2022 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year, Dystopia by Chomrawi Suksom
Thai artist Mr Chomrawi Suksom, 28, won the 2022 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year (POY) award for his artwork titled Dystopia. His piece was chosen from among the country winners of the 2022 UOB POY competitions held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Composed with acrylic, oil, and gold leaf on canvas, Mr Suksom’s artwork took one year in the making, and explores how the constant developments and changes experienced by our society today can lead to social tensions. The piece not only conveyed a strong message by bringing attention to pertinent human struggles in a complicated world, the great techniques used and intricate details portrayed in the artwork were simply outstanding.
Mr Suksom is a professional artist who has won many art competitions in Thailand from 2015 till date, with his artworks showcased in many renowned exhibitions in the country. He and the other three country winners will stand a chance to attend a one-month residency programme at the renowned Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.
As the world emerges from the pandemic, the competition entries this year reflected not just resilience and unity in the face of adversity, but also the people’s hopes and dreams for the future. This year’s entries provided a glimpse into artists’ interpretation of pertinent themes like environmental sustainability and global tensions.
A Painting about Nothing and Everything by Lester Lee
Singaporean artist Mr Lester Lee, 58, was awarded Top Winner in the Established Artist Category in UOB POY Singapore for his painting “A Painting about Nothing and Everything”. He is a three-time award recipient1 of UOB POY (Singapore). Mr Lee’s painting used a juxtaposition of everyday items to illustrate how there is “no preconceived idea or concept” in his artwork, and to depict the importance of being present. He said, “We live in a fast-paced world where stillness and rest are hard to come by. My artwork is an invitation for viewers to live more mindfully, to be fully present and to appreciate what is truly important.”
Greying by Dillon Poh
19-year-old Mr Dillon Poh, the youngest winner of UOB POY (Singapore) this year, bagged the Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore) award. His monochromatic artwork, Greying, highlights the plight of those who go unnoticed in society. Mr Poh said, “The winning artwork is a commentary on the fast-paced society we live in, where the elderly tends to get neglected. My purpose is to lend a voice to the voiceless. The mundanity of the work is reflective of the loss of identity and lack of attention given to the greying population.” At the award ceremony, Mr Poh’s trophy was received on behalf by his father as he was serving National Service overseas.
The 2022 winning artworks will also be exhibited at the UOB Art Gallery at UOB Plaza 1, Ground Floor from 5 November 2022 to 19 February 2023, as well as on UOBandArt.com.
