THE 7^TH INTERNATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY SINGAPORE EXCHANGE EXHIBITION

 10 MARCH 2006

In conjunction with the Singapore’s Chinese Cultural Festival 2006, the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore (CCSS) organized the 7^th International Calligraphy Singapore Exchange Exhibition.  HE President Nathan declared the Exhibition open at 4pm on 10 Mar 2006.

The prestigious International Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition, also called the “Lanting[1] Gathering of Our Time”, had successfully brought together calligraphy lovers worldwide.  The Exhibition, now into its 16^th year, is held every 2 to 4 years.  Its inaugural Exhibition was held in Singapore by CCSS in 1990.  The Exhibition was held in 6 countries and was hosted by Singapore this year.  372 pieces of calligraphy works from 21 exhibiting countries were on display and some 200 participants from 15 countries were present.  These figures beat the records of the past exhibitions.

The Chairman of Singapore National Arts Council, Mr Edmund W Cheng, had sent CCSS his congratulatory message.  In his message, he wished CCSS every success in organising the exhibition and mentioned that CCSS had, in the past 30 over years, made an impressive contribution in the promotion of visual arts in Singapore.  By organising this exhibition, CCSS had provided a platform for both local and foreign calligraphers to network and exchange ideas, thus helping to raise the level of the arts in Singapore.

The main exhibition hall was within the Singapore Calligraphy Centre and the other exhibition halls were within the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Halls 1,2 and 3.  Exhibits within the Singapore Calligraphy Centre were displayed in the exhibition hall till 31 Mar 2006, while exhibits in the 3 halls within NAFA were displayed till 15 Mar 2006.  All exhibition halls were opened from 11am to 6pm daily.  Admission was free and the exhibition was open to public.  A special publication (each book containing about 500 pages) was commissioned to commemorate the Event, which featured the highlights of the past 6 exhibitions and pictures of all arts pieces from this year’s exhibition.

On 11 Mar 2006, representatives from the 15 participating countries convened at the Singapore Calligraphy Centre, to nominate the next host country for the next International Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition.  After this, about 200 calligraphers demonstrated their skills.  This congregation of calligraphers will be the most massive to date.

Ministers of State, Mrs Yu-Fu Yee Shoon and Mr Chan Soo Sen and Mayor Yao Chih were be the Guests-of-Honour at the Exhibition’s welcome, celebration and farewell dinners.