Cover From L to R: chief judge Bibi Chew; Mairul Nisa Malek (Established Artist, Bronze); Muhamad Amsyar Ramly (Established Artist, Silver); Hug Yin Wan (Established Artist, Gold); Hasanul Isyraf Idris (2024 UOB Painting of the Year, Malaysia); CEO of UOB Malaysia Ng Wei Wei; Nurul Shahida Ibrahim (Emerging Artist, Most Promising Artist of the Year); Ahmad Muhamad Mohamed Kamal (Emerging Artist, Gold); Lee Yaw Chu (Emerging Artist, Silver) and Aer Loo Xin Theng (Emerging Artist, Bronze)
From L to R: chief judge Bibi Chew; Mairul Nisa Malek (Established Artist, Bronze); Muhamad Amsyar Ramly (Established Artist, Silver); Hug Yin Wan (Established Artist, Gold); Hasanul Isyraf Idris (2024 UOB Painting of the Year, Malaysia); CEO of UOB Malaysia Ng Wei Wei; Nurul Shahida Ibrahim (Emerging Artist, Most Promising Artist of the Year); Ahmad Muhamad Mohamed Kamal (Emerging Artist, Gold); Lee Yaw Chu (Emerging Artist, Silver) and Aer Loo Xin Theng (Emerging Artist, Bronze)
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The 14th UOB Painting of the Year Awards spotlight Malaysia’s top artistic talents Hasanul Isyraf Idris and Nurul Shahida Ibrahim, continuing UOB’s rich legacy of supporting the arts
Recognising the transformative power of art to bridge cultures and eras, UOB launched the Painting of the Year (POY) competition to honour artists in the region and provide a platform for sharing their works with a broader audience. Today, it is Singapore’s longest-running art event and one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious. The POY competition was launched in Malaysia in 2011 and offers the highest monetary award for artistic excellence in the country.
Read more: Meet the winners of the 2023 UOB Painting of the Year
In 2024, Penang-based artist Hasanul Isyraf Idris won the top spot in the Established Artist Category in the 14th POY competition for Malaysia. The winning artwork, titled Durio, comprises a collage of paintings that reflect the artist’s observations on the life cycle of the durian tree, from flowering to fruit-bearing stages. Although the artwork’s production took one and a half months, Hasanul had committed over four years of research into the concept.
Hasanul set out to create an archive to showcase Malaysian land as the greatest heritage to be seen and protected. “Anything I found around my retreat studio in Perak, close to the Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve, I would photograph or keep,” the 46-year-old artist says.
Above UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei delivering a few words about the 14th UOB Painting of the Year awards
UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei delivering a few words about the 14th UOB Painting of the Year awards
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The experience was enlightening, as he encountered species like the Hammerhead worm. “Discovering the invasive worm beneath a log underscored the delicate balance of our ecosystem, highlighting threats to the vital earthworm population. Another interesting discovery was the rare Oriental blue clearwing, a bee-mimicking moth, that has only recently been rediscovered after more than 130 years. I was amazed to find it within my retreat.”
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“Powerful messages conveyed through the medium of art play a vital role in nation-building as it shapes identity, fosters unity and inspires progress,” says Ng Wei Wei, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Malaysia. “This year’s winning piece, Durio, beautifully illustrates that despite our differences, we are united in our connection to nature and we must preserve this delicate balance for future generations. We hope that our UOB Painting of the Year competition will continue to be a powerful platform for established and emerging Malaysian artists to express important issues and common themes that evoke deep reflection and dialogue in society.”
Above Hasanul Isyraf Idris won the top spot in the Established Artist Category in the 14th Painting of the Year competition for Malaysia
Hasanul Isyraf Idris won the top spot in the Established Artist Category in the 14th Painting of the Year competition for Malaysia
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As the 2024 UOB POY (Malaysia) award winner, Hasanul received RM100,000 and represented Malaysia in the regional 2024 UOB Southeast Asian POY award. In the Emerging Artist category, 36-year-old Nurul Shahida Ibrahim was awarded Most Promising Artist of the Year for her mixed-media piece, Baruh, taking home RM16,000.
The work poignantly captures the duality of resilience and adversity hidden beneath the bucolic allure of rural life. A farmer’s daughter raised at the foot of Mount Jerai and surrounded by the verdant beauty of rice fields, the artist draws on personal experiences. Her creation, which took two months to produce, illustrates the havoc wrought by invasive species—crabs, snails and tree sparrows—on tender rice shoots and mature crops alike. The grid-like structure of her composition, with its striking interplay of green and white, evokes the enduring yet unvarnished reality of rural existence.
“Baruh captivates with its deceptive simplicity; from afar, it appears serene, yet closer inspection reveals its intricate embroidery and evocative textures. We were looking for innovation and something that would challenge us. Nurul’s work pleasantly surprised us with its delicate attention to detail,” chief judge Bibi Chew says, feeling the work demonstrated the artist’s patience, commitment and potential to grow.
Above Nurul Shahida Ibrahim wins Most Promising Artist of the Year with her creation, Baruh
Nurul Shahida Ibrahim wins Most Promising Artist of the Year with her creation, Baruh
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A mother of three, Nurul who once sold her creations via Instagram (@etlingera_art), hopes her win will unlock new opportunities. Baruh, a stunning blend of painting and embroidery, took over a month to complete. “Each stitch demanded patience and precision,” she shares. “A crooked stitch meant redoing it. My husband and children pitched in to help during the process.” Reflecting on her achievement, the artist expresses optimism for the future. “With this win, UOB has given me a remarkable platform to grow as an artist,” she says. “I hope to see my work exhibited in galleries soon.”
All of the finalists’ creations “best represent Malaysia” and “move those who view it with its message, creativity, innovation and composition,” selected from a remarkable volume of entries as Malaysian participation in the UOB Painting of the Year competition continues to rise.
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The judging criteria differed between the established and emerging artists categories. As Chew explains, “Established artists are well-trained professionals. They have already staged solo exhibitions and are familiar with delivering complex ideas through advanced techniques. Emerging artists may not have the same level of polish, but offer daring ideas and take the risk to deliver something out of the ordinary that gives us pause to reflect.”
In 2024, UOB also officially launched the UOB Artist Alumni Network, aiming to further elevate the profiles of UOB artists in Southeast Asia and Greater China. The Network will open doors for artists to exhibit their work at platforms like Art Central in Hong Kong and Art Jakarta, increasing networking and commission opportunities.
Credits
Photography: courtesy of UOB Malaysia
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