We come bearing brilliant news for the art community! This year's Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Awards recipients have been announced. The National Arts Council (NAC) has conferred two Cultural Medallions and four Young Artist Awards across various art disciplines, recognising exemplary Singaporean artists for their distinctive bodies of work, artistic excellence and their contributions to the development of our nation’s arts and cultural landscape.
The outstanding arts practitioners have practices spanning music, theatre, visual arts and film – a testament to the diversity of Singapore's arts scene. Especially as the nation is still facing the unprecedented effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the community's artistic endeavours, this award furthermore affirms the power of arts and culture as inspiration to our society.
Cultural Medallion recipients: Sarkasi Said and Dr. Vincent Leow
The Cultural Medallion, established in 1979 by late President Mr Ong Teng Cheong, is Singapore's highest arts accolade. It honours exemplary artists who have made significant contributions that enrich Singapore's arts and culture scene. Now in its 41st year, the Cultural Medallion has been conferred on 128 artists across all arts disciplines, including prominent theatre practitioner Alvin Tan, prolific poet KTM Iqbal and singer-actress extraordinaire Asiah Aman. This year's recipients, Sarkasi Said and Dr. Vincent Leow, are the latest additions to the esteemed list.
Sarkasi Said (or "Tzee"), 80, is regarded by many as the pioneer of batik painting in Singapore. His works are distinctive by the use of an abstract wax-resisting technique, bold use of colours and frequent depictions of nature. Sarkasai Said's career began with his batik design of the Singapore orchid which was selected by the National Trades Union Congress for a Singapore Dress. Today, his works have donned the halls and offices of notable figures worldwide, including the Sultan of Brunei, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and the President of the Republic of Singapore.
Contemporary mixed media visual artist Dr. Vincent Leow, 59, delves into various mediums such as sculpture, painting, printmaking, drawing, performance art and video to convey his perspectives in an intuitive manner. Leow is a key figure in promoting contemporary art practices in Singapore and the region, having co-founded artist-run spaces including Utopia and Plastique Kinetic Worms (PKW). He has also represented Singapore at prestigious platforms, including the 11th Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh (2004), the 2007 Gui Yang Biennale of Contemporary Art in China, and the 2007 Venice Biennale.
Young Artist Award recipients: Dr. Yanyun Chen, Irfan Kasban, Nicole Midori Woodford and Sushma Soma
First instituted in 1992, the Young Artist Award recognises the artistic excellence and potential of young local artists aged 35 and below. The award sets apart young practitioners who display a clear artistic vision, have made a positive impact on Singapore’s arts scene, and who have a promising display of leadership capabilities in Singapore and beyond.
This year's recipients are visual artist Dr. Yanyun Chen; English-Malay theatre playwright, director and actor Irfan Kasban; film director, writer and editor Nicole Midori Woodford; and Carnatic (South Indian classical) vocalist Sushma Soma. The four young artists have each showcased their talents through mastery in their own diverse practices.
“Arts and culture play an integral role in contributing to the diversity of our multi-cultural society. Amidst this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic, arts can uplift our spirits and build community bonds in Singapore. Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award," says President Halimah Yacob. "They have exemplified Singapore’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity, and providing a platform for creative expression. The achievements of these artists will further enrich our cultural landscape, inspire the wider community and instil pride amongst Singaporeans.”
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