Three years of NDP artworks from persons with disabilities to go on display for the first time at Opera Gallery @ ION Orchard

Singapore, 5 AUGUST 2022 – In celebration of Singapore’s 57^th birthday, artworks by persons with disabilities featured in National Day Parade (NDP) collaterals from 2020 to 2022 will be on public display collectively for the first time in an art exhibition entitled Our Gift to Singapore.  

The exhibition was graced by President Halimah Yacob, the Guest of Honour, who met some of the artists with disabilities at the official opening of the exhibition today.

This exhibition features all 63 art pieces that were developed by artists with disabilities and featured in NDP collaterals in the past three years, highlighting their unique perspectives and interpretations of what it means for everyone regardless of abilities, to come together to build a better Singapore. Each artwork featured in the exhibition is accompanied by stories of the artists involved and their inspiration behind the artwork.

Organised by SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, this exhibition is held in partnership with an international art gallery, Opera Gallery, and a creative agency, Third Space. In conjunction with the National Day celebrations, the exhibition will run from 5 Aug to 10 Aug, 11am to 8pm, and will be open to members of the public. Admission is free.

Ms Ku Geok Boon, CEO of SG Enable, said: “We are delighted to bring Our Gift to Singapore from 76 special artists across various social service agencies and special education schools to everyone. The artists’ optimism and resilience reflected in these works created during Covid are most remarkable and worthy of our learning. To have these artworks featured alongside masters of Contemporary and Modern Art in Opera Gallery is a really proud moment for all of us.”

Mr Stephane Le Pelletier, Director Asia Pacific, Opera Gallery, said: “Opera Gallery is honoured to host this exhibition and support budding artists with special needs. Art breaks down barriers and we hope that the artworks here can spark conversations and reflections on the importance of access to opportunities and inclusion.”

Ms Kathy Lim-Sheehy, co-founder of Third Space, said: “Our team at Third Space was so excited to work on this project! We thought of presenting the artwork in a different medium – as an interactive, installation piece which is visually stunning, and lets everyone physically appreciate the artwork and their stories more closely.”

Mr Timothy Chan, 31, is one of the artists whose artwork is featured in the exhibition and his SG Animal Heroes artwork depicts a dragon, pelican and other animals from Singapore’s heritage playgrounds. Timothy, who has muscular dystrophy, said: “Don’t let your challenges or disability hold you back from pursuing your dreams. I never let my disability stop me from pursuing what I want to do. I’ll find a way to get there, just like how my artwork has found its way beyond my canvas and be seen by many others.”

As part of SG Enable's i‘mable public education initiative on disability and inclusion, the agency has collaborated with NDP organisers over the past three years to feature artworks by Singaporeans with disabilities on NDP packs and other collaterals like foldable fans, stickers and pledge cards.

Some of the artworks have also been adapted into designs for high-quality gifts under the i’mable Collective:

• In 2020, the Utama Collection comprising a cotton-silk scarf and enamel brooch was launched by President Halimah. In addition, the Remix 55 collection of enamel pins adapted from the NDP artworks are on sale on Fairmarch and KrisShop.
• In celebration of Singapore’s 57th birthday, Heirloom Threads has also adapted NDP artworks into designs for 57 unique clutch bags. Some of these clutch bags were assembled by master craftsmen from SPD, who further honed their skills through this collaboration. These one-of-its-kind clutch bags will be available for sale at www.heirloomthreads.sg from 10 August.
• Another enterprise partner, Photo Phactory, produced a series of lifestyle products such as coasters, cheese boards and jewellery boxes to celebrate National Day and the talents of artists with disabilities. These products will be available for sale at Design Orchard and at www.photophactorysg.com from 10 August.

Besides products that bear designs using the NDP artworks, the exhibition also features other gifts that carry designs by persons with disabilities. Among them is the Breathing Batik collection of lacquerware which was showcased at the prestigious Milan Design Week this year. These gifts under i’mable Collective provide opportunities for corporates and the public to procure top-of-class products with a social cause.

For more information on the artists and their artworks, visit the i'mable website here.