Ex-graphic designer of BT clinches UOB's top art prize

A FORMER graphic designer of The Business Times, Benjamin F Cruz, won the coveted UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award for his acrylic on canvas titled Building.... The painting mixes realism and abstraction to present images of Singapore landmarks under large, textured swirls of earthy colours.

Mr Cruz, 61, who's retired now, says: "I wanted to reflect on the landscape of Singapore that's constantly changing as it demolishes the old and builds the new." Mr Cruz had won the UOB award in the abstract category in 1990 and 1991, but this is the first time he's nabbed the top prize worth US$25,000.

The UOB Painting of the Year Award started in 1982 in Singapore, before branching out to Thailand in 2010, and Malaysia and Indonesia in 2011.