Coal and rice artwork on canvas wins international painting contest

Vietnamese artist Nguyen Viet Cuong wins the Established Artist Category, UOB POY this year with his artwork entitled “Dong Chay - Flow”.

Artist Nguyen Viet Cuong and his award-winning piece titled "Dong Chay - Flow". Photo: UOB Vietnam

As the top winner in the Established Artist category, Nguyen Viet Cuong will receive a cash prize of VND500 million (US$20,000) and will compete with winning artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand for the 2024 UOB Southeast Asian POY award, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in Singapore on November 13, 2024.

According to the artist, two indigenous materials, coal and rice, were used to depict Vietnam's natural resource history.

The artist processed, cleaned, and crushed the coal into gravel before sifting and sprinkling it over the canvas surface. The rice was ground into flour, mixed with glue, and funneled into flowing shapes that cascade over the black coal. The resulting contemporary ink wash landscape creates a poetic dialogue between black and white, evoking the ethereal beauty of stalactites in Vietnam's natural caves.

Viet Cuong's unique charcoal and rice powder artwork.

Viet Cuong explained: "Quang Ninh coal represents the industrial minerals of the Red River Delta in the north, while rice symbolizes the agricultural products of the Mekong Delta in the south."

"This artwork reflects my personal perspective as a son of rural southern Vietnam who has witnessed the rhythms of industrial and agricultural life. Unlike traditional ink wash paintings on paper or silk, which are light and delicate, I use the physical weight of rice and coal in my work to convey the depth of the concept," he added.

Through his artwork, Cuong hopes to inspire viewers to reflect on the profound impact of wet rice farming and heavy industry on the natural environment and cultural traditions.

Artist Dang Xuan Hoa, Chief Judge for the second UOB POY in Vietnam, said, "This year's winning artwork is truly unique in its choice of materials and mode of expression."

The 2n UOB Painting of the Year award ceremony is held in Ho Chi Minh City.

"It introduces a fresh approach to contemporary art while preserving the essence of painting. The two materials, black coal and white rice, are natural elements that embody the vitality, spirit and soul of the Vietnamese people," he said.

"The artist presents a deeply emotional and insightful perspective along with a mastery of his medium. I believe this work excels in both form and expression and is deserving of this year's top prize," he added.

The other top award of this year's contest  went to Phan Tu Tran with the title of Most Promising Artist of the Year (Vietnam), Emerging Artist Category for the artwork Doraeco. 

‘Doraeco” by artist Phan Tu Tran, 2024 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Vietnam), Emerging Artist Category

Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, said the Painting Competition has played a key role in revealing the immense potential of Vietnamese artists, while at the same time promoting the ongoing development of Vietnamese visual arts.  

The UOB POY competition was first launched in Singapore in 1982 and is now one of the most recognized art competitions in Southeast Asia. The competition uncovers Southeast Asian artists and provides them with an opportunity to showcase their work to a wider regional community.

Below are other winning artworks from the 2024 UOB POY:

"Making Paper Planes" by Nguyen Van He, Vietnam.

"Encroachment" by Ngo Van Sac, Vietnam.

"The Journey Home" by Le Viet Trung, Vietnam.

"Living Ream" by Nguyen Van Chinh, Vietnam.

"Diary 2024" by Nguyen Duc Niem, Vietnam.