Senior Curator at National Gallery Singapore
- Sonny Liew | Artist and Author of The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
- Suzann Victor | Artist and SG Representative for 49th Venice Biennale
- Zulkhairi Zulkiflee | Artist-Curator
Complimentary registration is available via Eventbrite through the links below. Limited seats available. Please note that a separate ticket is required for each panel discussion.