UOB Launches 2013 Painting of the Year Competition

Jakarta, 18 September 2013 – UOB is once again organizing the UOB Painting of the Year 2013 competition which will be held simultaneously in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. For more than 31 years, this competition has encouraged painters to continue to produce the best works that are inspiring and creative.

This year, UOB categorizes the winner category into two segments, namely New Artist category and Professional Artist category to show how an artist naturally develops in his/her artistic career. UOB has also increased the total prize at the regional level to more than US$200 thousand; thus, opening up opportunities for the main winners (winners at national and regional levels) to bring home a total prize of US$35 thousand, a value that makes this competition one of the fine arts competitions with the biggest prize in Southeast Asia.

On the same occasion, UOB also introduced Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award as an appreciation for the 2013 UOB Painting of the Year winners as well as to promote works of art in Southeast Asia. Apart from prizes and awards, winners from each country will also have the opportunity to take part in a residency program at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan later.

Deputy Chairman and CEO UOB Wee Ee Cheong said, “Through this 2013 UOB Painting of the Year competition, we would like to share with the communities around us by acknowledging and appreciating the talents of artists, both developing artists and those who are more professional. We hope this competition can motivate artists to continue to inspire the communities around them, fellow artists and art lovers in Southeast Asia through the works they produce."

In this competition, UOB received support from a team of judges consisting of leading curators and art critics. In Indonesia, art critic Agus Dermawan T, art observer Dr. Jean Couteau, Director of Fine Arts Development at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia. Dra. Watie Moerany, M.Hum will select the best works based on creativity, the latest techniques, and ideas expressed on canvas.

In the meantime, President Director of PT Bank UOB Indonesia (UOBI), Armand B. Arief said that since 2011, UOBI has participated in the UOB Painting of the Year competition initiated by UOB Singapore.

"Art is a central part of Indonesian culture and heritage. It is not surprising that we have many talented young artists. Through this competition, we hope to contribute to the world of art in Indonesia and facilitate domestic painters to compete at the international level, "said Armand.

"Our hope is that Indonesian artists will continue to be motivated to create creative, dynamic and relevant works of art with the development of an increasingly quality social and social economic system," continued Armand.

In 2012, more than 1000 photos of paintings and works of 540 artists participated in this competition. Artis Y Indra Wahyu won the competition and won a ticket to participate in the same competition at the regional level. His work, which depicts a school choir and entitled School Hymn, has even won a Grand Regional Award.

Indra said, "This competition can be an opportunity for national painters to compete in the international arena. The art world in Indonesia today needs to continue to stimulate itself to produce creative innovations."

“This competition is a useful media for Indonesian painters/artists to introduce or promote the ideas and creativity of their artworks, not only at the national level but also to other countries. Winning the UOB Painting of the Year event is a proud experience for me,” Indra said.