Indian classical flautist, composer and conductor Ghanavenothan Retnam, 63, had good reason to be over the moon on Nov 27.
He was one of two newly minted Cultural Medallion recipients who received the award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the National Gallery Singapore.
He told The Straits Times: “I’m overwhelmed, overjoyed and blessed. Because (President Tharman) believes in music and he has mentioned about my musicality in several of his speeches, so I’m so happy to receive the award from him.”
He added that the President spoke to him about the revival of Hindustani music and Malay music in their pre-ceremony private engagement.
The other Cultural Medallion honoree, artist Siew Hock Meng, 82, is a second-generation artist known for his portraiture as well as paintings of realist landscapes in Singapore and in the region.
President Tharman, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony, said in a statement that this year’s artists – who also include four Young Artist Award (YAA) recipients – “express the breadth of character and imagination we aspire for in Singapore culture”.
Usually held at the Istana, which is undergoing restoration works currently, the Cultural Medallion ceremony took place at the National Gallery.
The award comes with an $80,000 grant for each recipient to support his artistic pursuits.
Dr Ghanavenothan is the first Indian classical musician to receive the award. He is the resident music director at Bhaskar’s Arts Academy, and his cross-cultural musical education encompasses Indian, Thai, Chinese and Indonesian traditions. He was also the first Indian classical musician to be awarded the YAA in 1995.
His practice began when he was a teenager, involving intensive, one-on-one sessions with guru Pandit M. Ramalingam, a friend of his father, pioneer musician R. Retnam.
“Without practice, I wouldn’t get my breakfast,” Dr Ghanavenothan said.
“I was rushing to practise, so I could eat and go to school. But when I made a mistake, my father would say, ‘Eh?’, and turn to me. I couldn’t bluff him.”
A critically acclaimed composer and flautist and the founder of Singapore’s first Carnatic flute ensemble, Dr Ghanavenothan is best known for his cross-cultural creations, which he has taken to festivals in India, Taiwan and Bali.
“When I received the phone call about the Cultural Medallion, first I screamed, then I started crying. It was so overwhelming. I have got many awards, but this is the one, this is the one for me,” he said.
The award, Singapore’s most prestigious arts accolade, was initiated in 1979 by then Minister for Culture Ong Teng Cheong, who was the Republic’s president from 1993 to 1999. It has been given to 137 artists since its inception.
On Nov 27, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan also presented four promising artists aged 35 years and below with the YAA. They are violinist Alan Choo Su Ho, 34; music director, producer and composer Evan Low Jun Feng, 35; film producer Tan Si En, 31; and printmaker Zhang Fuming, 35.
All four will be eligible for a grant of $20,000 to support their artistic development within two years.
The Straits Times
