Amidst great anticipation, The Parkview Group opens its first private museum in Singapore. Parkview Museum opens its doors with the global art exhibition ‘On Sharks and Humanity’, a thematic, travelling exhibition that addresses the practice of shark finning and the impact of human activity on the oceans. Conceived by Parkview Arts Action, the environmentally focused exhibition addresses the topics of shark protection and ocean conservation through a variety of art forms in a multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach.
The inaugural exhibition took place at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and opened to the public on World Oceans Day on 8th June 2014 until March 2015; attracting close to half a million visitors. The exhibition was unveiled by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco who praised the initiative as a “great action to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our Oceans”.
‘’The response garnered from the ‘On Sharks and Humanity’ exhibition in Monaco was overwhelming and it gives us tremendous joy to see this poignant exhibition and art display come to Singapore, bringing awareness to this important cause. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco devotes a lot of his time and efforts to various environmental causes such as this one. We are thrilled to have a connection to this incredible exhibition in Singapore and wish the organizers great success”. says Mr. Benoit Badufle, Chief Asia Representative of Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Authority.
The upcoming exhibition in Singapore, exemplifies Parkview’s commitment to the arts and society, Parkview Arts Action is founded on the belief that art can play a significant role in initiating societal change. George Wong, Parkview Arts Action Founder and Hong Kong Parkview Group Executive Chairman shared, “This is a serious environmental issue that affects us all. Shark preservation is undoubtedly critical. Declining shark numbers pose a fundamental threat to the health of the world’s oceans. Through the artists’ varied interpretations, ‘On Sharks and Humanity’ can inform and confront audiences in ways that strike more directly into the human psyche than the abstract language of scientific debate.”
The exhibition features artists from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Germany and the United States, The artworks explore and analyse the interdependent relationship between sharks, the ocean, and human beings, challenging prevailing prejudices surrounding this deeply feared creature and bringing to light the importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem. “This is one of the few exhibitions of its kind and it reflects the social responsibility of the artists, while demonstrating the relationship between art and society”, shares Huang Du, the curator of ‘On Sharks and Humanity’, “these artworks reflect the participants’ imagination, judgment, creativity and their sense of social duty”
‘On Sharks and Humanity’ is supported by leading international non-profit organisation WildAid, whose mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade and reduce the demand for wildlife products, such as shark fin. Prior to its first Southeast Asian stop in Singapore, the exhibition was previously showcased at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco in 2014 before travelling to Moscow and the National Museum of China in Beijing in 2015. Opening on 9 March, 2017 ‘On Sharks and Humanity’ will be shown at The Parkview Museum until 26 June, 2017.
The Parkview Museum Singapore is located within Parkview Square, one of the most iconic skyscrapers of the Bugis cityscape with its modern interpretation of art deco architecture. The new private museum takes up the third floor of the building with an expanse of over 15,000 square feet of column-free space. Established with the vision of strengthening the appreciation and understanding of contemporary art in Singapore, The Parkview Museum brings together artists from different parts of the world through the presentation of solo and thematic exhibitions which will demonstrate the multifaceted and versatile character of contemporary art.
The Parkview Museum will be open to all members of the public with no admission charge, allowing the private museum to be deeply involved with the community as well as play an educational role by providing a global platform for the artistic expression and popularisation of contemporary art. “Parkview embodies the combination of art and life” says Vicky Hwang, Managing Director of Parkview Singapore, “and The Parkview Museum in Singapore, will not only create a more pleasant environment for all tenants and visitors to Parkview Square, but also serve to bring people closer to art”.
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