UOB launches inaugural ‘UOB Painting of the Year’ regional art competition in Vietnam
- The 42nd UOB Painting of the Year Call for entries in five ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
- The UOB Painting of the Year country top winner is eligible for VND 500 million cash prize and stands a chance to win the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award
Hanoi, Vietnam, 09 May 2023 - The flagship UOB Painting of the Year art competition expands its reach to Vietnam this year, welcoming entries from Vietnamese citizens and permanent residents for the first time. The launch ceremony of the 1st edition of the UOB Painting of the Year competition in Vietnam gathered more than 150 artists and art advocates from across the country, together with Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ngo Tuan Phong, Deputy Head of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Department from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam.
UOB has been championing Southeast Asian art and artists in the region over the past four decades through a wide range of visual arts programmes, partnership and outreach initiatives across the region. Established in 1982, UOB Painting of the Year is the longest-running annual art competition in Singapore and one of the most prestigious in Southeast Asia. The competition aims to promote art and culture in the region and to showcase the talent of established and emerging artists, having uncovered more than 1,000 artistic talents across the region since its inception.
Vietnam has a rich cultural heritage that has been strongly visualised through the arts. UOB's decision to launch the competition in Vietnam is a testament to the country’s growing art scene. The expansion into Vietnam also reinforces UOB's long-term commitment to supporting the arts and artists in Southeast Asia.
Mr Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, said, "Art inspires and connects people, reflecting culture and identity, while transcending geography and time. For the past four decades, UOB has been committed to bringing the joy of art to more audiences across the region, with the UOB Painting of the Year competition helping to uncover and nurture generations of great Southeast Asian artists. In conjunction with UOB’s celebration of 30 years in Vietnam, we are thrilled to be bringing our flagship regional art competition to Vietnam this year as we continue to build the future of ASEAN. We believe this competition will help artists, established and aspiring, to uncover their passion for art, and to contribute to the development of the visual arts scene in Vietnam".
1st UOB Painting of the Year competition identity design and Call for entries
The 1st UOB Painting of the Year competition identity design was unveiled by Mr Victor Ngo and Mr Ngo Tuan Phong at the official launch event. Inspired by the 2022 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year winning artwork, Dystopia by Thai artist Chomrawi Suksom, the evolving sphere symbolises our world in a constant state of change and renewal, represented by different cultures and identities. This is aligned with the Bank’s long-term commitment to constantly evolve and stay relevant, and to do right by the community.
At the launch event, UOB Painting of the Year alumni artists from Thailand and Malaysia shared their perspectives on how the competition has been a springboard for their career growth.
Having clinched the accolade as the top winner of the 2018 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Thailand) in the Emerging Artist Category for his first submission to the UOB Painting of the Year competition, Chaichana Luetrakun decided to apply for the Established Artist Category in the following year and became the top winner of the 2019 UOB Painting of the Year (Thailand). “As an artist, winning the UOB Painting of the Year competition is an important stepping stone to elevate my name and my artworks to the global arena. This competition stands out as it grants artists the unique opportunity to showcase their works both locally and regionally, allowing us to establish a presence within ASEAN and beyond.”, Chaichana Luetrakun shared.
Another artist, Mr Chok Yue Zan, was the top winner of the 2017 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia). In 2018, He was also selected for a one-month residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan and UOB Art Gallery Shanghai, China respectively. “I would like to express my gratitude to UOB for providing me with this opportunity to participate in the residency programmes in Fukuoka and Shanghai. These were precious experiences in my art career that have opened my eyes to the regional art world and gave me new inspiration for my works.”, said Mr Chok Yue Zan.
Call for entries for 1st UOB Painting of the Year competition in Vietnam
The 1st UOB Painting of the Year competition in Vietnam is open to all Vietnamese citizens and permanent residents, with the call for entries closing on 06 August 2023. Participation is free. A panel of judges comprising prominent figures in the Vietnam art scene will judge the submitted artworks based on the following criteria: Message, creativity, composition, and technique. The winners will be announced at an award ceremony and the winning paintings will be showcased in a public exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2023.
The top country winner will receive VND 500,000,000 and a chance to compete for the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award, which carries a cash prize of S$13,000, and a one-month residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan. More information about the competition can be found at UOBandArt.com and Appendix A.
The Chief judge of the panel of judges, President of Vietnam Fine Arts Association, Former Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Department, Propaganda Department of the Party Central Committee and artist, Luong Xuan Doan, said, "I am honoured to be leading the judging panel for the 1st UOB Painting of the Year competition in Vietnam. This prestigious competition is a great opportunity for artists to showcase their talent and to have the opportunity to gain recognition in the international art market, bringing stronger value to Vietnam’s fine arts scene. I look forward to seeing the entries and discovering new talents through this competition".