The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation are proud to announce that artist Rodel Tapaya from the Philippines has been awarded the Grand Prize (SGD 45,000) of the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2011, for his winning artwork Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero di Mabilang (Cane of Kabunian, numbered but cannot be counted).
His winning artwork employs imagery from Filipino folklore juxtaposed with elements of modern day Philippines, commenting on pre-colonial myths, stories and cultural heritage while also commenting on current issues such as environmental destruction.
The APB Foundation Signature Art Prize recognises artists for outstanding artwork created in the preceding three years and encourages the development of contemporary art across the Asia Pacific region.
On winning the award, Tapaya said, “I am extremely happy to have received the Grand Prize of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize. It’s a very prestigious award and I’m honoured to have been nominated alongside 14 other very talented finalists and to be chosen as the winner by such a distinguished and well-respected panel of judges. This award will no doubt be a boost to my practice and is a great encouragement for me to continue producing good work.”
Tapaya’s artwork was selected as the winning entry from 15 artworks shortlisted from the 130 nominations received from 24 countries and territories across Asia Pacific. The winning entry was assessed by the international jury panel based on the following criteria: strength of the idea and concept, creative and interesting use of medium and material, technique, expression and form, artistic insight and interpretation, imagination and originality and actual installed artwork. The other shortlisted artists are from Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Four other artists were also presented awards. Three Jurors’ Choice Awards, each worth SGD 10,000, went to Daniel Crooks from Australia for Static No.12 (seek stillness in movement), Sheba Chhachhi from India for The Water Diviner, and Aida Makoto from Japan for Ash Color Mountains. The People’s Choice Award (worth SGD 10,000) for the most number of public votes received from around the world went to Michael Lee from Singapore for his artwork Second-Hand City.
The Grand Prize was presented by Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, and Environment and Water Resources at the awards ceremony at the Singapore Art Museum last evening. Mr Roland Pirmez, Chairman, Advisory Committee and Member, Board of Trustees of the APB Foundation presented the Juror’s Choice Awards while Mr Michael Koh, CEO of the National Heritage Board presented the People’s Choice Award.
The 15 shortlisted artworks can be viewed at the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize 2011 Finalists Exhibition from now until 4 March 2012 at the Singapore Art Museum. A series of tours, talks on contemporary art and other outreach activities held in conjunction with the exhibition have also been planned to give the public more insight into each of the finalist works. Details can be found on www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/signatureartprize.