2016 has only just started and with it marked the return of the Prudential Eye Awards to Singapore where it was presented at the ArtScience Museum.
This prestigious award puts a spotlight on emerging artists from across Asia and covers a diversity of works. The categories covered by the award were: Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Installation and Digital/Video works.
Artists were drawn in not only by the large amount of prize money (total prize money amounted to USD 150,000 plus a USD 20,000 trophy) but the prestige and glory that was attached to the winner of each of the five categories. An overall winner was chosen from these five and awarded the prize of ‘Best Emerging Artist,’ winning a further USD 30,000 and a solo exhibition at START Saatchi Gallery in London.
The selection of the 15 finalists for the Prudential Eye Awards was by no means an easy task with over 100 artist submissions put forward by curators, critics and art experts from across Asia in order to produce shortlists of three artists in five categories for Best Emerging Artist.
In order to complete the difficult task of selecting the winner, the Prudential Eye Awards counts on an illustrious panel of judges who are on everyone’s list of the “who’s who” from the world of arts. The judges include Johnson Chang, Serenella Ciclitira (CEO & Founder of Parallel Contemporary Art), Honor Harger (Executive Director, Art Science Museum, Marina Bay Sands), Nigel Hurst (CEO, Saatchi Gallery), Fumio Nanjo (Director, Mori Art Museum), Rosalyn D’Mello (Writer, Editor and Art Critic), and last but not least is, Gu Wenda who was the recipient of the 2015 Prudential Eye Award Lifetime Achievement.
Highlights of the Awards this year were the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the Thai artist, Sakarin Krue-On, whose works are mostly conceptual and include media, video, sculpture and installation.
Sakarin Krue-On was the first artist from Thailand to join Documenta 12 in 2007 and subsequently was also the recipient and winner of the ASilpathorn award in 2009. Among his other accomplishments are his participation at the 3rd Nanjing Triennial in 2008, the 2009 Venice Biennale and the 2012 Busan Biennale.
Sakarin Krue-On’s interest and focus is on human values and the lives of the communities within Thai society. He is an artist that, despite his international exposure, has remained true to his Asian roots.
The Visual and Pop Culture Award for Prudential Eye Awards 2016 was awarded to the popular Thai rock group Slot Machine for their upcoming album which marks their first foray into the English language.
After a lovely cocktail viewing of winners the awards were announced at a gala award ceremony at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands.
Winners:
1.- Sareth Svay (Cambodia) winner of the Sculpture Category.
2.- Huang Po Chih (Taiwan) winner of the Installation Category.
3.- Manish Nai (India) winner of the Painting Category.
4.- Shumon Ahmed (Bangladesh) winner of Photography Category.
5.- Trinh Thi Nguyen (Vietnam) winner of the Digital/Video Category.
The Overall Best Emerging Award was awarded to Sareth Svay, who was the winner of the Sculpture Category.
With so many art related events to attend during this year’s Art Week 2016, one should surely make the time to visit this exhibition which runs through March 27 2016 .
ArtScience Museum
6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Admission Fees Apply
Website
http://marinabaysands.com/museum
