Pinoy artist Rodel Tapaya wins grand prize in intl art tilt

Filipino visual artist Rodel Tapaya received SGD45,000 (roughly P1.5 million) as he bagged the grand prize at the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Signature Art competition in Singapore. On Thursday, the entry of 31-year-old Tapaya -- “Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero di Mabilang (Cane of Kabunian, numbered but cannot be counted) -- was picked as the top winner among 130 entries from 24 countries and territories. The 305 x 610 x 8 cm. acrylic painting combines Filipino folklore to address issues that the Philippines is facing, such as environmental destruction.

A tourist in Singapore looks at Filipino artist Rodel Tapaya's mural, 'Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero 'di Mabilang,' which won the grand prize at an art contest of Asia-Pacific artists in November. Photo by Mark D. Merueñas

It was the first time that the Philippines had an entry to the contest. According to a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), upon accepting his award, Tapaya thanked "God, the greatest artist of all," and Ramon E.S. Lerma, director of the Ateneo Art Gallery, who nominated his work. Tapaya dedicated his victory to his wife Marina Cruz, also a renowned artist. Universal relevance In a statement posted on the Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) website, the Jury panel called Tapaya’s artwork as “a compelling and monumental-scale work" with “far-reaching universal relevance." “With its multiple narratives and diverse allegorical references, this stunning mural-sized painting embodies a vibrant strain in contemporary art from the Asia-Pacific region," the statement said. “While Tapaya does not shy away from drawing on the folklore of his native region, his is neither a naïve nor self-exoticing practice... The work will surely provoke discussion about emerging aesthetic tendencies in Asia-Pacific," it added. This year’s jury panel of judges is composed of:

• Mori Art Museum director Fumio Nanjo;
• Institute of Contemporary Arts London executive director Gregor Muir;
• Southeast Asian writer, critic, and curator Hendro Wijanto;
• South Asian poet, curator, and critic Ranjit Hoskote; and
• SAM director Tan Boon Hui. Winners, finalists Aside from Tapaya, this year’s list of winners included three artists who received the Jurors’ Choice Award:
• Daniel Crooks (Australia / Oceania) for “Static No. 12 (seek stillness in movement)";
• Sheba Chhachhi (India) for “The Water Diviner"; and
• Aida Makoto (Japan) for “Ash Color Mountains". Meanwhile, Michael Lee of Singapore was the online voters’ top pick with “Second-Hand City". The Jurors’ and People’s Choice Awards recipients received SGD10, 000 each. The other finalists were:
• Bui Cong Khanh (Vietnam);
• Chang Yoong Chia (Malaysia);
• Chen Chieh-jen (Taiwan);
• Ay Tjoe Christine (Indonesia);
• Kyungah Ham (South Korea);
• Kim Jongku (South Korea);
• Imran Qureshi (Pakistan);
• Vandy Rattana (Cambodia);
• Greg Semu (New Zealand); and
• Yang Xinguang (China). Established in 2008 by APB and SAM, the Signature Art Prize is open to all visual artworks nominated by independent and established art experts in the region. - VVP, GMA News