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

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href="/sport/combat-sports" class="nav-link--sport-combat-sports" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86295">Combat Sports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/basketball" class="nav-link--sport-basketball" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/60">Basketball</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/tennis" class="nav-link--sport-tennis" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/58">Tennis</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/golf" class="nav-link--sport-golf" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/61">Golf</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-more dropdown nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <span class="nav-link nav-link-">More</span> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="nav-opinion dropdown-item"> <a href="/opinion" class="nav-link--opinion" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/11">Opinion</a> </li> <li class="nav-lifestyle dropdown-item"> <a href="/life" class="nav-link--life" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/4">Life</a> </li> <li class="nav-business dropdown-item"> <a href="/business" class="nav-link--business" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/2">Business</a> </li> <li class="nav-tech nav-tech1 dropdown-item"> <a href="/tech" class="nav-link--tech" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/31">Tech</a> </li> <li class="nav-sport dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport" class="nav-link--sport" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/3">Sport</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/videos" class="nav-link--videos" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/81">Videos</a> </li> <li class="nav-podcasts dropdown-item"> <a href="/st-podcasts" class="nav-link--st-podcasts" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/535632">Podcasts</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/multimedia" class="nav-link--multimedia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/79">Multimedia</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="block-user-menu d-none d-lg-block"> <div class="navbar-user" role="menu"> <button class="d-none btn--user-dropdown" type="button" id="btn--user-dropdown"> <i class="user-icon"></i> </button> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-user"> <li class="nav-login"> <section class="row region region-header-form"> <div id="block-mysphblock" class="settings-tray-editable block block-sph-subscriber-login block-mysph-block" data-drupal-settingstray="editable"> <div class="content"> <span class="user-signup-section w-100 d-block" > <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="javascript:;" onclick="_mySPHObj.openLogin()" id="sph_login" class="mysph_login mysph-ga-event user-login-text"> LOG IN</a> </span> </div> </div> </section> </li> <li class="nav-subscribe"> <a href="https://subscribe.sph.com.sg/publications-st/?utm_campaign=st_subscription&utm_medium=sph-publication&utm_source=st&utm_content=subscribelink-header" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block-menu-paper"> <div class="navbar-paper" role="menu"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-paper">  <li class="nav-epaper"> <a href="https://e-paper.sph.com.sg/st" target="_blank">E-paper</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block-nav-search"> <label type="button" class="queryly_toggle navbar-toggle-search" for="queryly_toggle"></label> </div> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="navbar-collapse collapse" aria-expanded="false" style="height: 40px;"> <div class="side-heading"> <a class="name navbar-brand" href="/" title="Home"> <span>The Straits Times</span> </a> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button> </div> <nav role="navigation"> <div class="block-nav-search"> <label type="button" class="queryly_toggle navbar-toggle-search" for="queryly_toggle"></label> </div> <div class="block-user-menu"> <div class="navbar-user" role="menu"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-user"> <li class="nav-login"> <section class="row region region-header-form"> <div id="block-mysphblock" class="settings-tray-editable block block-sph-subscriber-login block-mysph-block" data-drupal-settingstray="editable"> <div class="content"> <span class="user-signup-section w-100 d-block" > <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="javascript:;" onclick="_mySPHObj.openLogin()" id="sph_login" class="mysph_login mysph-ga-event user-login-text"> LOG IN</a> </span> </div> </div> </section> </li> <li class="nav-subscribe"> <a href="https://subscribe.sph.com.sg/publications-st/?utm_campaign=st_subscription&utm_medium=sph-publication&utm_source=st&utm_content=subscribelink-menu" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block-menu-edition"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle-edition dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="edition-label">Edition</span> </button> <div class="navbar-edition dropdown-menu" role="menu"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-edition"> <li class="nav-global-edition global-ed"> <a id="global-ed" class="globallink-ed" href="/global/">International</a> </li> <li class="nav-singapore-edition global-ed"> <a id="sin-ed" class="sinlink-ed" href="/">Singapore</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="navbar-edition--separator clearfix"></div> </div> <div class="block-menu-rewards hidden"> <div class="navbar-rewards" role="menu"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-rewards"> <li class="nav-rewards"> <a href="/rewards">ST Read & Win</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block-menu-paper"> <div class="navbar-paper" role="menu"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav menu-paper">  <li class="nav-epaper"> <a href="https://e-paper.sph.com.sg/st" target="_blank">E-paper</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block-menu-primary"> <div class="navbar-primary" role="menu"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-mainnavigation-menu" id="block-mainnavigation" class="settings-tray-editable block block-menu navigation menu--main" data-drupal-settingstray="editable"> <h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-mainnavigation-menu">Main navigation</h2> <ul id="block-mainnavigation" class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/" class="nav-link nav-link--" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>">Home</a> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-singapore nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/singapore" class="nav-link nav-link--singapore" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/14">Singapore</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/jobs" class="nav-link--singapore-jobs" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/38">Jobs</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/housing" class="nav-link--singapore-housing" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/34">Housing</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/parenting-education" class="nav-link--singapore-parenting-education" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/33">Parenting & Education</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/politics" class="nav-link--singapore-politics" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/28">Politics</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/health" class="nav-link--singapore-health" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/37">Health</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/transport" class="nav-link--singapore-transport" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/35">Transport</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/courts-crime" class="nav-link--singapore-courts-crime" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/32">Courts & Crime</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/consumer" class="nav-link--singapore-consumer" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86293">Consumer</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/environment" class="nav-link--singapore-environment" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/39">Environment</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/singapore/community" class="nav-link--singapore-community" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86294">Community</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-asia nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/asia" class="nav-link nav-link--asia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/29">Asia</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/asia/se-asia" class="nav-link--asia-se-asia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/42">SE Asia</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/asia/east-asia" class="nav-link--asia-east-asia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/43">East Asia</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/asia/south-asia" class="nav-link--asia-south-asia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/44">South Asia</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/asia/australianz" class="nav-link--asia-australianz" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/45">Australia/NZ</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-world nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/world" class="nav-link nav-link--world" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1">World</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/world/united-states" class="nav-link--world-united-states" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/46">United States</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/world/europe" class="nav-link--world-europe" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/47">Europe</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/world/middle-east" class="nav-link--world-middle-east" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/48">Middle East</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-opinion nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/opinion" class="nav-link nav-link--opinion" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/11">Opinion</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/opinion/st-editorial" class="nav-link--opinion-st-editorial" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/75">ST Editorial</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/opinion/cartoons" class="nav-link--opinion-cartoons" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/76">Cartoons</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/opinion/forum" class="nav-link--opinion-forum" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/77">Forum</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-lifestyle nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/life" class="nav-link nav-link--life" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/4">Life</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/food" class="nav-link--life-food" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/13">Food</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/entertainment" class="nav-link--life-entertainment" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/5">Entertainment</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/style" class="nav-link--life-style" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/65">Style</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/travel" class="nav-link--life-travel" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/64">Travel</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/arts" class="nav-link--life-arts" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/66">Arts</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/motoring" class="nav-link--life-motoring" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/12">Motoring</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/life/home-design" class="nav-link--life-home-design" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/67">Home & Design</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-business nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/business" class="nav-link nav-link--business" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/2">Business</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/business/economy" class="nav-link--business-economy" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/52">Economy</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/business/invest" class="nav-link--business-invest" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/56">Invest</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/business/banking" class="nav-link--business-banking" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/53">Banking</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/business/companies-markets" class="nav-link--business-companies-markets" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/51">Companies & Markets</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/business/property" class="nav-link--business-property" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/54">Property</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-tech nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/tech" class="nav-link nav-link--tech" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/31">Tech</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/tech/tech-news" class="nav-link--tech-tech-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86292">Tech News</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/tech/e-sports" class="nav-link--tech-e-sports" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/74">E-sports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/tech/reviews" class="nav-link--tech-reviews" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86291">Reviews</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="no-dropdown nav-sport nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/sport" class="nav-link nav-link--sport" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/3">Sport</a> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/football" class="nav-link--sport-football" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/57">Football</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/schools" class="nav-link--sport-schools" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/62">Schools</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/formula-one" class="nav-link--sport-formula-one" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/59">Formula One</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/combat-sports" class="nav-link--sport-combat-sports" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/86295">Combat Sports</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/basketball" class="nav-link--sport-basketball" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/60">Basketball</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/tennis" class="nav-link--sport-tennis" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/58">Tennis</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport/golf" class="nav-link--sport-golf" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/61">Golf</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-more dropdown nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <span class="nav-link nav-link-">More</span> <button type="button" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span> </button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li class="nav-opinion dropdown-item"> <a href="/opinion" class="nav-link--opinion" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/11">Opinion</a> </li> <li class="nav-lifestyle dropdown-item"> <a href="/life" class="nav-link--life" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/4">Life</a> </li> <li class="nav-business dropdown-item"> <a href="/business" class="nav-link--business" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/2">Business</a> </li> <li class="nav-tech nav-tech1 dropdown-item"> <a href="/tech" class="nav-link--tech" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/31">Tech</a> </li> <li class="nav-sport dropdown-item"> <a href="/sport" class="nav-link--sport" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/3">Sport</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/videos" class="nav-link--videos" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/81">Videos</a> </li> <li class="nav-podcasts dropdown-item"> <a href="/st-podcasts" class="nav-link--st-podcasts" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/535632">Podcasts</a> </li> <li class="dropdown-item"> <a href="/multimedia" class="nav-link--multimedia" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/79">Multimedia</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="block-sph-sites"> <div class="navbar-sph-sites"> <ul class="clearfix nav"> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded"> <a href="https://www.sph.com.sg/our-businesses/online/sph-digital/" class="sph-sites-toggle nav-link sph-sites-togglesph-sites-togglesph-sites-toggle nav-link-https--wwwsphcomsg-our-businesses-online-sph-digital-">SPH Websites</a> <ul class="menu"> <li class="nav-item"> <span class="sph-stplus nolink sph-stplus nolink nav-link sph-stplusnolinksph-stplus nolink nav-link-">news with benefits</span> </li> <li 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field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/styles/large30x20/public/articles/2024/11/27/NSL6740.jpg?VersionId=QH3fR5crqqYTHxDZxALQs5AcQpr5ZbnN&itok=7SjWysrL" class="image-style-large30x20" /> </div> <figcaption class="group_image_caption full-width-caption"> <span class="caption-text" > Unlike many of his generation, pioneer portraitist Siew Hock Meng came to painting late, almost as a last resort at the age of 37.</span> <span class="caption-credit" > ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> <div class="group-byline-info"> <div class="field-byline 1"><div class="layout layout--onecol"><div class="layout__region layout__region--content"><div class="group-image"><div class="field field--name-field-profile-photo field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/styles/profile_photo/public/author/2021/01/20/clementyong.png?VersionId=dZXR0g.WquMEUsGsPTQw4S5_CWzcjlnu" loading="lazy" class="image-style-profile-photo" pinger-seen="true"></div><div class="group-info"><a href="/authors/clement-yong">Clement Yong</a><div class="author-designation">Correspondent</div></div></div></div></div></div> </div> <div class="group_row"> <div class="group-story-timestamp"> <div class="group-story-changedate"> <div class="field-label-inline">Updated</div> <div class="story-changeddate dropdown-toggle" > Nov 27, 2024, 10:10 PM</div> </div> <div class="group-story-postdate"> <div class="field-label-inline">Published</div> <div class="story-postdate" > Nov 27, 2024, 06:35 PM</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-social-icons field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><script> function btnClick() { var copyText = document.getElementById("clip_text"); copyText.select(); 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transition: opacity 0.3s; } @media (min-width: 740px) { .tooltiptext { left: 50%; } } .tooltiptext::after { content: ""; position: absolute; top: 100%; left: 50%; margin-left: -5px; border-width: 5px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.15) transparent transparent transparent; } .tooltiptext:hover, .stbtn-copy:hover{ visibility: visible; opacity: 1; } </style></div> </div> <div > <div class="ds-wrapper article-content-rawhtml"> <div class="ds-field-items"> <div class="ds-field-item" > <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-paragraph-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>SINGAPORE – Informed that he is to receive the Cultural Medallion, pioneer portraitist Siew Hock Meng’s instinctive reaction is a bland shrug. </p><p>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. 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Cultural Medallion 2024: Artist Siew Hock Meng, 82, says ‘I deserve it’ | The Straits Times