US award to Singapore artist for promoting freedom of expression ‘not political’
Giving an annual prize to Lee Wen, a performance artist who denied a Singapore government ban, is not an attempt to send a message to authorities in the city state, ambassador says
A Singaporean artist has received an award from the United States embassy for his work promoting freedom of expression in the authoritarian island state – but the embassy denies it was trying to send the Singaporean government a message.
Lee Wen, an internationally acclaimed pioneer of performance art, persisted with his work during what was effectively a decade-long ban on performance art in Singapore and continues to advocate more openness in society. In 2014 he needed hospital treatment in Hong Kong for an injury he suffered after speaking out against China’s human rights record at an Art Basel forum. He claimed to have been attacked by an unidentified assailant.
A work by Singaporean artist Lee Wen, splash! #8, 2003. Photo: Lee Wen/ipreciation
Kirk Wagar, US ambassador to Singapore, said the Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art – now in its second year – was not an attempt to push for more freedom in Singapore. Balestier was the first US consul general to Singapore in the 19th century.
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“There is no political agenda,” Wagar said at the award ceremony held on Tuesday at his official residence. “This is an Asean-centred award. I think the struggle [for more freedom] is the reason for the award, either it be here, Myanmar or Vietnam. I don’t think any country on this planet has got it figured out, mine included.”
Lee Wen’s Strange Fruit 3, 2003. Photo: Lee Wen/ipreciation
Wagar elaborated on the idea of universal values – a concept that some Asian governments such as China’s are particularly wary of. “I think one of the most interesting conversations that anyone can have … is what are Asian values, what are American values, what are Western values, what are African values. They are very uncomfortable conversations to have but I think very meaningful conversations to have, because I believe once you’ve peeled away at the onion there aren’t that many differences in your core values,” he said.
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The ambassador stressed the award had nothing to do with American foreign policy.
An artwork by Lee Wen, Journey of a Yellow Man No.11: Multi-culturalism, 1997. Photo: Lee Wen/ipreciation
“I want to be crystal clear about this. I think that it’s easy to assume because the US embassy is involved, that we are trying to make a statement. We are not. If we were using this as a political platform it would reduce [the] credibility of what we’re trying to achieve here,” he said.
