In conjunction with White Space: Unbroken Wisdom, a panel of 4 award winning artists – Om Mee Ai (Singapore), Ho Seok Kee (Singapore), Pannaphan Yodmanee (Thailand) and Yim Yen Sum (Malaysia) from one the most iconic art competitions in the region, the UOB Painting of the Year Competition (POY) were gathered in Singapore for a candid conversation about art competitions and art residencies.
The artists shared about the experiences and challenges they faced; how these “disruptions” eventually worked as catalysts of growth, pushing them beyond their comfort zones. Artists that had participated in residencies found that it afforded them space and time for productive solitude and an opportunity to re-evaluate their creative practice. The session was moderated by Dr Bridget Tracy Tan, Senior Director of ISEAA at NAFA, Regional (Southeast Asian) and Chief Judge (Singapore) for the UOB POY, who shared the perspective that winning such awards signified joining a regional community of excellence, one that enabled collaborations far from home, crossing borders and finding resonance in Southeast Asia and beyond.
The dialogue was attended by artists, students and faculty who posed a range of incisive questions to the panel about regional identity, digital art vs physical medium and post-award pressures. The lively exchange was an open discussion on authenticity and honesty in artmaking, concluded with the key takeaway that the cornerstone of an artist’s career remains a commitment to continuous research, experimentation and the discovery of the new.
The full video is now available here
