SINGAPORE – The Cultural Medallion ceremony took place at the National Gallery Singapore on Nov 27, the first time it has not been held at the Istana since 2002 due to renovation works.

But President Tharman Shanmugaratnam continued the tradition of conferring the award, an important source of pride for the community.

The recipients for the 2024 Cultural Medallion are composer Ghanavenothan Retnam and portraitist Siew Hock Meng. 

Cultural Medallion 2024: Composer Ghanavenothan Retnam cried on hearing news

A critically acclaimed composer, flautist and founder of Singapore’s first Carnatic flute ensemble, Dr Ghanavenothan Retnam is best known for his cross-cultural creations.  ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

For most musicians, stage performances are the end-goal, the culmination of behind-the-scenes effort.

But when Dr Ghanavenothan Retnam refers to practice, it is with an almost fearful, hallowed reverence – performing is one-off, but practice is for life.

His practice began when he was a teenager, involving intensive, one-on-one sessions with guru Pandit M. Ramalingam, a friend of his father, pioneer musician R. Retnam.

“Without practice, I wouldn’t get my breakfast,” says the 63-year-old Cultural Medallion 2024 recipient.

Cultural Medallion 2024: Artist Siew Hock Meng, 82, says ‘I deserve it’

Unlike many of his generation, pioneer portraitist Siew Hock Meng came to painting late, almost as a last resort at the age of 37. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Informed that he is to receive the Cultural Medallion, pioneer portraitist Siew Hock Meng’s instinctive reaction is a bland shrug.

At 82 years old, the self-professed “arrogant man” thinks it is only natural that he should be conferred the highest cultural award in the land. After painting for more than four decades, “I deserve it”, he says in Mandarin.

“Frankly, I am already very old, so there were no surprises there.”

Young Artist Award 2024: Recipients take Singapore arts to a global stage

The four 2024 Young Artist Award recipients have made waves internationally. PHOTOS: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL

From winning prizes at the Venice Film Festival to touring with Mandopop queen A-mei, the four latest Young Artist Award recipients have made waves internationally.

Composer-producer Evan Low Jun Feng, film producer Tan Si En, violinist Alan Choo Su Ho and printmaker Zhang Fuming were conferred the award at a ceremony held at the National Gallery Singapore on Nov 27.

The award, introduced in 1992 and given to artists aged 35 and below, comes with a grant of $20,000 in support of their artistic pursuits.