Huawei supports Singapore’s Largest Inclusive Art Festival by Bringing Arts to Life
[Singapore, October 19, 2024] – For the second year in a row, Huawei is proud to play a part in supporting Shaping Hearts, Singapore’s largest inclusive arts festival, celebrating art by disabled artists.
Organised by Singapore’s North East Community Development Council (NE CDC), Shaping Hearts 2024 took place at Our Tampines Hub, and was honoured by the presence of Guest-of-Honour, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, who was accompanied by First Lady, Jane Yumiko Ittogi. The festival featured an art exhibition, live performances, and art sales, providing a dynamic platform for artists with disabilities to showcase their work. This edition displayed over 500 artworks, masterfully created by more than 200 local and international artists with disabilities.
A key highlight at the exhibition is the Art Comes Alive area, where some of the artworks have been digitalised and enhanced with interactive elements such as animation and sound effects to bring the paintings to life. These enhancements are made possible with technologies by Huawei Cloud together with its partner, CreativeFitting.
Maxi Wang, CEO of Huawei International, said “We pride ourselves on empowering artists with disabilities, exploring how technology can revolutionise art, pushing boundaries and unleashing innovative possibilities for creative expression. We don’t just want to share art, we want to champion inclusion and share inspiring stories of resilience that move the world."
Commenting on his artwork ‘Harmonious Growth’ which has been animated and brought to life by Huawei, the two-time stroke survivor and educator turned artist Vincent Seet said, “When I first became an artist, I had a dream that one day my art will become so real that it comes alive. Seeing the unbelievable collaboration between art and technology with Huawei, it tells me my dream has come true. Today, my dolphins swim with the beautiful coral reefs in the ocean and tomorrow, I’m looking forward to seeing my eagles soaring the sky. As one of the purposes of my art is to share environment sustainability with a wildlife theme, this animation definitely brings me closer to share and present my artistic expression and vision in the most beautiful way possible.”
"Shaping Hearts doesn't just showcase talent, it opens doors to sustainable livelihoods and paints a future where everyone including persons with disabilities can meaningfully contribute and belong," said Mayor Desmond Choo. "We celebrate and recognise the artistic talents of persons with disabilities who often have fewer award opportunities. This can encourage their artistic pursuits and contribute to improving their quality of life."
From 19 October to 3 November 2024, the public can view and purchase the artworks at Our Tampines Hub and on the Shaping Hearts website. The exhibition also offers immersive experiences to foster understanding of artists with disabilities. Visitors can try Mouth Painting, experiencing first-hand the challenges faced by artists with physical disabilities. Sensory Pods and Experiential Activities provide insight into the sensory experiences of people with autism and demonstrate how artists with various disabilities approach their creative process.
For the first time since its inception, Shaping Hearts welcomed the showcase of artists with disabilities from ten international cities including Amman, Bilbao, Hanoi, Seoul and more. This diverse representation strengthened cross-cultural bonds and helped to foster a spirit of global unity in celebrating diverse abilities.
*The full list of animated artworks can be viewed here.
The artworks animated by Huawei include:
1. The Flock by Aaron Yeo Kwok Chian
Artist biography:
Aaron was a hairstylist before a motorcycle accident left him paralysed from the neck down. Overcome with grief, Aaron spent years trying to come to terms with this new reality without much success. A chance meeting with another tetraplegic introduced him to the therapeutic world of art. Aaron discovered his hidden talent for painting and received formal training from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). Aaron's practice in oil is steeped in realism as he draws inspiration from nature. Every stroke deftly captures his subject in precise detail.
2. Moonlit Journey by Ng Siang Hoi
Artist biography:
Siang Hoi’s love for nostalgia translates itself into numerous paintings of Singapore’s skylines, ethnic enclaves and Chinese junk. As a veteran artist who is popular with tourists, private collectors and corporations, Siang Hoi captures the essence of streets and the architectural presence of buildings in acrylics. A keen observer who enjoys live painting, Siang Hoi’s warm smile beckons you to join in his process and start a conversation. To him, art is a means to communicate and though he is hard-of-hearing, he enjoys sharing stories and his perspective on things.
3. Harmonious Growth by Vincent Seet Kie Hong
Artist biography:
Vincent is a two-time stroke survivor and educator turned artist. He believed that every painting is "a dream come true" and every artwork can be a "hope for peace and harmony in the world". Over the years, Vincent has supported various charity institutions locally as well as across the region. He also conducted art workshops for residents of a mental health home on volunteering basis.