Art and design play a crucial role in the development of various industries, and a sense of curiosity, empathy, and creativity are qualities that machines cannot replace.
Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng shared this view in his speech at the LASALLE College of the Arts graduation ceremony on Friday 8 August.
Tan See Leng: 70% of non-creative jobs require creative skills
Citing the latest report from SkillsFuture Singapore, Dr Tan encouraged graduates to keep an open mind towards employment. “Seventy per cent of non-creative jobs require creative skills. The report shows that the creative sectors are at the forefront of developing and adapting to emerging business trends.”
This year, 774 graduates from LASALLE College of the Arts received their diplomas, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Master’s degrees, with 16 of them receiving the LASALLE Award for Academic Excellence for their outstanding performance.
Charmaine Chong Zhiwei, a 22-year-old graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Animation Art, was one of the award recipients.
Although diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (commonly known as ADHD) during secondary school, Charmaine did not become disheartened. Instead, she actively sought treatment and paid more attention to vulnerable groups and social issues in her life.
During her university years, Charmaine created several independent animated films exploring social topics such as second-hand smoking and youth mental health. When her aunt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Charmaine, after witnessing and understanding the daily struggles faced by her uncle and aunt, was inspired to create an animated short film titled Dance Again. She composed and recorded her own original music for the film, hoping to raise public awareness and understanding of dementia.
Charmaine said, “I believe animation is a holistic medium—both children and adults can take away different insights and meanings from it. Through empathising with the experiences of the protagonist, viewers can grasp the message the film seeks to convey.”
Passionate about fashion design, Eng Hwee San, 36, returned to school after seven years as a wedding gown designer and five years as a part-time lecturer, fulfilling her academic dream by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Fashion Design and Textiles.
When her father developed anxiety and depression after retirement, Hwee San began researching and gathering relevant knowledge to understand the needs of such patients. As part of her graduation project, she designed a conceptual garment featuring a lighted visor structure which can create a personal space. This allows wearers experiencing anxiety or panic attacks to isolate themselves from the outside world through the clothing, thereby gaining a sense of security.
Hwee San said, “When I was younger, I saw fashion design mostly as an aesthetic pursuit. Now, I believe that many forms of art, including fashion design, can be a way of solving problems and creating a better life for people.”
Source: Lianhe Zaobao © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Access the original story here.
Image: Zhang Junjie
