Indonesia
has taken
the UOB
Southeast
Asian
Painting of the Year
Award
for the third year running. The United Overseas Bank (UOB) revealed that 36-year-old Gatot
Indrajati
has won the award for Right or Wrong My Home, a relief acrylic painting. Indrajati also picked up the 2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Indonesia award.
Judges
commended
his innovative use of
wood, a
traditional art medium in Indonesia
combined with paint to create a visually compelling and
contemporary artwork.
They said Indrajati’s
treatment of composition and layering to
create
a range of
perspectives in the painting
emphasised
a
sense of space while reflecting a typical
Southeast Asian cityscape. The judges further
noted that
his
application of light-hearted iconography
invites the
audience
to
contemplate the artist’s intent.
Indrajati said, “
I was
inspired by the passion that Indonesians have for their country and how that
attitude is such an inherent part of the Indonesian identity. Indonesians also have a wry sense of humour
and we often use humour as a way to demonstrate the love for our country. I wanted my painting to
portray that passion and patriotism."
Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, UOB, said that the Bank remains
committed to supporting the development of art in Southeast Asia for the long-term.
"We recognise the important role art plays in strengthening the fabric of a society. It connects people and
communities, celebrates cultures and enriches lives. What is also distinctive about the UOB art
programme is our focus on giving back. Beyond nurturing and profiling artistic talents, we also connect
our artist alumni and our community partners to bring art appreciation to underprivileged and special
needs children,
"
Wee said.
In the Established Artist category Carey Ngai, 49, won the UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award. Ngai's entry was an oil on
canvas painting, Industry 2.0 III.
The judges were impressed by Ngai’s use of shades and
colours in his realistic art piece.
His painting draws a parallel between the
obsolescence of industrial
machinery and that of human abilities as societies evolve and as artificial intelligence becomes integrated
into daily life.
For the Emerging Artist category: Yoko Choi Chi Mei, 38, was named the Most Promising Artist of the Year
(Singapore). Choi created a diptych piece, City Wandering. Using ink marker on
Chinese ink paper
to create
intricate, overlapping and multi-directional patterns, the artist
explores how
the search for change can reshape one’s perception of order and certainty.
The annual UOB Painting of the Year competition
is held across four Southeast Asian countries. In
Singapore, it is
the
longest-running art contest
and
is
also
the Bank’s
flagship
art programme.
UOB’s
focus on championing art as a key pillar of its corporate social responsibility programme began in
Singapore more than 40 years ago.
Over the years, the
UOB Painting of the Year competition
has launched the careers of artists
in Singapore and the region including Singapore Cultural Medallion
winners Raymond Lau, Chua
Say Hua and Hong Sek Chern.
The regional panel of judges comprised representatives from each of the
four participating countries: Agung Hujatnika Jennong, an
independent
curator and lecturer at the Faculty of Art and
Design at the
Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia; Choy Chun Wei, an
award-winning contemporary artist
from Malaysia; Dr Bridget Tracy Tan, Director of the Institute
of Southeast Asian Arts and Art Galleries,
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore; and Amrit Chusuwan, an artist
and Dean of the Faculty
of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University in
Thailand.
Other winners of the 35th UOB Painting of the Year competition
include:
+2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Malaysia: Yim Yen Sum,
The Floating Castle
+2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Thailand:
Jongjit Moolmat,
Awaiting Enlightenment 2
+Established Artist Category (Singapore), Gold Award:
Tang Kok Soo,
Elephants Crossing the
+Water
Established Artist Category (Singapore), Silver Award:
Yeo Tze Yang,
Ah Ma’s Kitchen
+Established Artist Category (Singapore), Bronze Award: Kobayashi Satoshi,
The Producer
+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore) Gold Award:
Ariel Dong Zixin,
Self-portrait
+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore)
Silver Award:
Shirly Koh Li Qing,
Gentle Shade of Blue
Beyond...
+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore)
Bronze Award:
Ryan Lim Ding Xuan,
Smithereens
Interested?
The winning paintings from the 2016 Painting of the Year competition will be exhibited at the UOB Art
Gallery, UOB Plaza 1 at 80 Raffles Place. The
exhibition will run till the end of
February 2017.
