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