UOB bank
UOB Thailand today announced the 2021 UOB Painting of the Year (POY) (Thailand) was awarded to Mr Vachira Kornthong for his artwork titled Land of Happiness. The mixed media on canvas piece uses acrylic and collage techniques to create rich details, which depict the hidden beauty and abundant happiness found in nature.
Mr Tan Choon Hin, President and Chief Executive Officer of UOB Thailand, said, “The 2021 UOB POY (Thailand) competition has helped to draw out the power of hope and to showcase the creativity and mastery of Thai artists amid COVID-19 related challenges.
“The 2021 UOB POY (Thailand) competition is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment and dedication to motivate and to inspire established and emerging Thai artists regardless of the current situation. We encourage them to show their imagination and creativity through our annual competition that helps to uncover the abundant talents we have in this country. We are pleased to set a new record in number of entries in this year’s competition. Through our flagship art programme, we continue to encourage their artistic passion and to profile them on the international stage,” Mr Tan said.
This year’s UOB POY (Thailand) competition, the 12th, drew the largest number of entries in its history and was up 80 per cent compared with last year.
A symbolic depiction of love, happiness and family
Through his acrylic and collage on canvas artwork, the 54-year-old art professor Mr Vachira shared that the love and happiness of his family, in particular during the pandemic, and the landscape around his home inspired him to create his winning art piece.
Mr Vachira said, “Through Land of Happiness, I wanted to reflect the importance of the forest and nature. This is something people from different walks of life around the globe should pay attention to in order to ensure our future generations get to enjoy the nature of our world. When viewers take a closer look at my work, they will see various animals that coexist happily, conveying my emotion that one’s happy life is simply by being surrounded by family and loved ones.
“This is my first art competition in 20 years which makes winning the award very meaningful and rewarding. It not only gives me reassurance on the path I have taken as an artist but also helps to inspire my art students in pursuing their career in art. I look forward to exhibiting my artwork to audiences in other countries.”
The judges found that Mr Vachira’s artwork was distinctive, experienced and brave with the use of the vibrant colours combined with fabric applique technique. The judging panel was also impressed by the message of nature conservation that the artwork implies.
The judging panel for 2021 UOB POY (Thailand) included Emeritus Professor Parinya Tantisuk, who was named Thailand National Artist of Visual Arts (Painting) in 2018, Mr Amrit Choosuwan, who was named Thailand National Artist of Visual Arts (Painting) in 2020 and Vice President for Arts and Culture at the Silpakorn University, and Ms Luckana Kunavichayanont, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)’s acting director and independent curator.
As the winner of this year’s UOB POY (Thailand) award, Mr Vachira received a cash prize of US$25,000 (THB750,000) and his artwork will go on to compete with the UOB Painting of the Year country winners from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for the 2021 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year award. Mr Vachira also stands a chance to win a one-month residency programme at either the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan or the UOB Art Gallery in Shanghai, China. In addition, his artwork Land of Happiness will be exhibited at the UOB Art Gallery, located at the Bank’s headquarters in Singapore.
In the Emerging Artist Category, 22 year-old Ms Jeanjira Khodchawat won the 2021 UOB Most Promising Artist of the Year (Thailand) award. Ms Janejira’s stickers on canvas, titled Standpoint No. 2, portrays the life before the COVID-19 outbreak where people can go everywhere without having to wear masks and applying social distancing. The work fascinates the judges with a clever use of dot stickers as a technique to project shapes and colours while conveying an underlying meaning of those stickers being used for body temperature screening.
Ms Jeanjira said, “People have been facing with COVID-19 for almost two years now. We have to take temperature screening before entering any public places including fresh markets, stores, or buildings.. Dot stickers are given to those who are fever-free as a pass to enter the place they intend to go. This is why I decided to use them to create the artwork as a symbol of personal freedom that we all have before COVID.”
“This is the first time I participated in the UOB POY competition. I am thrilled to receive the award; this recognition gives me pride, motivation and confidence in pursuing my career in art,” added the artist.
The 2021 UOB POY (Thailand) Winners’ Showcase
The winning paintings from both Established Artist and Emerging Artist categories will be exhibited at four locations: the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), on the 1st floor from 12 October to 28 November 2021, UOB Thailand’s Head Office on South Sathon Road from 29 November 2021 to 5 January 2022, River City Bangkok from 6 January to 28 February 2022, and UOB Thailand’s Phetkasem Building from 1 to 31 March 2022. All admissions are free of charge.
The 2021 UOB POY (Thailand) competition is a part of the annual UOB POY competition that aims to uncover and to nurture artistic talents across the region. UOB POY is one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious annual art competitions open to artists in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
12 October 2021
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United Overseas Bank (Thai) Pcl.
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