HÀ NỘI  All professional and amateur painters, Vietnamese citizens and permanent residents in Việt Nam, have been invited to send their artworks to compete at the UOB Painting of the Year, which has been inaugurated in Việt Nam.

Established in 1982, UOB Painting of the Year is Singapore's longest-running annual art competition 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.

CEO of UOB Vietnam, Victor Ngo (left) and Deputy Head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ngô Tuấn Phong, shake hands at the inauguration of the 1st UOB Painting of the Year in Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of UOB Painting of the Year

According to the CEO of UOB Vietnam, Victor Ngo, 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.

Explaining the reason for expanding the art competition to Việt Nam, Ngo said that "the country has a rich culture which has been strongly reflected through art." 

“We see great potential and creativity in the Vietnamese art scene. We believe Vietnamese artists have a unique perspective, and their voices will be appreciated on a regional platform," he said.

“In conjunction with UOB’s celebration of 30 years in Việt Nam, we are thrilled to bring our flagship regional art competition to Việt Nam 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 Việt Nam.”

With the inauguration in Việt Nam, the 42nd UOB Painting of the Year calls for entries in five ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Việt Nam.

Chok Yue Zan, the 2017 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) winner, poses in his awarded painting “I Thought, We Can Stay Strong Like Stones”. — Photo courtesy of UOB Painting of the Year

At the inauguration event in Hà Nội on Tuesday, 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, 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).

“Winning the UOB Painting of the Year competition is an important stepping stone to elevate my name and my artworks to the global arena," Luetrakun said. "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.”

Winner of the 2017 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia), Chok Yue Zan, was selected for a one-month residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan and UOB Art Gallery Shanghai in China.

“The residency programmes in Fukuoka and Shanghai 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 Chok.

The call for entries in the UOB Painting of the Year competition in Việt Nam will close on  August 6. Participation is free.

Together with a Special Art Advisor from Singapore, Kwok Kian Chow, who is the former director of the Singapore Art Museum, and the National Gallery Singapore, other prominent figures in the Việt Nam art scene, including the President of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association, Lương Xuân Đoàn; visual artist and independent curator Trần Lương; and founder of the HCM City-based contemporary art centre The Factory, Tia Thủy Nguyễn, are judges of the competition.

They will judge the submitted artworks based on the criteria: Message, Creativity, Composition, and Technique.

Guests take in the winning paintings of previous UOB Painting of the Year at Tuesday's inauguration of the art competition in Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of UOB Painting of the Year

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony, and the winning paintings will be showcased in a public exhibition in HCM City in October. The top country winner will receive a VNĐ500 million (US$21,400) cash prize.

They will also win a chance to compete for the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award, which carries a cash prize of S$13,000 (US$9,800), and a one-month residency programme at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.

Head of the judging panel, artist Đoàn, said: “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 Việt Nam’s fine arts scene. I look forward to seeing the entries and discovering new talents through this competition." — VNS