Singapore Art Museum and Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation announce nominations for the inaugural Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize
July 02, 2008

Thirty-four artworks by artists from 12 countries in Asia Pacific have been nominated for the inaugural Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Signature Art Prize. Representing Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, one of these artists will have the distinction in October of winning the highest art prize awarded by a jury in the Southeast Asian region.

The APB Foundation Signature Art Prize series marks a 15-year partnership announced in October 2007 by Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and APB Foundation to develop and promote contemporary art in the region. Organised by SAM with a sponsorship of SGD 2.25 million from APB Foundation, the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize is a quality mark of distinction and excellence to be awarded triennially to artists whose work represents a significant development in contemporary art.

At the announcement and donation ceremony in 2007, Trustee and Chairman of the Advisory Committee, APB Foundation, Mr Koh Poh Tiong, said the intention for the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize was for its stature to be equivalent to that of the John Moores Painting Competition in the United Kingdom and the RBC Canadian Painting Competition in Canada, and place Singapore on the regional and global map for the arts.

The competition is open to all visual artworks regardless of medium, subject matter and size. The 34 artworks were nominated by respected individuals in the field of art in each country. Each nominator was asked to select up to three works that in their opinion represented an outstanding contemporary artwork produced in their country in the past three years.

The result is a collection of contemporary art with diverse themes and mediums such as painting, sculpture, mixed media, site-specific installation, video, photography, performance art, new media and interactive work that showcases the richness of visual art forms in contemporary art in the region today.

In August, the 34 nominees will be cut to a shortlist of 10 artists who will be in the running for the five awards - three Juror’s Choice Awards of SGD 10,000 each, a SGD 10,000 People’s Choice Award and the Grand Prize of SGD 45,000.

An international jury panel will also be announced in August and a voting website will be launched at that time to provide a platform for the public to vote for their favourite artwork; the artist whose work gets the most public votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. From October to November, Singapore Art Museum will hold an exhibition showcasing the 10 finalist works in the competition.

“The quality of the nominated artwork is remarkable. We are seeing an unexpected diversity of themes and mediums that augurs well for the contemporary art scene in the region”, the Director of the Singapore Art Museum, Mr Kwok Kian Chow, said today. “They will certainly provoke and stimulate lively public debate about contemporary art in the region, which is exactly the aim of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize.”

More information on the ABP Foundation Signature Art Prize can be found at http://www.singart.com/signatureartprize/

Please refer to the following annexes for more information:

For media interviews and further information contact:

Sybil Chiew DID: 6332 3291
Senior Marcom Officer FAX: 6334 7919
Singapore Art Museum E-mail: Sybil_Chiew@nhb.gov.sg

Karen Goh DID: 6336 4813
Ruder Finn Asia FAX: 6235 7796
E-mail: gohk@ruderfinnasia.com

For more information, visit www.singart.com
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Singapore Art Museum is located at 71 Bras Bash Road, Singapore 189555
General enquiries, please contact Front desk at 6332 3222.

Annex A

Nominated artwork and artists for the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize

Cambodia
1. Old Furnishings in the House by Svay Ken
2. Untitled piece by Mak Remissa
3. Untitled piece by Meas Sokhorn

China
1. Revolution by Gao Shiqiang
2. Karibu Islands by Zheng Bo
3. Memory Lost by Zheng Duanxiang

India
1. Wounded Tools by G.R. Iranna

Laos
1. An On-elephants Trip by May Chandavong
2. Passion by Kongphat Luangrath
3. Friendship by Mick Saylom

Malaysia
1. Recollections of Long Lost Memories by Ahmad Fuad B. Osman
2. The Challenger by Noor Azizan Rahman Paiman
3. Kerbau by Yee I-Lann

Mongolia
1. Voice in the Space by Davaa Dorjderem
2. QP by Tsultem Enkhjin
3. Keeper of Secret by Monkhor Erdenebayar

New Zealand
1. Body Mound by Kushana Bush
2. The Collector by Iain Cheesman
3. White Truck Large Wheels by Philip Trusttum

Papua New Guinea
1. Lukautim ol bus na Abus bilong Yumi by Tom Deko
2. Tsunami by Martin Morububuna
3. Look Within by Daniel Waswas

Singapore
1. Bleeding Angel by S. Chandrasekaran
2. Building by Milenko Prvacki
3. A Day without a Tree by Yeo Chee Kiong

Sri Lanka
1. Chairs by Anura Krishantha Baragama Arachchi
2. Soldiers Moving by Sanath Kumara Kalubadana
3. Ancestral Dress: ID Series by Somapala Potupitiye Acharige

Thailand
1. The Body – Imagination – Dried Banana Leaf by Chakkrit Chimnok
2. On the Ball (The Game Has Begun. "Beware Crossing the Grid") by Bundith Phunsombatlert
3. Breast Stupa Cookery by Pinaree Sanpitak

Vietnam
1. Untitled, Attack – Sculpture - Protect by Hoang Duong Cam
2. Indochina Sisters #29 by Nguyen Quang Huy
3. Living Fossils by Vuong Van Thao

Annex B

About Singapore Art Museum

Opened in January 1996, the mission of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is to preserve and present the art histories and contemporary art practices of Singapore and the Southeast Asian region. To date, SAM has amassed the world’s largest public collection of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian artworks with a growing component in international contemporary art. The museum has presented shows covering both local and international art practices, traditional and cutting edge art expressions. Through strategic alliances with international arts and cultural institutions, SAM has been facilitating visual arts education, exchange, research and development within the region and internationally. Through forging collaborative partnerships and staging innovative programmes to engage different audiences, SAM aims to contribute to an enlarged role in the regional visual arts community and Asian art museology, as well as facilitating developments in art as well as the art sector in Singapore.

Annex C

About Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation

Instituted in June 1994, the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation (APB Foundation) has been fulfilling APB's philanthropic commitment to society. Its philanthropic intent spans three areas namely Creativity Development, Human Excellence and Humanitarian Causes.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided grants and other forms of support to over 150 initiatives, benefiting disadvantaged homes and charitable organisations, medical research bodies, theatre and music groups and scholarship programmes amongst others.

The APB Foundation envisages a fun and vibrant arts scene in Singapore. It has supported causes that cultivate artistic talent, grow audiences and develop local artistic work. Moving together with the local arts community that has blossomed over the years, the Foundation holds the hope that Singapore will soon join the ranks of nations where diverse local arts groups enjoy strong followings from all sectors of society.

Recognising that Singapore's global competitiveness lies in the hands of its people, the APB Foundation has been investing in Human Excellence causes that are designed to discover and nurture talent, and to build human capital.

The Foundation is hopeful that with its contributions, Singapore can realise an enhanced competitive edge supported by a ready pool of talents, sportsmen, educators, researchers and professionals.

In reaching out to the disadvantaged in the community, the APB Foundation seeks to play a constructive and developmental role in the community, and partners those who share common altruistic goals to better serve societal needs. The Foundation believes in enabling self-help amongst the beneficiaries so that they could rise stronger to move beyond their problems and contribute to their community or society eventually.

The APB Foundation Board of Trustees, assisted by its Advisory Committee, envisions the Foundation to play a constructive and developmental role in the community, and working with partners who share common altruistic goals to better serve societal needs both in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.