Artist and writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan of Tuoi Tre newspaper won the UOB Painting of the Year 2025 award.

Painter and writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan won the 'Promising Artist' award with his 'Self-Portrait'. Artist Cao Van Thuc's lacquer painting depicting the lives of migrant workers 'Temporary Bonding' recently won the UOB Painting of the Year 2025 award in Vietnam.

Painter and writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan won the award "Most Promising Artist of the Year" - Photo: H.VY

In the Promising Artist category, painter and writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan won the Most Promising Artist of 2025 (Vietnam) award with the work Self-portrait, 2025 (life takes root in me under the shadow of a tree).

Artist Cao Van Thuc has just been awarded the UOB Painting of the Year (POY) 2025 prize worth VND500 million by UOB Vietnam Bank with the work titled Temporary Connection .

For Cao Van Thuc, the UOB POY 2025 award is a great honor and a memorable milestone in his artistic journey. As the top winner in Vietnam, he will continue to compete with winners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand for the prestigious UOB POY Southeast Asia 2025 award, scheduled to be announced at the award ceremony in November in Singapore - Photo: H.VY

Nguyen Ngoc Thuan: No age is too late to start

Self-portrait, 2025 (life takes root in me under the shadow of a tree) is Nguyen Ngoc Thuan's first work at the age of 53, inspired by a chest X-ray and the ICD (cardiac defibrillator) device that has been implanted in his body for the past ten years.

This device connects directly to his heart like a "mother tree" taking root inside him, helping him revive with a strong electric current every time his heart stops beating, but also sows in him the anxiety about how the "originality" of human beings will be defined in the future?

According to judge, artist Do Hoang Tuong, the painting is one of the few entries that expresses sincere emotions, an essential element in the creative process.

As for judge, Dr. Pamela Nguyen Corey, this special work has blurred the line between figurative and abstract, between historical documents and imagination.

Beyond its self-portrait nature, the work contemplates survival and transformation. Nguyen Ngoc Thuan hopes that one day, devices like the ICD will be displayed in museums as cultural relics, a testament to both human suffering and evolution.

Born in 1972 in Binh Thuan , Nguyen Ngoc Thuan graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, then worked at Tuoi Tre newspaper until now. He is also a highly regarded writer through his literary works Eyes Closed, Window Opened and Basically Sad .

After more than 22 years as an illustrator, due to health reasons, he only started drawing his first work at the age of 53. He chose to participate in UOB POY 2025 as a way to mark his journey back to painting, and the award is an affirmation: no age is too late to start.

Mr. Victor Ngo with the judges and winning artists of the UOB Painting of the Year 2025 in Vietnam

The beauty of immigrant life in the city

Artist Cao Van Thuc was born in 1995 and graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in 2020. With Temporary Connection , Thuc depicts a group of migrant workers crammed into the back of a truck. They hug and cling to each other, both as a way to protect and bond, and as a metaphor for the precarious and uncertain life of making a living far from home.

Using lacquer and acid etching techniques on aluminum alloy, the work depicts the contrast between the rough, hard-working life of migrant workers and the shiny, flashy appearance of the modern city.

Temporary Bonding is highly regarded for its emotional depth, technical innovation, and strong social message.

Cao Van Thuc shared that he wanted to show the quiet beauty and perseverance of migrant workers with deep respect.

The work is also a reminder of the social gaps in urban life, especially for those from remote areas. Thuc hopes to inspire people to reflect and contribute to narrowing those gaps based on empathy, understanding and tolerance.

According to artist Dang Xuan Hoa - Head of the jury, the work stands out in both content and expression. The creative use of materials combined with contemporary graphic techniques creates strong contrasts in shapes, colors and tones, turning an ordinary subject into something profound and emotional.

Launched in 1982, UOB Painting of the Year is the longest-running annual art competition in Singapore and one of the most prestigious in Southeast Asia.

2025 marks the third time the competition is held in Vietnam.

The finalists and winners of the UOB POY 2025 Vietnam Awards will be on display from now until 27 October at Chillala House of Art, Ho Chi Minh City.

Some images at the UOB POY 2025 exhibition in Vietnam:

The public enjoys the winning works of UOB POY 2025. The exhibition is on display until October 27 at Chillala House of Art, Ho Chi Minh City.

Reality and Reality 02 by Vu Hoang, gold prize in the category of Famous Artists

Four parallel sentences on the Mekong River by Tran Quoc Giang, silver prize in the category of Famous Artists

Memories of the Land by Ngo Thanh Hung, bronze medal in the category of Famous Artists

Threshold state of Tran Viet Long, gold prize in the category of Promising Artist

HUYNH VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoa-si-nha-van-nguyen-ngoc-thuan-cua-bao-tuoi-tre-doat-giai-o-uob-painting-of-the-year-2025-20251009005526969.htm