Ong Teng Cheong 王鼎昌

There is no doubt that Ong Teng Cheong, (Wang Dingchang, 1936 - 2002), the first directly elected President of Republic of Singapore loved Chinese calligraphy. He was the Singapore's fifth President, in office from 2 September 1993 to 1 September 1999.
Mr Ong was born on 22 January 1936. He was the second eldest of five children, with one elder sister, one younger brother and two younger sisters. His English-educated father felt that Chinese is important if one wants to make a success in life, and especially business, so he sent all his children to Chinese medium schools. Mr Ong completed his primary education at Chong Zheng Primary School (1949) and graduated from The Chinese High School in 1955.
Mr. Ong’s passion for the culture is marked by his vision for Singapore as a centre for the arts, later known as Renaissance City. This led to the establishment of organisations promoting Singapore’s artistic, cultural and history heritage, like the National Heritage Board and National Arts Council. As an arts patron, Mr. Ong initiated the President’s Charity Art Exhibition and Concert, and President’s Start Charity.
Mr. Ong’s artistic and cultural contributions as an active arts practitioner, is demonstrated by his own calligraphy works, which are featured in the exhibition.
His love for Chinese calligraphy probably was developed during his years in the Chinese medium schools he had practiced the art probably till the last day of his life. In 1990, he demonstrated his calligraphic skills by writing a seven-word couplet at the First International Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition organised by the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore. In 1999, during his visit to his alma mater The Chinese High School, he wrote on the spot four Chinese words ‘宾至如归’, which means to make the guests feel at home.
His demise is a great loss to the Singapore art community.
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毫无疑问的，新加坡第一个民选总统王鼎昌先生（1936 – 2002）喜爱书法。他是新加坡的第五任总统，任期由1993年九月2日至1999年九月1日。
王先生出生于1936年1月22日。他是家里五个孩子中的老二，有一个姐姐，一个弟弟和两个妹妹。他的父亲受英语教育，却觉得如果一个人要成功，尤其是要在商界有作为，华文是很重要的。所以他把他的孩子都送进了华文源流学校读书。王先生在崇正小学完成小学教育（1949），并在1955年毕业于华侨中学。
王先生对文化的热爱，可以从他要新加坡成为文化中心的远景中看得出，这个远景后来被称为文化复兴城市。这导致新加坡成立了不少组织机构来推进新加坡的艺术、文化与历史文物。这些机构包括了国家文物局与国家艺术理事会。作为一个艺术赞助人，王先生发起了总统慈善艺术展与音乐会，新加坡总统星光慈善演出。
作为一个活跃的实践艺术者，王先生对艺术文化的贡献，亦可以从他的书法作品在展览会中展出体现出来。
他对书法的爱好，可能是在华文源流学校读书时培养的。很可能在他生命的最后时刻还在练习书法。1990年，他在由新加坡书法家协会所主办的第一届国际书法交流展中展示了他的书法技艺，当众挥毫七字对联。1999年，他回母校华侨中学参观，还写了‘宾至如归’四个字。
他的逝世是新加坡艺术界的损失。