Vietnamese artist Nguyen Viet Cuong has been announced as the winner of the Established Artist Category in the UOB POY 2024 with his captivating artwork, “Dong Chay – Flow.”
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Artist Nguyen Viet Cuong and his captivating award-winning piece, “Dong Chay – Flow.” Photo: UOB Vietnam |
As the top winner in the Established Artist category, Nguyen Viet Cuong will receive a generous cash prize of VND500 million (US$20,000) and will go on to represent Vietnam in the 2024 UOB Southeast Asian POY award. This prestigious regional award ceremony will be held in Singapore on November 13, 2024, where Cuong will compete against winning artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Cuong’s winning artwork is a thoughtful and unique creation that utilizes indigenous materials such as coal and rice to depict Vietnam’s natural resource history. The artist meticulously processed and prepared these materials, crushing the coal into gravel and grinding the rice into flour, before skillfully applying them to the canvas. The result is a contemporary ink wash landscape that creates a stunning visual dialogue between black and white, reminiscent of the ethereal beauty found in Vietnam’s natural caves.
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| Viet Cuong’s exceptional artwork, a blend of charcoal and rice powder. |
Viet Cuong elaborates on the meaningful choice of materials, explaining, “Quang Ninh coal represents the industrial minerals of the Red River Delta in the north, while rice symbolizes the agricultural products of the Mekong Delta in the south.” He adds, “Unlike traditional ink wash paintings, which are often light and delicate, I wanted to use the physical weight of these materials to convey a sense of depth and significance.”
Nguyen Viet Cuong’s artwork is more than just a visual masterpiece; it is a thought-provoking piece that invites viewers to contemplate the impact of wet rice farming and heavy industry on Vietnam’s natural environment and cultural traditions.
Artist Dang Xuan Hoa, Chief Judge for the second UOB POY in Vietnam, praised the winning artwork, stating, “This year’s winning piece truly stands out for its unique choice of materials and expressive mode. It seamlessly blends contemporary and traditional art forms while preserving the essence of painting. The use of black coal and white rice, natural elements deeply rooted in Vietnam, embodies the vitality and spirit of the Vietnamese people.”
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| The 2nd UOB Painting of the Year award ceremony takes place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. |
Dang Xuan Hoa further emphasized the emotional depth and technical mastery of the artwork, concluding, “This work excels in both form and expression, making it a deserving recipient of this year’s top prize.”
The UOB POY competition also recognized Phan Tu Tran as the Most Promising Artist of the Year (Vietnam) in the Emerging Artist Category for his remarkable piece, Doraeco. The competition, first launched in Singapore in 1982, has become a prestigious platform for Southeast Asian artists to gain recognition and showcase their talent to a wider regional audience.
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| ‘Doraeco,” a captivating creation by artist Phan Tu Tran, who was named 2024 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Vietnam) in the Emerging Artist Category. |
Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, highlighted the impact of the competition in fostering Vietnamese artistic talent and promoting the development of visual arts in the country.
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| “Making Paper Planes” by Nguyen Van He, Vietnam – a creative and captivating piece. |
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| “Encroachment” by Ngo Van Sac, Vietnam – a thought-provoking creation. |
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| “The Journey Home” by Le Viet Trung, Vietnam – a heartfelt and evocative piece. |
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| “Living Realm” by Nguyen Van Chinh, Vietnam – a stunning and captivating creation. |
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| “Diary 2024” by Nguyen Duc Niem, Vietnam – a thoughtful and expressive artwork. |
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