Three artists from the South have scooped the nods from the judges in the 2017 UOB Thailand Painting of the Year award, taking home UOB Painting of the Year, Silver and Bronze in the competition’s “Established Artist” category.



Forty-year-old artist, Sukit Choosri was awarded “the 2017 UOB Thailand Painting of the Year” for his painting “One Life”, which was inspired by his thoughts on the transience of our existence.
“One Life” encourages the viewer to open his or her mind to see beyond the immediate and the present. The tempera and acrylic painting depicts a young girl holding a lotus flower in her hands, her eyes reflecting a silhouette of the Buddha while enveloped in the shadow of a decaying Bodhi tree. The panel was unanimous in their choice of the painting for the top award because of the artist’s creativity in portraying the transience of life.
“As a Thai artist, I am honoured to win the UOB Thailand Painting of the Year award. The competition not only provides artists with opportunities to exhibit their works on the regional and international stage, it also inspires us to persevere in having art as a career,” Sukit said.
The painting was chosen from among 10 finalists in the Established Artist category and Sukit went home with a cash prize of US$25,000 (Bt750,000). His artwork will now compete with the winning entries from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award, which will be announced on November 8.
The panel of judges comprises Amrit Chusuwan, dean of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University; Professor Emeritus Dr Santi Leksukhum, art history specialist; and Chatvichai Promadhattavedi, board member and secretary of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Foundation Executive Board.

The Silver Award went to “Plastic Tiger” by Ketsakda Wimonsong, an oil painting portraying daily human consumption of plastic and its adverse effects to human and the environment. Ketsakda was last year named “Most Promising Artist of the Year” on the basis of his painting “Effect of Consumerism”.
UOB also recognised Suthep Senkhong with the Bronze Award for his “Melody of Life 1”. He noted that nature is constantly changing, with every movement creating a dimension, beauty, mark, and formless difference, similar to the unavoidable truth of birth, existence, and death. Suthep also won Gold Award at 7th UOB Thailand Painting of the Year.
In the Emerging Artist category, 24-year-old Kananek Treetantiplert won the UOB Most Promising Artist of the Year award for his painting titled “Threefold Refuge”. The oil painting on canvas portrays the contradiction of tradition and materialism in the form of its subject – an electric incense burner.
Tan Choon Hin, president and chief executive officer of UOB (Thai), said that the UOB Thailand Painting of the Year competition aims to showcase to a regional audience the breadth of talent and creativity in Thailand.
“Over the past eight years, the competition has helped to introduce many emerging and established Thai artists to the rest of Southeast Asia. Their success will inspire others to follow in their footsteps and to contribute to the growth of Thailand’s thriving art community,” Tan said.
The winning and shortlisted paintings from both established and emerging categories are currently on display at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre until October 29, and will be at the UOB Head Office on Sathorn Road from October 30 to November 10. The exhibition is open to the public and admission is free.