Artistry in Full Bloom: The Enduring Impact of 6 Cultural Medallion Recipients on #OurSGArts

Celebrate the achievements and stories of six of our Cultural Medallion luminaries in this month’s #CulturalMedallionSpotlight! Their journeys, while distinct, are united by a shared pursuit of excellence and a relentless dedication to their artistry.

From visual and literary arts, to music and theatre, read on to discover how their works have significantly impacted #OurSGArts scene and inspired new generations of artists.

1. Honouring Tsung Yeh for his contributions to the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (2013 recipient)

Shanghai-born conductor, Tsung Yeh , is best known for his stewardship of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and his instrumental role in its transformation into a major orchestra of international acclaim.? He is also the very first conductor ever to hold simultaneous music directorship of a Western and Chinese orchestra.

A pioneer in bridging East and West through music, Tsung's artistry reflects a harmonious fusion of diverse influences. His compositions and arrangements often draw inspiration from Chinese and Western musical traditions, creating a unique and culturally resonant sound.

Under his musical leadership, the SCO expanded their repertoire through multi-media and multi-disciplinary productions, establishing itself as one of the world's finest Chinese orchestras. In 2009, Tsung and the SCO made history by becoming the first Chinese Orchestra to perform in the opening week of the Edinburgh Festival.?

Locally, Tsung conceived ‘Our People, Our Music 2014’, a mega-concert involving numerous Chinese orchestras. The event, which included 4,557 musicians and choir members, set two Guinness World Records: the largest Chinese drum ensemble and the largest Chinese orchestral performance in history.

Today, he continues to serve as Conductor Emeritus of the SCO and Conductor Laureate of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Tsung is also a dedicated mentor to young Chinese orchestral talent, developing programmes to nurture young musical talent and mentoring conductors such as Wong Kah Chun and Moses Gay.?

Tsung was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2013 for his contributions to the local arts through his work with the SCO. At a recent fundraising dinner for the SCO in October, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also presented Tsung with a special baton to honour his contributions to the organisation and Chinese orchestral music. The exquisite baton was Jinghu custom-made by the SCO from Shanghai Traditional Musical Instrument Factory No. 1 with "Leader of Chinese Music" printed on the bottom of the box.

Congratulations to Tsung Yeh for this achievement!

2. Attend a Michelin-starred dinner theatre directed by Dick Lee (2005 recipient)

Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding

In the world of #OurSGArts, Lee Peng Boon, popularly known as Dick Lee , is one of Singapore’s best-known personalities. His contributions as a playwright and director have earned acclaim, with productions like ‘Hot Pants’ redefining the boundaries of Singaporean theatre.?

Born in 1956, Dick embarked on his artistic journey at a young age, displaying prodigious talent in music, theatre, and visual arts. A true polymath, he is a prolific composer, playwright, director and celebrated singer-songwriter.?

Dick’s musical odyssey began in the 1970s when he burst onto the scene as a pop sensation, captivating audiences with his infectious melodies and poignant lyrics. His hit song ‘Life Story’ became an anthem for a generation, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of Singaporeans during a period of rapid change. His additional prowess as a composer has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, with his works ranging from musicals like ‘Beauty World’ to the orchestral composition ‘Deep Forest Symphony.’

As a testament to his achievements, Dick sits on the advisory boards of several organisations such as the National Arts Council. In 2005, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion. That same year, he cemented his standing as a music industry veteran when he became one of the judges of Singapore Idol.

Today, Dick remains active in the Singapore theatre scene, most often working in his favoured genre of musical theatre. A production he is directing, titled ‘Por Por's Big Fat Surprise Wedding’ , was recently extended till 10 Dec with more shows added due to popular demand.

Held at One Farrer Hotel, audience members will get to eat, drink, and be a guest at this pop-up dinner theatre. Don’t miss this night of hilarious fun while feasting on a four-course culinary experience curated by Michelin Star Chef Manjunath Mural!

Tickets start from $158.

3. Dive into the tech-infused world of Vincent Leow’s video installation art (2020 recipient)

See Me, See You: Early Video Installation of Southeast Asia (Part 2)

Celebrated as a l'enfant terrible of the Singapore art community, Vincent Leow is a pivotal figure in the alternative arts scene in Singapore. Taking inspiration from a spectrum of influences from popular culture, literature, cinema, politics, and the mass media, Vincent is considered a brilliant creative whose practice has maintained an element of anarchy and rebellion till today.?

Vincent was one of the early members of The Artists Village, founded in 1988 by Tang Da Wu, and the founder of Plastique Kinetic Worms, a leading alternative artist-run venue in Singapore. Since his Artist Village days, Vincent’s work has drawn polarising reactions from public and press - but he’s pushed on to continue honing his artistic practice alongside a profession in arts education.

In the three decades since, Vincent has returned to LASALLE College of the Arts as a lecturer and Head of the Sculpture Department and completed a doctoral thesis in 2005. His works he entered museums, and corporate collections and are installed as public art. And in 2020, he was conferred the Cultural Medallion, an acknowledgement for his role in elevating the quality of arts discourse and practice, as well as progressive arts education in Singapore.??

Continuing his legacy, Vincent will be showcasing a remake of his work titled ‘Dream World’ as part of the See Me, See You: Early Video Installation of Southeast Asia (Part 2) organised by the National Gallery Singapore, which meditates upon the impact of rapid urban development on the natural environment.?

First exhibited at the National Museum Art Gallery in 1990, ‘Dream World’ may be the earliest video artwork made in Singapore! Featuring steel branches that emerge from a grid-like formation of concrete pillows and gravel, Vincent juxtaposes these materials with handheld footage of trees against the sky,

presenting a contrast between natural and man-made realities.

The exhibition will run till 4 February 2024, and admission is free.

4. Pay it forward through an unforgettable dining experience with Lynnette Seah (2006 recipient)

An Exclusive Private Peranakan Feast by Lynnette Seah

Born into a music-loving family, Lynnette Seah ’s arts journey began at an early age with the piano - thanks to her mother Lau Biao Chin, one of Singapore's first concert pianists. Between cooking and housework, she taught four-year-old Lynette to play the piano.?

Lynnette's contributions to Singapore arts extend beyond her role as a renowned pianist; she is also a pioneering force in orchestral music. As the co-founder and principal cellist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), she played a pivotal role in shaping the orchestra into the world-class ensemble it is today. Her mastery of the cello and her commitment to artistic excellence has earned her the respect of peers and audiences alike.?

Beyond her accomplishments in music, Lynnette's influence extends into education and cultural advocacy. As the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music co-founder, she has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of musical talents in Singapore. Lynnette was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2006 for her contributions to the local music scene.

Unbeknownst to many, Lynnette also has a strong passion for cooking and has long been delighting her friends from the kitchen with her gastronomic feasts. Encouraged by her friends who wanted to invite others to enjoy her cooking, Lynnette expanded her dining circle to paying private parties at her home.?

This year, as part of Community Chest's 40th anniversary, Lynnette will be opening her home to a lucky group of 10 people, and the individual with the highest bid will be awarded this Exclusive Private Peranakan Feast at Lynnette's Kitchen . Guests will get to devour sumptuous Peranakan delights, and at the end, Lynnette will personally deliver a beautiful solo violin performance as the grand finale.

Personally hosted by Lynette at 118C Jalan Membina, all donations to this experience will proceed to Community Chest.

Place your bids on Community Chest’s website .

5. Venture beyond the classroom with works from 2 LASALLE/NAFA alumni - Ng Eng Teng (1981 recipient) and Chua Ek Kay (1999 recipient)

Which is Which?

Are you a student or alumni at LASALLE College of the Arts or Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)? The upcoming Gajah Gallery visual arts exhibition, 'Which is Which?’, might interest you.

Works by Cultural Medallion recipients Ng Eng Teng and Chua Ek Kay , alongside other alumni artists, will be coming together as part of curator John Tung’s exhibition interrogating the similarities and differences in pedagogies and philosophies among the artists who have attended the two art schools.

The late Ng Eng Teng, who graduated from NAFA, was one of Singapore's foremost sculptors. His pioneering works in the (then) relatively new medium of ciment fondu - such as Mother and Child (1980), located outside the National Gallery Singapore - are familiar to many Singaporeans as they encounter his works across the nation's public cityscapes.?

His interest in sculpture began at a young age, when he started playing with Plasticine. Venturing beyond the school curriculum, he worked on terracotta figurines in the now-defunct Jurong Brickworks and Alexandra Brickworks kilns. In the 1960s, on the advice of his teacher Georgette Chen, also a Cultural Medallion recipient (1982), he pursued sculptural arts abroad before returning to Singapore soon after to contribute to a growing arts scene.?

Eng Teng's fame grew as his supporters began to appreciate the humanist, often whimsical, themes in his works. As a result, public and private commissions began to pour in, culminating in an international request to present ‘Portrait’, a large-scale work, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Some of his 1,700 works are now housed in prominent galleries, institutions and private collections in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific.?

On the other hand, Chua Ek Kay enrolled in LASALLE College of the Arts to study Western painting. He was a member of Singapore's pioneering batch of postwar Chinese immigrant artists who, while rooted in the tradition of Chinese ink, were equally engaged in exploring contemporary expression.?

Hailed as an artist known for bridging Eastern and Western art, Chinese cultural influences were a large part of Ek Kay’s daily life and art. He dabbled in poetry, practised calligraphy, and began learning Chinese brush painting and seal carving from Fan Chang Tien, a master brush painter.?

He became interested in Western art after becoming a full-time artist at 38, finding inspiration in the spontaneous works of Western artists such as Jackson Pollock, Matisse and Picasso. Nevertheless, with such a strong background with the ‘Chinese brush’, its influence never left him, even as he continued to express his artistic inclinations in both traditional Chinese and Western contemporary styles.

Catch the works of these legendary artists on 17 Dec at Gajah Gallery’s show, Which is Which?. Admission is free.