Speech by Ms Jennifer Lewis, SIF Governor, at SIF Connects! London Event at Asia House, London

Singapore High Commissioner Jasudasen,
Mark Howard
Distinguished guests and dear friends,

Good evening and welcome to SIF Connects! London. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the good friendships, partnerships and enduring relationships between the Singaporean and British communities. I am delighted to be in the company of so many friends and partners - your signature hospitality has certainly warmed this cold English evening.

Barely a year ago, we gathered here at Asia House when we launched the first Artist-in-Residence Exchange (AiRx) exhibition with the British Council. Time has flown, much work has been done, much art created, and here we are again, with yet more reasons to celebrate.

Two key reasons, to be specific.

First – this evening we launch the UK leg of Disappearing Moon, the fruits of our second AiRx endeavour. This joint exhibition by Singaporean artist Genevieve Chua and Briton Emma Critchley was presented for the first time in Singapore this past January. It features individual and collaborative works created over a period of time when Genevieve and Emma worked in their home countries and then in each other’s. When they were physically separated, they continued to collaborate and work together thanks to modern technology and Skype!

The results are haunting, whimsical, provocative, intriguing - and I invite you to take your time to enjoy them as the evening goes on.

We congratulate Genevieve and Emma as cultural ambassadors who collaborated to present the vibrancy and creativity of the Singapore and UK arts scenes to each other’s arts communities and beyond, sharing insights and promoting understanding across borders.

Like their AiRx predecessors Bob Matthews and Michael Lee, Genevieve and Emma are testament to our belief that there are few mediums as powerful as art in bridging communities.

But even as the artists are central to this whole endeavour, we remain encouraged and grateful to the individual and institutional partners who have come on board in this second edition of the SIF-British Council AiRx programme. It is this shared belief in the important role of art in connecting people that underscores the mutual commitment by SIF and the British Council to continue as partners in AiRx and other cultural exchanges in the coming years, with the extension of the SIF-BC MOU on collaboration at the beginning of the year for a further three years. Heartfelt thanks, Mark, to you and everyone at the British Council for being so deeply and enthusiastically committed to our shared cause.

We also have a second reason to celebrate – and that is the appointment of Chris Davis as SIF’s representative in the UK. Chris (where are you, Chris?/Jennifer to point him out) will represent us here and advance our cause to build relationships and make a positive difference. Chris’ role underscores our commitment to stay connected with Friends of Singapore and increase connections and enhance understanding between the people of our two countries.

Chris has worked in, and is a long-time friend of, Singapore. He has helped us draw in others by sharing his Singapore experience. Chris, we are looking forward to working with you to keep the SIF Connects! London flag flying! To borrow reference to a UK icon - Chris makes it a ‘Fab Four’ of SIF representatives overseas - in Indonesia, China, Thailand and now here in the UK. They are our partners for connecting people and building communities.

At the heart of all of this is a celebration of friendship, partnership and collaboration - as much between our countries and communities, as between the individuals we are honouring this evening.

Here’s to friendship, everyone! Have a wonderful evening.