Sculpture Society (Singapore) is formed

The Sculpture Society is the first society in Singapore formed to advance the development of sculpture as an artistic practice and promote public appreciation of sculpture as an art form. Established on 19 May 2001 as a non-profit organisation, the society seeks to provide a platform for sculptors to learn through sharing; raise the standard of the practice in the local arts community; nurture public appreciation through exhibitions, workshops and symposiums; and encourage bilateral exchange between sculptors in Singapore and abroad.^[1]

While the idea of setting up a sculpture society had been in the making for over 10 years,^[2] it was only in 2001 that the plan came into fruition with founding members Han Sai Por, John Low, Baet Yoke Kuan, Chern Lian Shan, Lim Soo Ngee and Chiang Jing Ying.^[3] Over the course of its history, Han Sai Por,^[4] Yeo Chee Kiong^[5] and C. K. Kum^[6] have served as presidents, while advisors included Brother Joseph McNally, Ng Eng Teng and Wee Beng Chong.^[7] The society is currently helmed by Teo Huey Ling as president and Sun Yu Li as advisor.^[8] The society is located at Sculpture Pavilion, which is made up of two recycled air-conditioned containers, at Fort Canning Park. The facility  – sponsored by the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Inspire Programme  –  functions as a studio, a venue for workshops and a space for sculptors to interact with the public.^[9]

The society has organised numerous exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, talks and projects to stir public interest in sculptural art. These include The Changi Tree Project in 2004 in which sculptors created works of art from nine pieces of wood salvaged from the trunk of a 150-year-old heritage tree in Changi that had been illegally felled by a property developer;^[10] a sculpture exhibition held at the Esplanade in 2006 showcasing the works of 32 artists from three generations;^[11] and the first Singapore International Woodcarving Symposium in 2007.^[12]

In 2011, the society celebrated its 10th anniversary with an exhibition held at the National Library. Titled “Sculpturing Singapore – 10 Years On”, the exhibition showcased the history of the society and the development of sculptural art in Singapore.  “Sculpture in the Park”, which featured a collection of sculptures and installations exhibited in Fort Canning Park, was another exhibition organised by the society in conjunction with its 10th anniversary.^[13]

References
1. Sculpture Society (Singapore). (2014). Welcome to Sculpture Society (Singapore). Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Sculpture Society (Singapore) website: http://sculpturesociety.org.sg; Sculpture Society (Singapore). (2014). About us. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Sculpture Society (Singapore) website: http://sculpturesociety.org.sg/about-us
2. Teh, J. L. (2003, February 13). Guess which sculpture was made here. The New Paper, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Sculpture Society (Singapore), 2014, Welcome to Sculpture Society (Singapore).
4. Sculpture Society (Singapore). (2006). Sculpture Society (Singapore) = 新加坡雕塑协会 (p. 8). Singapore: Sculpture Society (Singapore). Call no.: RSING 730.95957 SCU.
5. Sculpture Society (Singapore), 2006, p. 9.
6. Tan, A. (2011, June 19). Hey, who moved my sculpture? The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva.
7. The New Paper, 13 Feb 2003, p. 10.
8. Sculpture Society (Singapore), 2014. Committee members. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Sculpture Society (Singapore) website: http://sculpturesociety.org.sg/about-us/committee-members/
9. Sculpture Society (Singapore). (2014). Contact us. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Sculpture Society (Singapore) website: http://sculpturesociety.org.sg/contact-us; National Parks Board. (n.d.). Your guide to Sculpture Trail in Fort Canning Park. Retrieved from National Parks website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/diy_guide/FCPSculptureTrail.pdf; Tan, C. (2009, May 22). Chipping away at old notions of art. The Business Times, p. 28. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. Felled tree turned into art. (2003, September 3). The Straits Times, p. H14; The ‘Changi’ tree. (2005, October 18). The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Sculpture Society (Singapore), 2006, p. 6.
12. Sculpture Society (Singapore), 2014, About us.
13. Subrahmanian, M. (2011, May 27). Carving out a new awareness. The Business Times. Retrieved from Factiva.