Exhibition
10 years: remembering LKY
21 Mar 2025 – 5 Apr 2025
Regular hours
- Friday
- 13:00 – 18:00
- Saturday
- 13:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 13:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday
- 13:00 – 18:00
- Thursday
- 13:00 – 18:00
Address
- 39 Keppel Rd, #03-10 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065
- Singapore
Singapore - 089065
- Singapore
Travel Information
- 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 97e, 100, 131, 145. Alight at bus stop no. 14061 (Opp Former Railway Station). Walk straight for 200m along Tanjong Pagar Distripark Block 37 and turn left at the side entrance to Block 39.
- Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station (EW15) 1. Exit E and head towards bus stop no. 03217 (Opposite AXA Tower). Board on to 10, 97, 100 and alight at bus stop no. 14061 (Opp Former Railway Station). Walk straight for 200m along Tanjong Pagar Distripark Block 37 and turn left at the side entrance to Block 39.
About
A decade has passed since the departure of Singapore’s founding father, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. In 2015, INSTINC commemorated SG50 with remembering LKY, a heartfelt tribute exhibition featuring ten artists reflecting on his enduring legacy. Now, in 2025, as Singapore celebrates SG60, we come together once more to honour his vision, resilience, and the profound impact he left on our nation and beyond.
10 Years: Remembering LKY 十年：怀念李光耀 is a reflection on time, progress, and the lasting relevance of Mr. Lee’s principles. Through the lens of contemporary artists, this exhibition revisits his influence—not just as a historical figure but as a guiding force shaping our present and future.
Among the featured artists is Laudi Abilama, INSTINC’s past artist-in-residence (2011), who has been portraying Lee Kuan Yew since 2012. She shares her deep personal connection to his legacy:
"Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew spent his life carving a nation, transforming Singapore into an extraordinary success story. Coming from the Arab world, his achievement stands in stark contrast to the systemic failures of many leaders in my region. My Lee Kuan Yew series is a reflection on his leadership within a multicultural society—how he embraced Singapore’s diversity and unlocked its full potential. His vision remains a powerful example, not just for Singapore but for the world."
A theme of this exhibition is Mr. Lee’s visionary Garden City concept—his belief that Singapore should not only be a thriving economic hub but also a lush, green sanctuary where nature and urban development coexist in harmony. His dedication to transforming Singapore into a city of parks and greenery shaped the very landscape we live in today. Just as he planted the seeds—both literal and metaphorical—for future generations, this exhibition explores how his vision continues to define Singapore’s identity.
This idea is visually expressed in Shih Yun Yeo’s neon artwork, Thank You for Being the Light (2015), which features the Chinese proverb 前人栽树，后人乘凉 ("One generation plants the trees, the next enjoys the shade"). Inspired by Mr. Lee’s Garden City vision, this glowing piece symbolizes how his leadership laid the foundation for Singapore’s progress, allowing future generations to thrive in the nation he built.
As we celebrate SG60, this exhibition is not just an act of remembrance but a dialogue between past and present, urging us to reflect on how we continue to uphold and reinterpret the values Mr. Lee instilled.
A tribute. A reflection. A call to remember.
