On the afternoon of November 10, 2023, Mr. Charles Oon, Chairman of Singapore China Baijiu Pte Ltd — the official distributor of Kweichow Moutai in Singapore — was invited to attend the opening ceremony of The World Outside Art Exhibition, co-hosted by Tung Lok and OCBC Bank. The exhibition uniquely showcased the beauty and vibrancy of life in Guizhou, offering audiences a vivid glimpse into this culturally rich region.
The exhibition featured a series of works by Hangzhou-based Guizhou-born artist Miao Yaosheng, focusing on the traditional Miao villages of Guizhou. It also highlighted outstanding works by Guizhou artist Professor Wang Jianshan, as well as Singaporean artists Ma Bolong, Cai Jinyuan, and Agewuo.
The opening ceremony was graced by Mr. He Jing, President of the Guizhou Association for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries, and Professor Wang Jianshan, former Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts at Guizhou Minzu University, who led the visiting Guizhou delegation. Other distinguished guests included Mr. Jude Loke, Deputy Head of Wealth Management at OCBC; Mr. Wei Dong, Managing Director of Tung Lok; Ms. Kong Yuan, Deputy Director of the China Cultural Centre (Singapore); Mr. Chen Mishu, Promotion Director at the China Cultural Centre; Mr. Xie Yangfeng, General Manager of City Developments Limited; Ms. Lan Meilian, former Deputy Director of Singapore’s Ministry of Culture; Mr. Fu Wenlin, CEO of the Singapore Cultural Exchange Centre; Ms. Li Manna, Vice President of the Guizhou Association of Singapore; NTU Associate Professor Michelle Lim; and Senior Lecturer Karin Oen, among more than 60 attendees who witnessed this grand opening.
Artist Miao Yaosheng relocated his artistic journey from Hangzhou to a remote Miao village in Guizhou, where, after more than a decade of exploration, he vividly captured the natural beauty and authentic daily life of the Miao people in Southeast Guizhou through oil painting. His delicate brushwork and heartfelt style have been hailed as treasures of contemporary art. The opening was presided over by Art Director Wei Zongyi, with speeches delivered by Curator Wei Ronghong, President He Jing, Professor Wang Jianshan, an OCBC representative, and Ms. Kong Yuan of the China Cultural Centre.
The event was further enriched by musical performances from delegation members, including renowned violinist Liao Haoyue and Wei Zongyi, recipient of the Young Artist Award from the National Arts Council of Singapore. The diversity of the exhibition made it a cultural milestone in China-Singapore exchanges, laying a strong foundation for deeper collaboration between the two nations.
In her speech, Deputy Director Kong Yuan emphasized the exhibition’s significance in strengthening bilateral cultural ties. She warmly introduced Guizhou’s rich cultural and tourism resources as well as its achievements in economic and social development, encouraging Singaporean friends to visit Guizhou.
Looking ahead, it is hoped that this exhibition will inspire more profound and extensive cultural exchanges between Guizhou and Singapore. It also aspires to foster greater collaboration among artists from both nations, offering more outstanding works and valuable artistic perspectives to the people of China, Singapore, and the world. For culture thrives through exchange, and life becomes richer through cultural enrichment.