UOB Painting of the Year From Singapore Spreads Across the Region
The competition will be present in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and in 2023, Vietnam will officially become the fifth country to participate in this artistic journey. In each country, the competition is not only a place to discover new names, but also a bridge for local artists to approach the international community, exchange creative perspectives and together create a more multidimensional art space.
The six winning works and five finalists of the “UOB Painting of the Year” 2024 competition will be on display from May 7 to 19 at the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts.
The work "Flow" by artist Nguyen Viet Cuong uses two materials: Quang Ninh coal and Mekong Delta rice flour, won the UOB Painting of the Year award in 2024, on display at the exhibition.
Exhibition space at the Museum of Fine Arts
With a history of over 40 years, UOB Painting of the Year is the oldest art competition in Singapore and is considered by experts to be one of the most prestigious awards in the region. Since 1982, the competition has contributed to discovering more than 1,000 talented artists, a number sufficient to imagine its influence in giving wings to creative journeys that are still in the formative stage.
A car hood is no longer a mechanical material, but a flat surface for artists to breathe life into emotions with powerful layers of spray paint. A tie - a symbol of neatness in the office - has become a means for artists to express their personal feelings through each meticulous oil paint stroke. The punches, oil wax streaks or rough color patches are not simply techniques, but the way artists redefine their worldview. It is not only a breakthrough in form of expression, but also a clear demonstration of the spirit of freedom and unlimited creativity in the UOB Painting of the Year competition - one of the most prestigious and long-standing art playgrounds in Southeast Asia.
The work "Diary 2024" by artist Nguyen Duc Nhiem
Numbers follow their own rules
"The work is inspired by diary pages, hidden emotions in a notebook. The blue layer covering the envelope symbolizes the confusion or secret things that are being blurred or painted over. On the envelope, the words 'From: Niem 25 To: Niem 24' are like a message to oneself from a year ago, evoking nostalgia for past moments. The characters of letters and numbers are made according to their own rules, a declaration of the artist himself about wanting his thoughts to be written down but not necessarily understood" - author Nguyen Duc Niem shared.
Playground for Vietnamese talent
Vietnam has only officially joined since 2023, but in just two years, the competition has left a deep mark on the domestic art community. The increasing number of entries is not only a testament to the attraction of the award, but also reflects the desire to contribute and be recognized of thousands of young artists across the S-shaped strip of land.
In 2024, the second competition in Vietnam honored 6 outstanding artists in two categories: “Established Artist” and “Promising Artist”. In which, the highest award - UOB Painting of the Year Vietnam 202 was awarded to artist Nguyen Viet Cuong with the work “Flow”, a work with historical and cultural depth and expressing a strong visual style. At the same time, the “Promising Artist” award belonged to artist Phan Tu Tran with the work “Doraeco”, attracting attention thanks to the unique intersection between contemporary themes and a novel style of expression.
"Doraeco" by artist Phan Tu Tran
The annual UOB Painting of the Year competition is UOB Bank’s flagship art programme. It was launched in 1982 in Singapore with the initial aim of discovering and celebrating local artistic talent. Over the past four decades, the competition has grown and developed into a regional art platform, contributing to shaping the landscape of contemporary Southeast Asian art.
But behind each award is not only the title, but also the recognition - a great motivation for young artists to confidently pursue a creative path that is full of challenges and loneliness. As shared by a young artist participating in the competition: "This is an important stepping stone for me to understand more about art in the ASEAN region, and also a valuable opportunity to listen, learn and assert myself."
To spread the value of the competition, UOB Vietnam has organized an exhibition of the 2024 winning works at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (Hanoi) - a prestigious and solemn space, lasting until May 19. This is part of the series of activities to launch UOB Painting of the Year 2025, marking the third year the competition has taken place in Vietnam.
The combination of modern visual language with traditional cultural materials
The exhibition showcases six winning works in two categories along with five finalists, creating a picture of creativity and depth of thought. Viewers are not only overwhelmed by the diversity of materials - from canvas, oil paint, crayons, recycled objects to perforation and embossing techniques - but are also led by the hidden layers of meaning in each work.
A special highlight of the exhibition is the combination of modern visual language with traditional cultural materials. From stories about urbanization, personal identity, to memories of the countryside, collective memories and environmental issues - the works have gone beyond mere performance, but have become a lively dialogue between the artist and the community. Many viewers stopped for a long time in front of each work, as if trying to decode the message hidden in each color, line and even the silence between the blocks.
"Airplane Stacking" by artist Nguyen Van He
"Erosion" by artist Ngo Van Sac
Where art meets the future
What makes the UOB Painting of the Year special is not just the value of the prize or the scale of the organization, but the fact that the competition acts as a multi-dimensional connecting platform - between artists, between art and the public, between tradition and contemporary, between individuals and communities. It not only discovers talent but also nurtures free artistic thinking, encourages experimentation and breaks free from old stereotypes. More importantly, it is also an opportunity for Southeast Asian artists to look back and reflect on their national identity in the overall picture of the region.
The winner in Vietnam will receive a prize of VND500 million and a chance to compete for the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year Southeast Asia award with a cash prize of S$13,000 (approximately VND260 million). In addition, he/she will also have the chance to be selected to participate in a special art program.
Where art meets the future
For Vietnam, participation in this competition is not only an important milestone in the process of international art integration, but also an opportunity to affirm the unique voice of Vietnamese fine arts - a voice that is increasingly strong, distinctive and full of inner power.
For thousands of young artists, the competition is not only a destination, but also a valuable journey in the journey of self-affirmation. And for the art-loving public, this is a precious opportunity to approach, dialogue and be moved by creative thoughts that are typical of Southeast Asia - where art is not only beauty, but also a message, an identity, and a bridge between people and the world around them.
