SINGAPORE: An Indonesian artist has won the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year for the third year running, said United Overseas Bank (UOB) on Wednesday (Nov 9).
Mr Gatot Indrajati, 36, was commended by a regional panel of judges for his “innovative use of wood” – a medium for traditional art in Indonesia – in his mixed media painting titled “Right or Wrong My Home”. He also created a “visually compelling and contemporary art work” with paint, according to the judges.
Right or Wrong My Home by Mr Gatot Indrajati
“I was inspired by the passion that Indonesians have for their country and how that attitude is such an inherent part of the Indonesian identity,” said Mr Indrajati. “Indonesians also have a wry sense of humour and we often use humour as a way to demonstrate the love for our country. I wanted my painting to portray that passion and patriotism.”
Meanwhile, Singaporean Carey Ngai walked away with the Singapore 2016 UOB Painting of the Year award for his oil on canvas painting titled “Industry 2.0 III”. According to UOB, the judges were impressed by the 49-year-old’s use of shades and colours in his “realistic art piece”.
Industry 2.0 III by Mr Carey Ngai
“His painting draws a parallel between the obsolescence of industrial machinery and that of human abilities as societies evolve and as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into daily life,” UOB said.
The other winners were: Ms Yim Yen Sum for Malaysia, Mr Jongjit Moolmat for Thailand, and Ms Yoko Choi Chi Mei, who won the Most Promising Artist of the Year title.
The winning paintings from the 2016 Painting of the Year competition will be exhibited at the UOB Art Gallery from Nov 11 to February next year.
