Cultural Medallion Spotlight — May 2023 edition

From celebrating Singapore’s multiculturalism through music to exhibitions across the visual arts and a powerful novel about loss, this month’s Cultural Medallion Spotlight showcases the diversity of #OurSGArts and the creativity and artistic excellence of our Cultural Medallion recipients.??

1. Abstraction for Beginners – Recent Works of Milenko Prvacki

Get to know Milenko Prvacki through this painting exhibition featuring his recent works. Expect brilliant artwork that shows his journey as an artist through a combination of brushstrokes, geometrical elements and other shapes!

Singapore-based artist Milenko Prvacki is an esteemed painter recognised for his abstract and conceptual artworks. He was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2012.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 19 Jun to 8 Jul.

2. 狮城美术?百年光华 (Translated: Lion City Art · 100 Years of Brilliance)

As part of?their 100th anniversary celebrations, Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 will collaborate with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) for a special exhibition showcasing 20 paintings and calligraphy works collected by the newspaper. The works were gifted by famous local artists such as calligraphers Tan Siah Kwee and Pan Shou, as well as works by Lim Tze Peng, and Chua Mia Tee.

Tan Siah Kwee is a notable Chinese calligrapher who founded the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, while Pan Shou was esteemed as a Chinese calligrapher and poet. Both were conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2000 and 1986 respectively.

Lim Tze Peng and Chua Mia Tee are prominent Singaporean artists known for their ink paintings and socio-realist portraits respectively. Lim was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2003, while Chua was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2015.

The exhibition will take place from 2 Jun to 16 Jul.

3. Musical Mosaics

Held at the Victoria Concert Hall and supported by Temasek Foundation , the Musical Mosaics concert will feature multicultural music and ethnic musical instruments.

Accomplished violinist Lynnette Seah will perform He Zhanhao and Chen Gang’s ‘Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto – bringing to life the tale of two lovers who were tragically separated by fate but reunited in death as two butterflies whose wings beat together forever. The orchestra will be led by renowned conductor Tsung Yeh, who will also perform Dr Kelly Tang’s Symphonic Suite. The concert will also feature compositions by Cultural Medallion recipients Eric James Watson and Law Wai Lun.

The concert will be held on 3 Jun. Tickets to the concert are priced at $28 for adults and $10 for students.

Maestro Tsung Yeh is a Singaporean conductor and music director, renowned for his stewardship of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2013. Lynnette Seah is an acclaimed violinist who received the Cultural Medallion in 2006. Dr Kelly Tang is a prolific Singaporean composer and music producer who received the Cultural Medallion in 2011.??

Law Wai Lun is a Singaporean composer and conductor who received the Cultural Medallion in 2017. Eric James Watson is a renowned composer and musician who is known for his ability to blend Eastern and Western musical traditions and was bestowed the Cultural Medallion in 2019.

4. Penghulu

Written by Suratman Markasan and translated by Solehah Ishak, Penghulu is a powerful meditation on loss, sharing the portrait of Pak Suleh, a man struggling to return to his old way of life. Pak Suleh was the penghulu of Pulau Sebidang, an influential village headman of the islands of the South. Forced to relocate to a small high-rise flat on mainland Singapore, he worries for the future of his family and yearns for his beloved island.?

Borrow a copy of this 2012 published novel at the National Libraries, or get your hands on the e-book version online. The book is also available for purchase at Epigram Books' online store.?

Suratman Markasan is a prolific poet, novelist and respected literary pioneer in Singapore. He was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2010.

If you’re interested to learn more about our CM recipients, visit the Our CM Story gallery at The Arts House or artshouselimited.sg/ourcmstory.?