The 10th UOB Painting of the Year Competition calls for Thai artists to display their talent

Thailand’s only regional art programme highlights the importance of identity for an artist

United Overseas Bank (UOB) (UOB Thai) has launched the 10th UOB Painting of the Year (POY) Competition and invites emerging and established Thai artists to enter Thailand’s only regional art competition. This year’s event will continue to focus on supporting the local art industry and nurturing creative young minds.

Mr Sanchai Apisaksirikul, Managing Director and Country Head of Finance and Corporate Services, UOB (Thai), said, “UOB (Thai) has successfully helped promote local artistic talents locally and internationally for 10 years through the annual UOB POY Competition. As a leading patron of art in Thailand and Southeast Asia, we believe that art is of great importance in enriching lives and strengthening communities. We hope to create a conducive environment for Thai artists to be discovered and to excel in their career. We want to inspire the next generation of Thai artists."

At launch, UOB POY alumni artists shared their perspectives on the development of local and international arts and how POY has been a springboard for their career growth. The artists include

• Ms Pannaphan Yodmanee, the first winning UOB POY artist in 2010 and the winner of the 11th Benesse Prize;
• Ms Thidarat Chantachua, the sixth winner in 2015 who won UOB’s month-long residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan; and
• Mr Apiwat Banler, the ninth winning UOB POY artist.

UOB (Thai) held a sharing session on the importance of “Identity” to help an artist be successful. For this session, the bank collaborated with art experts namely Mr Kriangkrai Kongkhanun, a successful Thai artist in the international art scene, and Mr Noppadon Thuaksuban, a professional in creative thinking and identity discovery.

UOB (Thai)’s art outreach programmes As part of its ongoing efforts to uncover the next generation of talented Thai artists across the country, UOB (Thai) will be holding “Art Workshops” in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Songkla and Mahasarakham. The Bank will also continue its series of “Art Roadshows” at 25 art universities and colleges nation-wide and extend its outreach programmes to five primary and secondary schools in Bangkok. These sessions provide avenues for local art communities and art students to interact with one another, and to be inspired by professional artists and UOB POY past winners.

Submissions for the 10th UOB Painting of the Year Competition can be made from 30 August to 1 September 2019. For more competition details, please visit www.uobpoy.com

The winners of the 10th UOB Thailand Painting of the Year Competition will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1 October 2019. The UOB Painting of the Year (Thailand) winner will then compete with the winners from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award and a month-long residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.