“While ASEF carries out a number of projects, the On the Go event is of special significance as it is part of our commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Through this photographic expedition, ASEF helps fulfil our mandate in promoting mutual understanding among the people of Asia and Europe, this time by connecting them through visuals”, said Ambassador ZHANG Yan, Executive Director of ASEF, at the Singapore launch of the ASEF Photo Exhibition “On the Go”. Guest of honour Ms SIM Ann, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Finance, graced the event. Distinguished guests from the diplomatic and cultural communities, international organisations, think-tanks and the media attended the event as well.
The “On the Go” photo exhibition was first showcased in Luxembourg during the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM12) in November 2015, followed by other ASEM countries, namely the Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, Lithuania, Viet Nam and China. It was also presented at the European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters in Brussels from 14 June to 16 July 2016. The photographs will soon be exhibited in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, where the 11th ASEM Summit (ASEM11) will take place in July 2016.
The photographs selected for the exhibition were shortlisted from a photo competition organised by ASEF in 2015. Both professional and budding photographers from 50 ASEM member countries submitted over 1,500 entries capturing on-the-go scenes from the two regions. The competition was judged by a panel of experts, chaired by LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. The entry “Feeding time” by Ms Ju Shen LEE was the Asian jury prize winner, while “On the boat” by Ms Berta TILMANTAITE from Lithuania was the European jury prize winner. The audience prize winner is “The nomads of Rajasthan” by Ms Roli MAHAJAN from India.