Auction of Chinese artwork raises $226,000 for charities

UOB and one of its customers have raised $226,000 from the bank's first client auction of a Chinese calligraphic work. The artpiece, measuring five feet by two feet, was produced onsite at a Chinese New Year gathering for 700 clients from small and medium-sized firms held at the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore yesterday evening.

The work of art was the joint creation of calligraphy master Phang Weng Kiong and Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and CEO of UOB Group.

One of Singapore's pioneer artists, 56-year-old Mr Phang has been teaching Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal-carving for the past two decades.