A prayer for peace wins UOB S-E Asian Painting of the Year

[SINGAPORE] As economic anxieties and geopolitical tensions persist around the world, an artwork grounded in prayer and resilience has claimed South-east Asia’s top art prize.

Thai artist Jamilah Haji won the 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year for Dua (Pray for a Blessing), an embroidered work exploring hope, harmony and renewal.

Using fabric and thread instead of paint, the 35-year-old composed a scene of women in prayerful poses. Their forms are stitched together into an interwoven, dreamlike image – part tapestry, part meditation – that reflects a collective longing for peace and healing.

Her striking piece rose above hundreds of entries from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand to clinch the overall top prize.

“In a world overwhelmed by conflict, disease and inequality, I feel a responsibility as an artist to be a voice for peace and hope,” Jamilah said at the awards ceremony at the National Gallery Singapore. She hopes the work reminds viewers “to hold on to hope, and to believe in their ability to create change”.

Now in its 44th year, the UOB Painting of the Year competition is one of South-east Asia’s longest-running and most recognisable art prizes. This year’s event was attended by artists and industry leaders from across the region and graced by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.

The Singapore leg of the award saw Ian Tee take the Established Artist title for Cloud Of Unknowing I, an aluminium-based work created through grinding and cutting techniques inspired by calligraphy. The piece explores shifting light and the theme of impermanence.

Tee, 31, is a well-regarded emerging artist who also writes and edits critical essays, and occasionally curates.

The Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore) award went to 19-year-old Dayna Lu for Existence Is Prison, A Personal Account. Her acrylic work depicts rows of identical rooms, each housing individuals experiencing frustration, longing and burnout – themes drawn from her own experience navigating academic pressure.

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UOB deputy chairman and chief executive officer Wee Ee Cheong said the bank’s 90th anniversary coincides with a renewed commitment to cultural development. “Our footprint across South-east Asia is more than just about business connectivity – it is also about giving back to the communities we serve,” he said.

Winning pieces from the region will be on display at the 2025 UOB POY Regional Winners’ Showcase at the National Gallery Singapore’s UOB Discovery Space till Jan 31, 2026. The works can also be viewed online.