Cover UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei presenting the award to Chong Kim Chiew
UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei presenting the award to Chong Kim Chiew
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The prestigious art competition showcases the remarkable talents of emerging and established artists across Malaysia and the region
Art has the power to transcend boundaries, language, and culture, sparking conversations while uniting people and building communities. It informs about the past and shapes the future of imagination. Believing in the boundless potential of Southeast Asian art and artists, UOB has been a leading patron of the arts in the region, annually hosting one of the most prestigious art competitions—the UOB Painting of the Year (POY)—to uncover and nurture artistic talent.
With a the record-breaking number of submissions this year, the 13th UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) awards ceremony held at Sentul Pavilion on September 21 showcased the winning artworks of eight artists under two categories: Established Art Category and Emerging Artist Category.
Above Chong Kim Chiew with his winning artwork, "Malaya and British Borneo One Dollar 1953 (We look at the past, we look at the present)"
Chong Kim Chiew with his winning artwork, "Malaya and British Borneo One Dollar 1953 (We look at the past, we look at the present)"
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Chong Kim Chiew, 49, emerged as the grand winner of the competition for his artwork titled Malaya and British Borneo One Dollar 1953 (We look at the past, we look at the present). Aiming to create a sense of nostalgia, Chong’s artwork featured a two-piece mirror image of a banknote from the British Malaya era, recreating the currency that was in circulation for 15 years from 1953 to 1967 and used across Brunei, Malaya, North Borneo, Riau archipelago, Sarawak and Singapore.
Using acrylic, foil paper, lime plaster and paper with paint on canvas, the artist explains, “There were two things that I wanted to explore when I created this piece. I am always intrigued with our history and how it has shaped our future today. As an artist, I want to delve deeper into the complex relationship between art and money and questions around the flunctuating value of artists and their artworks over time.”
He also ponders on the idea that “Just like an old bank note that appreciates in value over the years, who determines the value of art, and would an artist’s work appreciate in value long after they are gone? To me, this playfully challenges an artist’s pursuit of commercial value in the world of art.”
Ng Wei Wei seated with Chia King Hong, Bibi Chew, and Yap Kok Tee, country head of UOBM’s Channels and Digitalisation
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As the country winner, Chong took home the grand prize of RM100,000—the highest cash prize in an art competition in the country. He will move on to the next round, which is to compete regionally and represent Malaysia for the coveted UOB Southeast Painting of the Year award against country winners from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in November. The country winners will also be eligible to compete for a one-month residency programme at the renowned Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.
Meanwhile, in the Emerging Artist Category, Mairul Nisa Malek took home the Most Promising Artist of the Year award and a cash prize of RM16,000 for her mixed media artwork titled Malek and Mariana, which provided a fascinating insight into the artist’s early years when she accompanied her father to the remote regions of Sarawak to teach less-privileged students.
Mairul Nisa Malek was named Most Promising Artist of the Year for "Malek and Mariana"
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The competition’s panel of judges include Bibi Chew, industry advisory panel (visual arts) for Cendana Malaysia; leading contemporary artist Choy Chun Wei whose works have been exhibited internationally; and Ahmad Fuad Osmad, also a leading contemporary artist and judge of National Art Gallery’s Young Contemporaries Awards.
Speaking about UOB’s flagship regional visual arts programme, chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei said in a statement: “It is gratifying to see that the local art community views UOB POY as an established platform to elevate their profile regionally. We are excited to continue unleashing the power of art and nurturing the country’s next generation of great artistic talents through this flagship competition.”
Knowing full-well the reach and power of the digital world, UOB Malaysia recently launched the Jom Transform: Arts Digital Accelerator programme to help equip local artists with the tools needed to enhance their competitiveness in this platform. This was held in collaboration with the National Art Gallery, which aims to help both UOB POY artists and the National Art Gallery’s Young Art Entrepreneurs build a sustainable career in the art industry.
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