United Overseas Bank (UOB) announced on August 12 that artists in Southeast Asia will be able to submit their entries for the 39th UOB Painting of the Year (POY) competition digitally given the COVID-19 restrictions.

The annual UOB POY competition, Singapore’s longest-running and one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious annual art awards is open to artists in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The UOB POY is the Bank’s flagship art programme that aims to uncover and to nurture artistic talent across the region.

This year, the Bank is inviting emerging and established artists to share their impressions on the theme of ‘Solidarity’ and the importance of staying united in the face of adversity. UOB hopes to draw out artwork that showcases the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming COVID-19- related challenges.

UOB POY submissions will open from 12 August to 11 October 2020. The winners will be announced at a virtual award ceremony in November. There, UOB will also announce the regional winner of the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award for the artist with the most outstanding work.

The UOB Art Gallery, which features the works of the competition’s winners, is now also a virtual one. The online Gallery will enable UOB POY artists to connect with a broader audience and to reach more potential buyers with art exhibitions being cancelled and galleries seeing fewer visitors as people avoid public places

The Bank will also promote the artworks exhibited at the virtual UOB Art Gallery through its social media channels and other online marketing initiatives such as electronic direct mail. The first UOB POY alumni to be featured at the virtual UOB Art Gallery is Stefanie Hauger, winner of the 2013 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year, top winner of 2013 UOB POY (Singapore), and 2019 UOB POY (Singapore) Bronze Award, Established Artist Category.

Her works will be featured at the UOB Art Gallery as well as www.UOBandArt.com till 6 September 2020. Thereafter, the gallery will show the works of Ho Seok Kee, 2018 UOB POY (Singapore) Silver Award, Established Artist Category followed by lecturer and artist, Wong Tze Chau, top winner of the 2019 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore).

UOB Newsroom