LASALLE alumni received the top honours for their contributions to the Arts in Singapore, at the 2010 Art Awards Presentation Ceremony held on 12 October.
Amanda Heng, who graduated with a diploma in Fine Arts, Printmaking from the class of 1988, was one of the three people who were awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion. It is the highest national accolade awarded to individuals in recognition of their excellence in the areas of film, literary arts, performing arts and visual arts.
An arts practitioner of over 30 years, her core art practice involves exploring the context of Singapore’s multi-cultural and fast-changing society. Using an inter-disciplinary approach, she often works in collaboration with people of different cultural backgrounds including those from arts and non-arts fields. Amanda’s earliest artistic achievement dates back to 1987 when she became one of the founding members of the Artists Village in Singapore.
In addition, Amanda has been invited to several residency programmes and has exhibited in major international galleries and festivals including the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Werkleitz Biennale and the Tachikawa International Art Festival. Her active involvement in the arts extends to conceptualising, curating, organising and participating in exhibitions, public art events and forums. At present, she also supervises the Master of Arts students at LASALLE.
Another LASALLE alumnus Choy Ka Fai was presented the Young Artist Award, an award that recognises and encourages the development of new talent and artistic excellence.
Having graduated in 2004 with a diploma in Multimedia Art (Video Art), Ka Fai has since paved new insights into the multimedia industry as a new media artist and contemporary performance director. With the creation of numerous multi-disciplinary projects that situates his work at the intersections of Visual Arts, Dance and Theatre, his art reflects on the human conditions at the convergence of art, design and technology.
Ka Fai was the Co-Artistic Director of artist collective – Kill Your Television (KYTV) and his works have toured to major arts institutions and festivals worldwide, including Haus Der JJulturen Der Welt (Berlin), 3rd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial (Japan), Institute of Contemporary Arts London and The Edinburgh International Festival. He is currently a National Arts Council Singapore Overseas Scholar pursuing his Master's Degree in Design Interaction at the Royal College of Art London.
Both Amanda and Ka Fai will be eligible for the Cultural Medallion Grant and the Young Artist Award Grant respectively, a total of up to $90,000 which will go towards supporting their artistic pursuits and creation of original works.
