Awards Introduction
Shanghai, May 6 2025 – UOB China is calling for entries for the 2025 UOB Art in Ink Awards (the Awards) which is in its third year of running in Mainland China. As UOB’s leading art programme in Greater China, the Awards aims to uncover local artistic talents and grow the appreciation of ink art. Submissions open from today till 13 July 2025.
Mrs Christine Ip, CEO of Greater China, UOB said, “2025 marks UOB’s 90 years of growth. Just like ink art carrying timeless essence and a unique spirit through time, we hold firmly to our values and commitment to enrich lives through art, children and education over decades. In celebration of this milestone, we will go beyond hosting local events to bring art closer to the community by additionally providing more opportunities for winning artists to elevate their profile through the UOB Artist Alumni Network. In this way, we hope to foster a sustainable path for more talents and inspire future possibilities through the Awards.”
The Awards will continue to have two categories — Campus Category and Emerging Artist Category,while the age range for the Emerging Artist category will be expanded to 40 years old (inclusive) to engage a wider group of artists. The Awards encourages participants to reinterpret ink art through a contemporary cultural lens. There will be no restriction on the medium and the Awards welcomes new expressions in art such as digital and mixed-media artworks.
Tapping on the UOB Artist Alumni Network, the pioneering competition-based alumni network for artists, UOB China will collaborate with ecosystem partners to offer winning artists cross-cultural exchange opportunities and international exposure.
For example, winning artworks will be exhibited at the UOB Art Space and leading art events such as The Art and Design Education FutureLab (FutureLab) and Art Central in Hong Kong, where UOB is the Lead Partner. Winners will also gain access to art commissions, artist residency programmes and UOB-branded art events as well as networking opportunities and engagements with curators, critics and gallery managers.
Awards Categories
The UOB Art in Ink Awards in Mainland China has two award categories.
- The Campus Talent category is open to all tertiary students with People’s Republic of China Resident Identity Cards or international students studying at tertiary institutions in China (including those who will graduate in 2025). The top winner of the category will receive UOB Most Promising Talent of the Year Award while the second and third winners will receive the Gold and Silver award respectively. Each award comes with cash prize and the winning artworks will be officially collected by UOB China and become part of the UOB Art Collection.
- The Emerging Artist category is open to artists aged 40 years old and under with People’s Republic of China Resident Identity Cards and nominated by a panel of judges. The winning artist will receive the UOB Emerging Artist of the Year Award and will be sponsored by UOB China to hold a solo exhibition.
Judge Panel
An independent panel of judges comprising renowned artists, art academics, art critics, gallerist and other art professionals will help with the judging of entries. The judging panel is looking for artists with outstanding concept, creativity, aesthetic expression and understanding of Chinese ink art. The judges are
- Mr Zhang Zikang – Gallery Manager, Curator, Artist, Professor, PhD advisor
- Mr Chen Tong – Teacher, Artist, Publisher, Critic
- Mr Qiu Anxiong – Internationally renowned contemporary artist
- Ms Wu Wei – Publisher, Critic, Curator
- Mr Lorenz Helbing – Founder of ShanghART Gallery
FutureLab remains the strategic partner for the third year to provide professional advice and full support for the competition.
Submission
Submissions open from May 6 to July 13, 2025. The participant should submit the work via UOB and Art WeChat mini-programme.
About UOB and Art
UOB is the leading patron of arts in Asia. The Bank started collecting art in the 1970s to support the fledgling art scene. Today, the UOB Art Collection is spread across globally from Singapore, the Asia Pacific region to Europe.
UOB plays an active role in communities across the region, most notably through its long-term commitment to art. As the leading patron of the arts in Asia, the Bank continues to make art accessible to a wider audience through a diverse range of visual art programmes, partnerships and community outreach across the region.
The UOB Painting of the Year is UOB’s flagship visual art programme that aims to uncover and nurture local artistic talent. Launched in 1982 in Singapore, the programme has been held in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, and Vietnam. This annual art competition is the longest-running in Singapore and one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia. UOB also collaborates with the winning artists to organise art workshops that enable children from underprivileged backgrounds or with special needs to learn painting knowledge and skills.
Building upon the solid foundation of UOB Group’s corporate social responsibility, the UOB Art Academy is a registered charity in Hong Kong established in 2015 with the aim to make art more accessible, to nurture local artistic talents and to rejuvenate cultural heritage through art outreach programmes, annual art competition and various art collaborations.
In November 2018, UOB launched the purpose-built UOB Art Space at UOB Plaza Shanghai. The Gallery is the first dedicated space established by a foreign bank in China to connect with the local community through art. Apart from exhibitions, UOB also hosts cross-cultural dialogues and artist residency with regional award-winning artists.
Please scan the QR code for more details about the submission process as well as terms and conditions of the Awards.
About UOB China
United Overseas Bank (China) Limited (UOB China) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB). Headquartered in Shanghai, UOB China was incorporated in the People’s Republic of China on 18 December 2007. UOB China is rated ‘A+’ with a stable outlook by Fitch Ratings and rated AAA with a stable outlook by China Chengxin International Credit Rating. UOB China now has 16 branches and sub-branches in the major cities across China.
UOB China has adopted a customer-centric approach to create long-term value by staying relevant through its enterprising spirit and doing right by its customers. The Bank is focused on building the future of ASEAN – for the people and businesses within, and connecting with ASEAN.
UOB China connects businesses to opportunities in the region tapping UOB Group’s unparalleled regional footprint and leverages data and insights to innovate and create personalised banking experiences and solutions catering to affluent customers’ unique needs and evolving preferences. UOB China is also committed to help businesses forge a sustainable future, by fostering social inclusiveness, creating positive environmental impact and pursuing economic progress. UOB China believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is steadfast in its support of art, social development of children and education, doing right by its communities and stakeholders.
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(text & photo courtesy of UOB China)
