United Overseas Bank (Thai) is inviting Thai emerging and established artists to enter the seventh UOB Painting of the Year (POY), Thailand competition1. It is the only art contest in Thailand that gives artists an opportunity to compete for a regional prize and participate in an artist residency overseas.
The Thai winner of the Established artist category will compete with winners from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award and stand a chance to be selected for a one-month residency at Fukuoka Museum of Asian Arts.
Mr Peter Foo Moo Tan, Chief Executive Officer, UOB (Thai) said that the Bank supports local artistic talent in pursuing their passion and building a career in art though the UOB Painting of the Year competition.
“The Bank demonstrates its commitment to the local art community with the UOB Painting of the Year competition continuing to its seventh year in Thailand. Through POY, we nurture the development of local artists by recognising their talent and giving them an opportunity to interact with a wider audience and fellow artists in Southeast Asia. Through this exposure, we hope to enrich their artistic perspective and help progress their career in art.”
Last year’s winner in the Established Artist category was Thidarat Chantachua, 24-year-old student from Silpakorn University, for her use of special embroidery technique to depict unity in prayer in daily life of Muslim in Jamaah 2. Ms Thidarat was also selected to attend the coveted one-month residency programme at Fukuoka Museum of Asian Art, making her the first POY Thailand winner to attend the residency.
UOB Group started its annual UOB Painting of the Year competition in Singapore in 1982 and expanded it to Thailand in 2010, and Malaysia and Indonesia in 2011.
This year, UOB would like to draw the artists’ attention to the importance of sensibility in art. This relates to art’s ability to draw the viewer in on an emotional level through its intimacy, intensity and inspiration; enriching and enhancing the way art is experienced and enjoyed.
An exchange on art and building an art career across Southeast Asia
As part of the Bank’s wider art programme, UOB has organised a forum with past UOB Painting of the Year winners to share their experience on how the competition has shaped and helped launched their careers in art. The artists present at the forum on 8 June will be Mr Anggar Prasetyo from Indonesia2 , Mr Gan Tee Sheng from Malaysia 3, Mr Esmond Loh from Singapore 4 and Ms Pannaphan Yodmanee from Thailand 5.
Ms Luckana Kunavichayanont, director, Bangkok Art & Culture Centre, will speak from a perspective of a seasoned curator, on skills that artists need to cater to a wider audience and progress in their artistic career. Mr Prateep Kochabua, who is recognised internationally for his surrealist style, will share insights on how an artist can maintain his artistic passion as he progresses in his career.
1 Please refer to the UOB Painting of the Year fact sheet for competition details.
2 Mr Aggar Pasetyo is the 2015 Southeast Asian POY winner
3 Mr Gan Tee Sheng is the 2013 POY, Malaysia winner
4 Mr Esmond Loh is the 2011 POY, Singapore winner
5 Ms Pannaphan Yodmanee is the 2010 POY, Thailand winner