Re-WovenA Celebration of Lives |
 A Singaporean who once travelled to Laos fell in love with the Land and her people. He wanted to share his life with them so that they could share theirs. And thus, a tale was born that celebrated the lives that he encountered…as well as his own. Benny Ong, a renowned international fashion designer, who has dressed personalities such as the late Princess Diana, the Duchess of Kent and the Queen of Jordon, embarked on this journey in the late 1990s. Working on what he is best at, he started creating contemporary designs inspired by the Land and her people. His designs however would not have been realised, if it were not for the talents and adaptability of its traditional weavers, and his close working relationship with them. In presenting Re-Woven by Benny Ong, Singapore Art Museum features an exclusive collection of 46 textiles that are specifically created for the installation. These hand-woven artworks by Lao traditional weavers convey Benny’s acute appreciation for the physical, intellectual and spiritual balance of what he termed as “the preservation of what would otherwise be lost”. The works began with inspirations taken from Buddhism, but the artist intends for them to be seen as an interpretation of inner contemplation, thought, stillness, joy and mediation conveyed in a contemporary setting. Re-Woven is also an expression of Benny’s belief in the simplicity of life – the essential inter-dependence of people, and the fact that the beauty in life resides in the essence of our environment. Ultimately, this exhibition embodies the message of social responsibility and inescapably, Buddhist thought that is borne out of the close collaboration between the designer and the makers, the family of traditional artisans in Northern Laos who are skilled in the craft that is passed down through the generations. The exhibition will also be a spiritual journey of self-discovery for the visitors, comprising three series: Jubilation, Mind Field and Contemplation, that focuses on the themes of contemplation, remembrance and reminiscence to provide both aesthetic and artistic experiences. Re-Woven is part of Celebrate ASEAN!, a National Heritage Board programme series that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and marks the taking over of the Chair of ASEAN by Singapore in November 2007.
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Digital artworks by Cain Lim from Affiniti design collective.
