Let There Be Peace

Alexandra Nechita

First placed in Singapore: 2005

First unveiled in Singapore at the Istana, 2005. According to the press statement issued at its unveiling, it was meant to be given to Catholic High, but it has ended up at NParks.

Patron: presented by the artist to the people of Singapore

From a press release issue by the Office of the President of Singapore, 7 August 2005 'Named Ambassador of peace by the United Nations in 2001, 19 year old Alexandra Nechita will present the first of seven peace monuments which are inspired by the events of September 11, at the Istana on 7 August. Nechita has selected Singapore as the host nation of her 16-feet high peace monument entitled “Let there Be Peace”, for the Asian continent. HE President S R Nathan will unveil the peace monument at the Istana during the Istana Art Event, after which it will be on public display at Carnival at Marina Bay, followed by a 3-month display at the Changi Airport before it travels to various cities in Asia. The sculpture will finally return to Singapore after its 18-month Asian tour to be permanently sited at Catholic High School, the recipient of the peace monument. Says Mr Kwok Kian Chow, Director, SAM, “Nechita has been an inspiration to the young all over the world. As such, it is meaningful that this gift of peace is sited within an institution of learning and nurturing of the young.  SAM is pleased that the unveiling of this gift could be shared with the public through the platform of the Istana Art Event, and on occasion of Istana’s National Day Open House.” Says Mr Lee Hak Boon, Principal of Catholic High School, “Catholic High School is honoured to be the recipient of Alexandra Nechita’s peace sculpture. To spread Nechita’s message of PEACE, the school will organise a week-long promotion of international peace with exchange programmes to schools in Asia after the peace monument’s Asian tour. To commemorate the occasion, the 200-strong award-winning choir from Catholic High School will give a rendition of “Let There Be Peace On Earth” at the unveiling ceremony. The choir clinched the Gold, Best Conductor and Laureate of the Festival awards at Prague in 2004.

Last updated: Dec-5-2020