Cover Chang Hwee Nee, Paige Parker, Merle Hinrich, Miriam Hinrich, Andrew Gn, Edwin Tong, Mark Lee, Kennie Ting
Chang Hwee Nee, Paige Parker, Merle Hinrich, Miriam Hinrich, Andrew Gn, Edwin Tong, Mark Lee, Kennie Ting
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Besides recognising the generous support of its donors, the silver jubilee celebration was also an opener to the "Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World” exhibition
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) turned 25 last year but when it came to its silver jubilee celebration, its advisory board chaired by Mark Lee, CEO of Sing Lun Holdings, decided to be fashionably late—and for good reason.
The ACM Gala 2023 was held on May 25, ahead of the opening of ACM's latest blockbuster exhibition, Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World, which chronicles the journey of one of Singapore’s most prolific designers. Featuring over 100 representative works of the House of Andrew Gn, this is ACM's largest exhibition celebrating a contemporary Singapore fashion designer.
Read more: Singaporean designer Andrew Gn wants his fashion legacy to inspire a new generation of Asian talents
Andrew Gn
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Welcomed by the Gamelan Singamurti ensemble, luminaries of arts, culture and heritage, as well as fashion and design, from Singapore and the world, came together at the ballroom of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, in celebration of ACM as well as the Paris-based Singaporean designer. They were joined by guest of honour Edwin Tong, minister for Culture, Community and Youth and second minister for Law, who was given a special preview of the exhibition right before the gala by Kennie Ting, director of ACM and Peranakan Museum, and the museums' senior curator Jackie Yoong.
In a nod to ACM's role as Singapore’s national museum of Asian antiquities and decorative art, gala chair Paige Parker noted that "fashion is no longer considered as frivolous but an art form". Herself a champion of homegrown fashion designers, Parker paid sartorial tribute to Andrew Gn by wearing not one, but two of his sumptuous creations: a white caped fringe-trim gown, and a red gown adorned with handmade silk flowers, also in an ode to her adopted country of Singapore.
Read more: Singapore fashion collector Paige Parker on the timeless appeal of Andrew Gn’s designs
Chan Heng Chee, Edwin Tong, Sharon Au, Russel Wong
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Later that evening, Gn sat down with his dear friend Ivan Heng, the founding artistic director of theatre company Wild Rice, who was emcee for the evening, for a fireside chat to discuss how his mother was his first muse and mentor, who inspired his journey as a fashion designer making a name for himself from Singapore to Paris and across the globe.
Homegrown jazz singer Alemay Fernandez then serenaded guests with classic tunes such as Singapura, Sunny Island and Di Tanjong Katong, as well as the Teresa Teng rendition of Subaru. The song list was a special request by Gn to express his affection for his homeland.
Speaking in Cantonese, English and French, Ting later took to the stage to thank ACM's donors, whose generous support has enabled the museum to bring to life its mission of championing perspectives from Asia and spotlighting talents in Singapore and Asia, before raising a toast to everyone.
Paige Parker, Andrew Gn, Kelly Keak, Stephanie Tay
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The night before, Gn hosted an intimate dinner at Candlenut for his friends and supporters. They include homegrown actresses Zoe Tay and Shelia Sim, as well as many who flew in from Paris and around the world in support of Gn, including actress-host Sharon Au, Le Figaro editor-in-chief Anne-Sophie von Claer, and Elizabeth von der Goltz, CEO of Browns and chief fashion and merchandising officer at Farfetch.
Erick Hörlin, the director of Andrew Gn, shared with guests how the connection between Gn and ACM (Ting and Yoong) was made a few years ago through Zainal Arif Mantaha, the former Singapore ambassador to France, and his spouse Jennifer Cheng.
Andrew Gn's first employee and Gn's right-hand woman, Julia Shin, who is now in the beauty business, also paid tribute to Gn, while describing the label's early years—proof of just how hard the design maestro has worked to build his fashion empire.
Credits
Photography: Adrian Lee
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
