18th UOB Painting Of The Year winner scores on theme, while judges applaud high overall standard of entries this year.
Singapore, 26 June 1999 – Social commentary wins the day again*, as the top prize of the 18th UOB Painting Of The Year Competition, organised by the United Overseas Bank (UOB) Group, goes to Mr Tan Kay Nguan, a full-time artist. His winning oil painting, 'Trifling Matter', shows two toddlers in their birthday suits against a background of the word 'Peace' repeatedly 'crayoned' in a child-like handwriting, while the face of a rifle-wielding soldier subtly shows through.
Dr Earl Lu, the Chief Judge for this year's Competition, remarked that selecting this year's prize-winning pieces was not easy as the overall standard is especially high, with a third of the entries thought exhibition-worthy. While the judges each had their own initial pick for the top winner, Mr Tan's entry won their final approval, based on theme. Said Dr Lu, 'In terms of representational work, this painting is technically well-executed, plus the subject matter clearly shows thought and imagination by the artist.'
Besides Mr Tan, whose piece was partly inspired by the recent violence in Kosovo and Indonesia, several other participating artists were similarly inspired by happenings in the past year, including the mad cow disease, bird flu and pig virus scares. Indeed, Mr Fan Shao Hua's entry - a grim commentary on the various food scares - entitled 'The Feast At The End Of The Century' is awarded a Certificate Of Distinction.
In the Junior Section, 16-year-old Ms Teh Ting Ting wins the UOB Most Promising Young Artist Award with her finely executed acrylic representation of a visually handicapped busker along the Orchard MRT Station tunnel, entitled 'Busking'.
18th UOB Painting Of The Year Competition: Detailed Outcome Total Number Of Participants 264
Total Number Of Entries 423
Open Section 323
Abstract Medium
Representational Medium
Traditional Chinese Medium
114
156
53
Junior Section 100
Abstract Medium
Representational Medium
Traditional Chinese Medium
16
48
36
Open Section Results
Award Winner
The UOB Painting Of The Year Award:
The UOB Painting Of The Year Trophy plus S$20,000
Mr Tan Kay Nguan
'Trifling Matter'
(Oil On Canvas)
First Prize: Abstract Medium
S$8,000
Mr Ian Woo Yew Kong
'Where It Begins To End'
(Acrylic On Canvas)
First Prize: Representational Medium
S$8,000
Ms Hong Sek Chern
'Shopping Heaven'
(Chinese Ink On Paper)
First Prize: Traditional Chinese Medium
S$8,000
Mr Toh Kar Ann
'Way To Work, Back From Work'
(Chinese Ink & Colour)
Certificate Of Distinction Awards:
S$1,000 each
Mr Ee Huat Chuan
'The Joy Of Calligraphy & Painting'
(Chinese Ink)
Mr Fan Shao Hua
'The Feast At The End Of The Century'
(Oil)
Mr Goh Ee Choo
'Compassion - Om Mani Padme Hum'
(Mixed Media)
Mr Lok Kerk Hwang
'The Beauty Of Arrangement'
(Watercolour)
Ms Tay Shuh Fung
'Courtyard'
(Chinese Ink)
Junior Section Results
This section is open to all entrants aged 18 years and below (born on/after 1 January 1981).
Award Winner
The UOB Most Promising Young Artist Award:
The UOB Most Promising Young Artist Trophy plus S$1,000
Ms Teh Ting Ting, Aged 16
'Busking'
(Acrylic)
Certificate Of Distinction Awards:
S$200 each
Mr Chow Hao Ting, Aged 10
'Clarke Quay'
(Chinese Ink)
Mr David Lee Siew Bing, Aged 18
'Contemplation'
(Acrylic)
Mr Neo Jiet Shern, Aged 17
'The Chess Game'
(Acrylic)
Ms Antonia May Vann, Aged 9
'Hippo Heaven'
(Chinese Ink & Colour)
Ms Serene Yang, Aged 15
'Heritage Trail'
(Mixed Media)
The five judges for this year's Competition are:
Local Judges
Dr Earl Lu (Chief Judge)
Artist & Art Connoisseur
Consultant Surgeon
Member, UOB Group Art Committee
Mr Rhett D'Costa
Head, School Of Fine Art
LaSalle-SIA College Of The Arts
Mr Sim Kok Huoy
Head, Fine Art
School Of Visual Art
Nanyang Academy Of Fine Arts
Foreign Judges
Dr Mun-Lee Lin, Taiwan
Director, Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Dr Oei Hong Djien, Indonesia
Art Collector & Curator
All 15 prize-winning and 35 highly-commended entries from the Competition are on display at the 18th UOB Painting Of The Year Exhibition. The Exhibition also includes a collective display of recent works by last year's Painting Of The Year Award winner, Mr Chng Chin Kang. The Exhibition is held on the 1st, 37th and 38th Storeys of UOB Plaza 1, 80 Raffles Place, from 27 June 1999 to 2 July 1999, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily. Admission is free.
* Last year's winning painting was also a social commentary piece entitled 'She Loves Me But She's Not My Mummy' by Mr Chng Chin Kang.
