25 young artist shine at UTH Art Competition

The Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition 2023 Award Ceremony celebrated the outstanding artistic achievements of 25 young Malaysians today. The ceremony acknowledged the winners from five categories: charcoal/pencil/ink, oil/acrylic, mixed media, printmaking, and watercolour.

The first prize winners were announced as follows:

• Jasper Junior from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, whose artwork titled “Laga Biji Getah” claimed the top spot in the Charcoal/Ink/Pencil category.
• Oon Zheng Yeow from Equator College, earned the first prize in the Watercolor category with his piece “Kuih Kapit.”
• Wong Jia Jin from Dasein Academy Of Art secured the top spot in the Oil/Acrylic category with his winning entry “Reminiscence.”
• Goo See Min from Dasein Academy Of Art triumphed in the Mixed Media category with the artwork “Fresh Outlook.”
• Ong Wen Xin from Dasein Academy Of Art claimed the first prize in the Printmaking category with his piece “Pasar.”

Henry Tan, Chairman of the UTH Art Competition 2023, expressed his congratulations, stating, “Our heartfelt congratulations to the 25 exceptional finalists who won in the respective categories. We hope this will be a milestone and inspiration for you to continue enriching our cultural tapestry with your unique perspective.”

Record-breaking participation

This year’s competition received a record-breaking 345 physical entries, demonstrating the strong partnerships between the Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition and Malaysian institutions of higher learning. A total of 48 public and private institutions, including nine secondary schools, participated in the event.

Chairman Henry Tan commended the enthusiastic participation of young students, saying, “We are truly encouraged by the participation of young students who are so passionate about art. We are immensely pleased to observe the enduring appeal of traditional visual arts among today’s digital generation.”

Bibi Chew, Chief Judge of the competition, applauded the diversity of submissions, especially those focused on intangible heritage. She remarked, “The Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition has been the great platform and support for the young artists to lend their voices and values on art & heritage.”

Nurturing talent since 2001

The event was attended by a panel of esteemed judges, including Bibi Chew, Suridah Jalaludin, Ar. Parama Nathan, and Syahrul Niza Ahmad Zaini from the National Art Gallery, along with representatives from various institutions such as ALFA College, Dasein Academy of Art, Equator College, Malaysian Institute of Art, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, UITM, among others.

The Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition, an annual event sponsored by UTSB Management Sdn Bhd, focuses on the theme of “Malaysian Heritage.” This year’s theme aligns with Malaysia’s entry into the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGCICH) under UNESCO for the 2022-2026 term.

In closing, Henry Tan reiterated the competition’s commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of art. He expressed confidence that this commitment would continue to nurture the positive trend of preserving Malaysia’s unique heritage through the lens of emerging artists.

For more information on UT Heritage, please visit Usaha Tegas Heritage.