Young Artist Award 2024: Recipients take Singapore arts to a global stage
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The four 2024 Young Artist Award recipients have made waves internationally.
PHOTOS: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
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SINGAPORE – From winning prizes at the Venice Film Festival to touring with Mandopop queen A-mei, the four 2024 Young Artist Award recipients have made waves internationally.
They were conferred the award by Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry, at a ceremony held at the National Gallery Singapore on Nov 27
The Straits Times speaks to the recipients.
Evan Low Jun Feng, 35
Who: Composer, producer and music director Low has made over 200 tunes and is known for producing well-loved National Day Parade theme songs such as The Road Ahead by Linying and Not Alone by Benjamin Kheng. He has also toured with international pop stars like Taiwanese singer A-mei.
Composer, producer and music director Evan Low Jun Feng is known for producing well-loved National Day Parade theme songs such as Not Alone by Benjamin Kheng.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
Low says: “I kind of have imposter’s syndrome – I don’t feel like I am worthy to wield the proverbial Thor’s hammer. My hope is that we can just look inwards for great talent. I do hope I can inspire the next generation to say that this is a career path and a passion that can take you somewhere. I know most people try to look outwards, but I hope I can take some of our local artists to a more regional and international level.”
Tan Si En, 31
Who: The film producer is also the founder of Momo Film Co. Tan has produced award-winning South-east Asian and Singapore films, including Anthony Chen’s Wet Season (2019), Singapore’s representative at the 2020 Oscars; Nelson Yeo’s Dreaming And Dying (2023), which won two awards at the Locarno Film Festival; and Don’t Cry, Butterfly (2024), which won two awards at the Venice Film Festival.
Film producer Tan Si En has produced award-winning South-east Asian and Singapore films including Anthony Chen’s Wet Season (2019), Singapore’s representative at the 2020 Oscars.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
Tan says: “I wasn’t really expecting it because a film producer has never got it before. It was a little bit of a shock and a lot of gratitude for the National Arts Council and the collaborators that I have worked with. My hope is for more South-east Asian and Singapore films to reach the larger world stage in the vein of Parasite (2019) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). Secondly, it is for us to, at some point, stop looking at the West and the awards that it gives – but to have platforms within Asia to recognise our own work.”
Alan Choo Su Ho, 34
Who: The violinist is the founder and artistic director of Red Dot Baroque, Singapore’s first professional Baroque period ensemble. He is also the concertmaster and assistant artistic director of Ohio-based Grammy Award-winning Baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire.
Alan Choo Su Ho is the founder and artistic director of Red Dot Baroque, Singapore’s first professional Baroque period ensemble.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
Choo says: “It’s pretty surreal. I’m walking in the footsteps of giants and I feel like there are a lot of really great and deserving artists out there. Often, Baroque music can come across as boring or stuffy, But, from my experience learning it, that is not the case and I tried to enliven our presentation (with Red Dot Baroque) with the spirit of the Baroque, which is very dramatic and full of contrast, emotion, energy and spectacle. There’s quite a big responsibility and power for potential great change – of bringing more people into the arts and appreciating music through Baroque music.”
Zhang Fuming, 35
Who: One of the few young artists working in the traditional black-and-white woodblock print medium, printmaker Zhang has represented Singapore in a group show in Xiamen in 2016. He is the founder of Drawing Etc. Art Supplies, a creative space for emerging artists and exhibitions. His works are influenced by social realism.
Printmaker Zhang Fuming works in the traditional black-and-white woodblock print medium.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
Zhang says: “It’s very meaningful news because, to me, it is a form of validation and it affirms that printmaking – which is not a very widely received medium – has a place in Singapore’s evolving arts scene. It also gives me a sense of responsibility to continue pushing the boundary and championing the medium. Woodblock print is not as fashionable as painting or installation because, somehow, people always feel like the simplicity of the medium is also a restriction. But I like to embrace it – I find that you can embrace the directness and bring forward the message.”
