16 June 2014, Singapore – Established in 2008 by the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the triennial APB Foundation Signature Art Prize is returning for its third installment this year. Seeking to present the most outstanding contemporary artwork from both emerging and distinguished artists over the last three years, the prize puts the spotlight on compelling visual artworks from across the Asia Pacific region.

The APB Foundation Signature Art Prize is recognised as one of the highest accolades for contemporary visual art in Asia Pacific, and is open to all visual artworks, regardless of medium, subject matter or size. This year’s edition sees some 105 artworks from 24 countries and regions nominated by 36 independent, established art experts (For list of nominators, please refer to Annex A). The prize works closely with each nominator, who scours the region’s contemporary art scene for groundbreaking works that push boundaries in terms of concept and expression. The prize is also increasing the rigour of selection and raising the quality of entries presented by narrowing the nominations down to three per nominator, as compared to five nominations of the last edition.

Of the 105 nominated artworks, 15 artworks will be shortlisted by an independent judging panel consisting of five well-known international and regional art experts, to be exhibited at SAM for public viewing from 14 November 2014 until 15 March 2015. The panel comprises Mr. Chris Saines, Director of Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art; Mr. Feng Boyi, eminent independent art curator and critic of Chinese contemporary art; Ms. Luckana Kunavichayanont, Director of Bangkok Art and Culture Center; Ms. Pooja Sood, Director of KHOJ International Artists’ Association; and Dr. Susie Lingham, Director of Singapore Art Museum (For more information on the judging panel, please refer to Annex B).

This year, one Grand Prize winner will walk away with an award of $60,000, an increase of more than 30% over the amount awarded in 2011. Two Juror’s Choice Awards of $15,000 each will also be awarded. This third edition sees the tightening of the number of Jurors’ Choice awards from three in previous years to just two this year, increasing the exclusivity of the prize and providing the Grand Prize winner with more substantial winnings to further boost the development of their practice. The APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2014 will continue to feature a People’s Choice Award of $10,000, offered to the artwork which receives the highest number of votes from the public. Aimed at encouraging deeper audience engagement, this award will accept votes cast at the exhibition onsite at SAM and online via a Signature Art Prize microsite.

“The APB Foundation is committed to inspiring talents and supporting the development of a vibrant arts scene not just in Singapore, but also across the entire Asia Pacific region. The impressive range of artworks nominated as part of this third edition of the prize clearly showcases the ever-improving quality of works being produced out of this dynamic region. We are proud to be able to play a part in identifying, supporting and growing this network of talented artists,” said Mr. Roland Pirmez, Chairman of the APB Foundation Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees, and President of HEINEKEN Asia Pacific.

Director of SAM, Dr. Susie Lingham added, “SAM has always focused on championing contemporary art in the region.  Organising prestigious award programmes such as the Signature Art Prize continues our mission as Singapore’s contemporary art museum to highlight emerging and established Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific contemporary artists, bringing awareness of recent developments in the contemporary art landscape from this part of the world to a wider audience.  We’re pleased to work with important long-term partners such as the APB Foundation, whose kind generosity make it possible for us to create this triennial prize in support of Asian artists – giving them the room to evolve and continually create stimulating and creative work.”

Past winners and finalists of the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize include Rodel Tapaya from the Philippines, Michael Lee from Singapore, Aida Makoto from Japan, Daniel Crooks from Australia, and Imran Qureshi from Pakistan. Rodel Tapaya, Grand Prize Winner of APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2011, has gone on to add other accolades to his name such as the “The Thirteen Artist Awards” – national honours bestowed every three years by Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts.  Imran Qureshi, a finalist of the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2011, has gone on to be recognised as Deutsche Bank’s “Artist of the Year 2013”, and commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a Roof Garden artwork accompanied by an exhibition of his miniatures.

The 15 finalists of the 2014 installment will be announced by 11 August 2014 and the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize Exhibition will take place at SAM from 14 November 2014 to 15 March 2015.

Nominators