Inaugural UOL X Art:Dis Art Prize celebrates artists with disabilities
Ilyas Salim
AN INTRICATE bulletin-paper artwork and a precocious drawing of playground slides were among the winners in a biennial art competition recognising artists with disabilities in Singapore.
The inaugural UOL X Art:Dis Art Prize – organised by non- profit organisation Art:Dis and supported by UOL – was launched in May, with the awards ceremony held on Friday (Aug 4) at The Arts House.
Described as “Singapore’s first comprehensive art prize that recognises all stages of artistic practice by artists with disabilities”, the participants ranged from six to 76 years old, across a spectrum of disabilities including sensory, intellectual, developmental and physical. It drew over 300 submissions by students from 17 special education (Sped) schools as well as artists from Art:Dis.
The ceremony honoured eight award recipients across the two categories – the Open category recognised young students aged six to 18 from Sped schools, and the Closed category was for artists aged 19 and above who are part of Art:Dis’ network of artists. Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling was in attendance as the guest of honour.
Citing Picasso’s famous quote of having taken a lifetime to learn to paint like a child, UOL group chief executive Liam Wee Sin highlighted the quality of the artworks, and said that the prize celebrated the unique perspectives of artists with disabilities as well as their sense of honesty. He added that it aimed to add an inclusive dimension to Singapore’s local art scene.
Among the works was Paperazzi by 40-year-old Fern Wong, which won in the Mature Artist category under the Closed section. The work featured precise and intricate cuts into bulletin paper to create a latticework effect, and its perimeter was speckled with colourful bits of paper, altogether conveying an “almost celebratory, almost delightful impression”, said Liam.
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Judges were also impressed by eight-year-old Joshaea Tan’s Slides at Admiralty Park, the winner of the Child category under the Open section. Liam noted that the work captured the artist’s moment of delight, and demonstrated a talent for ingenious spatial articulation. “We could almost see that it was his happy moment, and in his happy moment, he actually transcended space. He went up and saw the slides all in one go.”
The judging panel comprised Art Outreach chairperson Mae Anderson, National Gallery of Singapore deputy director of audience engagement Dee Chia, independent curator John Tung, Lasalle College of the Arts senior lecturer Adeline Kueh, and UOL’s Liam.
Angela Tan, executive director of Art:Dis, said that the prize “celebrates the creative energy of the school-age years, uncovers new talent, and recognises the professional and artistic excellence of artists with disabilities in Singapore”.
She added: “We hope that winners of the Art Prize will gain greater public support and equal access to professional development opportunities.”
The winning artworks will be showcased at The Arts House (Gallery II) until Aug 14. The next iteration of the competition will be held in 2025.
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