Bank also introduced art competition to commemorate its 71st anniversary

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 25 (Bernama) -- UOB Malaysia has launched the 2022 UOB Painting of the Year (POY) competition and is inviting established and emerging artists to create innovative artworks that showcase their artistic mastery. The UOB POY competition is the Bank’s flagship regional visual arts programme and one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious annual art awards that aims to uncover and to nurture artistic talent across the region.
 
This year, to commemorate UOB Malaysia’s 71^st anniversary, the Bank has also introduced the UOB Malaysia 71^st Anniversary Special Campaign as part of the 2022 UOB POY (Malaysia) competition¹. The winning artwork of this special campaign will be featured on the exterior of a public mass rail transit (MRT) that will travel around the Klang Valley. This is part of the Bank’s commitment to make art more accessible to the wider community while raising the profile and showcasing the work of the winning Malaysian artist. 
 
Ms Ng Wei Wei, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia said, “Art has an amazing ability to evoke powerful emotions, to bring thoughts and ideas to life and to unite people from all walks of life. This year’s programme identity highlights the theme of ‘optimism’, and as we gradually move towards a brighter and more hopeful future, we aim to bring that positivity and connectivity to the art community which was adversely hit by the global pandemic.
 
“Through our annual UOB POY competition, we will continue to discover artistic talent in Malaysia, and promote them locally and regionally. As the leading patron of the arts in Asia, we hope to nurture the next generation of artists and help them realise their dreams.”
 
Call for 2022 UOB POY (Malaysia) competition entries
As with last year, submissions will be received digitally. Submissions will open from today until 31 July 2022. The competition is open to all Malaysia citizens and permanent residents. The winners of the 2022 UOB POY (Malaysia) competition will be announced at an award ceremony in October 2022.
 
The top country winner will receive RM100,000 and a chance to compete for the prestigious UOB Southeast Asian POY award, which carries a cash prize of US$10,000. More details on the competition can be found at UOBandArt.com. 
 
The winner of 2021 UOB POY (Malaysia) competition, Mr Saiful Razman, and his artwork titled, Walk in Silence, Don’t Walk Away in Silence, won the 2021 UOB Southeast Asian POY Award², making him the first Malaysian to win the coveted regional title. His winning piece was selected from a record number of entries the competition had received in its 40-year history.
 
The panel of judges for the 2022 UOB POY (Malaysia) competition includes:
1. Ms Bibi Chew, Industry Advisory Panel (Visual Arts) for CENDANA Malaysia and Head of Illustration and Senior Lecturer at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA)
2. Mr Choy Chun Wei, Leading Malaysian contemporary artist, whose works have been exhibited internationally across China, Hong Kong SAR, the United States, Pakistan, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
3. Mr Ahmad Fuad Osman, Leading Malaysian contemporary artist and judge of National Art Gallery’s Young Contemporaries Awards.
 
UOB POY (Malaysia) alumni winners selected for residency programme in China and Japan
To encourage artists to develop their knowledge and hone their artistic skills, UOB provides winning artists with an immersive experience through a month-long residency programme at various Asia’s prestigious art museums.
 
Mr Saiful will join an artist residency programme at the UOB Art Gallery in Shanghai, China as part of the 40^th Anniversary of the UOB POY competition. Meanwhile, Ms Cheng Yen Pheng and Mr Sabri Idrus, 2019 and 2020 UOB POY (Malaysia) winners respectively, were selected to attend the artist residency programme at the renowned Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan. The alumni winners will have the opportunity to learn about the art culture of their respective host countries and various approaches to art creation.
 
 
Notes to the Editor:

About UOB and Art
At United Overseas Bank (UOB), we believe that art transcends language, culture, geographies and time. Its history gives people a sense of identity and perspective, it informs with the present and it creates a future for the imagination. Art builds relationships and unites people. As such and given our longstanding presence in the region, we have been behind Southeast Asian art for more than four decades.
 
Driven by a passion to encourage talented artists in their creative pursuits, UOB started the Painting of the Year competition in Singapore in 1982 and introduced it in Malaysia in 2011. Today, the annual art competition is the longest-running in Singapore and one of the most prestigious in Southeast Asia.
 
About UOB Malaysia
United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) was incorporated in 1993 but has had presence in Malaysia since 1951. Today, UOB Malaysia is the largest foreign bank operating in Malaysia by total assets, loans and deposits and has 45 branches across the country offering both conventional and Islamic banking services. It offers an extensive range of financial products and services through its branches and subsidiaries such as corporate and commercial lending, investment banking, treasury services, trade services, cash management, custody services, home loans, credit cards, wealth management, and bancassurance products.

UOB Malaysia is rated among the top banks in Malaysia with a long term AAA rating from Ratings Agency of Malaysia. Guided by our rich heritage and values, we have built lasting relationships with our customers and continue to ensure we act in their best interest by delivering solution s that meet their financial goals and suit their lifestyles and preferences.

UOB Malaysia is a subsidiary of UOB, a leading bank in Asia with a global network of around 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Over more than eight decades, generations of UOB employees have carried through the entrepreneurial spirit, the focus on long term value creation and an unwavering commitment to do what is right for our customers and our colleagues.

UOB believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is committed to making a difference in the lives of its stakeholders and in the communities in which it operates. Just as it is dedicated to helping its customers manage their finances wisely and to grow their businesses, UOB is steadfast in its support of social development, particularly in the areas of art, children and education.

For further information, please visit www.uob.com.my.