Unity sculpture

Public Art: Unity sculpture

Sculptor: © But Muchtar

Description:

Date Unveiled: 15th June 1982

Location: The Unity sculpture is located near Percival Road, Fort Canning Park, Singapore.

Inscription:

UNITY

by Mr But Muchtar

Official presentation ceremony of the Asian sculptures

This sculpture executed during the ASEAN sculpture symposium in Singapore from 27 March – 10 May 1981

Was unveiled by

HE Prof Dr Mochtar Kusumaatmadja

Background to the Asean Sculpture Symposium: ASEAN Sculpture Symposium was established in 1981 with the aim of “promoting a sense of community among sculptors of member countries whose works of art will be visible symbols of regional cooperation.” The ASEAN Sculpture Symposium lasted six summits, the final being in Manila in 1989.

The Singapore Committee On Culture & Information (COCI) held the first symposium in Singapore between March 27th and May 10th, 1981. Five sculptors from each member country were asked to produce a five-meter tall sculpture which was later displayed at Singapore’s Fort Canning Park. The Indonesian sculptor, But Muchtar, contributed this sculpture “Unity”; The Malaysian sculptor, Arifin Mohamad Ismail, contributed a fibreglass work called “Taning Sari” (which disintegrated in the harsh weather and was later replaced with the “Augury” sculpture by Anthony Lau ; The Filipino sculptor, Napoleon Veloso Abueva, contributed “Fredesvinda”; Thai sculptor Vichai Sithiratu, contributed “Concentration” and Singaporean sculptor Ng Eng Teng, produced  “Balance”: Osman bin Mohammad contributed “Together” sculpture.

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Republic of Indonesia

on 15 June 1982