Fifty SG50 commemorative eggs have been specifically commissioned to be decorated by local and regional artists and successful professionals. Participating artists include Benedict Tan, Chee Kiong, Chef Emmanuel Stroobant, David Gan, Elim Chew, Kenny Yap, Eunice Olsen, Goh Lai Chan, Melissa Yeung, Natasha Sun I-Yu, Patrick Fiat, Sun Yu-li, Yong Cheong Thye, ChiLam, Pierre F. Patricio, Nathan Hartono, Hung Zhu An, Samantha Lo, Boo Sze Yang, Chng Seok Tin, Tan Kok Leong, Daniel Tan, Stanley Lim, Chuan Yew Eng, Teresa Tan, Ng Siang Hoi, Gregory Burns, Raymond Lau Poo Seng, Raymond Tan, Delia Prvacki, Milenko Prvacki, Debra Teng, Marcus Lim, Michael Cu Fua, Adrian Pang, and Chong Fah Cheong.
Marcus Lim about his artwork:
“Singapore Orchid-stra” is my unique gift to Singapore – and a tribute to our late leader’s uncanny foresight”.
Lim created a fibre-glass egg, adorned with images of orchid hybrids produced by the Singapore Botanic Gardens. So what has orchids got to do with SG50 and Singapore’s meteoric rise to become a first-world country? In 1965, orchid exports in Singapore totalled to $500,000 and in 1975, it totalled to $7.5M – a meteoric 1600% growth in 10 years. A small flower in the vision of our late founding father had not only become one of the principal drivers of economic growth in Singapore’s early years. Locally-produced orchid hybrids became the ideal presentation to honor visiting dignitaries from various countries. Each new orchid is christened with the name(s) of visiting dignitary, usually attached with the names of wives of visiting Prime Ministers and heads of states (a sign of love and affection from their husbands). Orchids thus became symbols of everlasting peace and economic collaborations with Singapore for the past 50 years.
This egg, along with 49 other eggs, is currently on display at the Resorts World Sentosa Forum till 18 April 2015 (Sat). An auction will be held at the SHBA Gala Dinner at the S.E.A Aquarium, on 18 April 2015.
Venue: S.E.A. Aquarium
Tickets: Tickets for the event can be purchased at Very Special Arts Singapore, Block 133 Bedok North Ave 3, #01-138, Singapore 460133, Phone +65 6448 6275
When: 18 Apr 2015, 7.30pm - 10pm