The 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition calls for artists to push the limits of their imagination and ingenuity
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5 May 2021 – UOB Malaysia is calling for artists to push the limits of their imagination and ingenuity as the Bank launches the 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition. This year, one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious annual art awards invites artists to create artworks that showcase their creativity and mastery.
The 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition is part of UOB’s flagship art programme that aims to uncover and to nurture artistic talent across the region. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the annual UOB Painting of the Year competition1.
Mr Wong Kim Choong, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia said, “Art connects people from all walks of life. It broadens our horizons, enriches our souls and tells a multitude of stories, including those of strength, resilience and overcoming adversity. During these difficult times where we are socially distanced, many have also turned to art as a form of expression and to connect with one another. We hope that through art, we will be able to help unite the community and bring people closer together.
“Over the years, just as we have helped businesses generate responsible growth, we have helped to identify and to nurture many artists as they take their first steps in building their art careers, providing them the opportunity to showcase their works to the wider community. As we celebrate the regional competition’s 40th year, we continue to encourage the next generation of aspiring talents and experienced artists to push the boundaries of imagination and creativity through their art,” Mr Wong said.
To commemorate UOB Malaysia’s 70th anniversary, the Bank has also introduced the UOB Malaysia 70th Anniversary Special Award as part of the 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition2. The recipient of the special award will walk away with RM20,000 and be commissioned to create an artwork to mark the Bank’s milestone year.
Call for 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) competition entries
As with last year, submissions will be received digitally. Submissions will be open from today until 31 July 2021. The winner of the 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) award will be announced at an award ceremony in September.
The 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (Malaysia) winner will receive RM100,000. The winner will also be able to compete for the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award in Singapore, which has a cash prize of US$10,000. More competition details can be found at www.UOBandArt.com.
To mark the 40th UOB Painting of the Year competition, this year, instead of one country winner, all four country winners will be able to participate in an art residency programme either in Shanghai, China or Fukuoka, Japan. The month-long exchange programme will enable artists to immerse themselves in the art culture of the host country and learn about various approaches to art creation.
1 Inaugurated in 1982, the annual UOB Painting of the Year art competition is the longest-running in Singapore and one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia. The competition was launched in Malaysia in 2011.
2 The winner of the UOB Malaysia 70th Anniversary Special Award will be selected from the top eight winners of the UOB Painting of the Competition (Malaysia). Terms and conditions apply.