Thailand artist Jamilah Haji has won the 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year (SEA POY) award for her artwork “Dua (Pray for a Blessing)”. The piece, which uses embroidery on fabric, was selected from winning entries in UOB’s 2025 Painting of the Year competitions held across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. As part of her prize, Jamilah will compete with other country winners for an overseas art residency sponsored by UOB at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.
Jamilah’s artwork features women in prayerful poses and aims to symbolize a collective wish for renewal and harmony. The artist stated, “In a world overwhelmed by conflict, disease, and inequality, I feel a responsibility as an artist to be a voice for peace and hope. Through my work, I want to remind people not to stop dreaming, to hold on to hope, and to believe in their ability to create change. I drew inspiration from the idea of beauty as a reflection of resilience, using symbolic elements to echo the aspirations of humanity.”
The awards ceremony took place at National Gallery Singapore and was attended by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education David Neo. Artists from across Southeast Asia joined the event alongside previous winners and members of the arts community.
Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at UOB said, “As UOB marks 90 years, we reaffirm our commitment to grow with businesses and communities across the region. Our footprint across Southeast Asia is more than just about business connectivity - it is also about giving back to the communities we serve, including through our support for art. Through the UOB POY competition, we nurture artistic talent, bring art closer to people and foster closer ties within the art ecosystem through initiatives such as the UOB Artist Alumni Network. Together with our broader corporate social responsibility efforts, we aim to create meaningful and lasting impact for the long term.”
Judges from each participating country were part of the panel selecting this year’s winner: Dr Vichaya Mukdamanee (Singapore), Dr Agung Hujatnikajennong (Indonesia), Ms Intan Rafiza (Malaysia), Mr Amrit Chusuwan (Thailand), and Mr Dang Xuan Hoa (Vietnam).
In Singapore’s Established Artist Category, Ian Tee received top honors with his abstract work created using industrial tools on aluminum composite panels. Inspired by calligraphy but departing from traditional techniques, his artwork explores light and shadow through movement on its surface.
Dayna Lu was recognized as Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore) under the Emerging Artist Category. Her acrylic painting depicts individuals confined within identical rooms symbolizing societal expectations and personal struggle with burnout during school.
The winning artworks will be displayed at National Gallery Singapore’s UOB Discovery Space from November 13, 2025 until January 31, 2026. They are also available online at https://www.UOBandArt.com.