Singapore celebrated its vibrant arts community today as seven outstanding practitioners were conferred the Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award at the Istana. The milestone year, the nation’s 60th anniversary, provided a meaningful backdrop to recognise the artists whose creativity, leadership, and vision have shaped Singapore’s cultural landscape.
This year’s Cultural Medallion recipients, Goh Boon Teck (theatre) and Nai Swee Leng (visual arts), were honoured for their decades of artistic leadership and their role in defining Singapore’s theatre and visual arts identity. The five Young Artist Award recipients: He Yingshu (literary arts), Alvin Lee Chang Rong (film), Genevieve Peck Jing Yi (theatre), Syafiqah ’Adha Sallehin (music), and Daryl Qilin Yam (literary arts); represent the next generation of creatives charting new pathways for Singapore’s evolving arts ecosystem.
Honouring the Foundations of Singapore’s Artistic Legacy
The Cultural Medallion awards this year spotlight two artists whose long-standing contributions reflect the depth and resilience of Singapore’s arts scene.
Goh Boon Teck, 54, has been a pioneering force in bilingual theatre for more than 30 years. A director, playwright, and designer, he holds the record for the most productions staged at the Esplanade Theatre and Concert Hall. His bold visual storytelling, from intimate plays to large-scale works, has shaped local theatre, with his iconic production Titoudao (1994) bringing Singapore theatre to stages worldwide and later to television.
Nai Swee Leng, 79, is a stalwart of Chinese ink painting with over six decades of practice. Blending traditional xieyi techniques with contemporary sensibilities, his works reflect a distinctly Singaporean perspective. As co-founder of the Molan Art Association, he has championed ink art appreciation locally and internationally, inspiring generations of artists.
The Young Artist Award recipients are already establishing strong foundations for Singapore’s creative future. Daryl Qilin Yam, co-founder and first general manager of Sing Lit Station, has built vital platforms that support Singapore’s writers and grow literary appreciation. Meanwhile, multi-disciplinary designer Genevieve Peck Jing Yi is redefining the role of technical arts through innovative lighting, projection, and video design, setting new standards across genres.
Celebrating Singapore’s Multicultural Identity Through Art
This year’s recipients also reflect the role of the arts in shaping and expressing Singapore’s multicultural identity.
Goh Boon Teck’s theatre works celebrate local heritage, from The Crab Flower Club (2009) honouring the Ping Sheh Peking Opera Society to Sometime Moon (2018), Singapore’s first professional Hokkien musical.
Composer Syafiqah ’Adha Sallehin, 35, brings Malay traditional music to contemporary audiences, while her cross-cultural Open Score Project ensembles blend ethnic instruments and modern influences to showcase Singapore’s diverse musical tapestry.
Writer He Yingshu, 35, explores urban stories, gender, and climate change in Chinese literature, continuing the lineage of Singapore’s literary voices. Her collection Fish Birth (2019) was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize.
Filmmaker Alvin Lee Chang Rong, 34, captures everyday Singaporean life through Chinese-language cinema. His award-winning film Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (2022) premiered at the Busan International Film Festival before travelling to over 55 festivals worldwide.
Writer Daryl Qilin Yam uses magical realism to explore identity and contemporary issues. His novel Lovelier, Lonelier (2021), which pays tribute to Singaporean performance art and ’90s culture, is currently being adapted for television by U.S. screenwriters.
Shaping the Future of Singapore’s Arts
This year’s Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award recipients signal a bold vision for the future, pushing Singapore’s arts onto the global stage while nurturing local growth.
Nai Swee Leng’s exhibitions across China, Japan, and the U.S. and his induction into the prestigious Xiling Seal Art Society place Singaporean ink art at the forefront of international appreciation. Goh Boon Teck’s works, such as Prism (2003) and Glass Anatomy (2014), continue to bring Singaporean stories to audiences across Asia.
Young artist Genevieve Peck has made her mark internationally through major projects, including her role as Chief Associate Visual Director for the 2015 ASEAN Paralympic Games ceremonies and her work with creative companies in the U.K. and China.
Alvin Lee is developing his debut feature film under Talents Tokyo 2024, the Asian counterpart to Berlinale Talents, while Syafiqah ’Adha is shaping the future of Malay music through the development of new notation systems.
Meanwhile, He Yingshu strengthens Singapore’s presence in regional literature through her Read Write Island project, creating a cross-border community of nearly 3,000 followers across Southeast Asia.
