ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Swiss wealth management group Julius Baer has announced the six winners of the second edition of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize for Asia, the Group’s second home market. As a Prize dedicated to digital art, Julius Baer endeavors to support the talents of today as they become the masters of tomorrow.
Jimmy Lee, Member of the Executive Board, Julius Baer Group Ltd and Head Asia Pacific, said, “The Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize represents our commitment to support the contemporary perspectives of next-generation artists. We aim to empower young talents who are leading the change in the digital age by providing them with crucial development, networking, and mentorship opportunities. The creative proposals for this year’s Prize impressed us with high-quality concepts and visions of a progressive future. We are excited to see how our winning artists bring their exceptional proposals to life.”
The second edition of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize has been awarded to six winners, chosen by a jury of industry experts, including acclaimed artists Refik Anadol and Shubigi Rao, curator Fu LiaoLiao, Simon Fisher from Ocula, art specialist Shivajirao Gaekwar, and Theresa McCullough from the Asian Civilizations Museum. Listed alphabetically, the winners are:
- André Wee (Singapore): Future Retro Future
- Carla Chan (Hong Kong): Traces of Space Beyond
- Jamela Law (Hong Kong): Scars, Skins, and Styles: Metamorphosis in the Metaverse
- Natalie Yen Ye Wong (Hong Kong): Algorithm Actually
- Viraag Desai (India): Pathfinder
- Chan Wan Kyn (Singapore): City in Aether
André Wee 
Carla Chan 
Jamela Law 
Natalie Yen Ye Wong 
Viraag Desai 
Chan Wan Kyn
Each of the winners will receive USD$10,000 and embark on a three-month Art and Technology Accelerator Programme as they develop their proposed concepts into digital artwork to be exhibited at a virtual showcase in the second half of 2023. The Art and Technology Accelerator Programme is the first of its kind in Asia, aiming to provide access to resources and mentorship from industry experts to help artists develop their ideas and push the boundaries of digital art.
As part of Julius Baer’s long-term vision, the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize invited digital artists aged 21 to 40 in Asia to submit artwork concept proposals that address the theme of sustainability or any of the Julius Baer Next Generation investment themes. Three key themes- Future Cities, Digital Disruption and Sustainability -inspired a significant number of entries amongst the total 313 submissions, which incorporated diverse digital tools such as data mapping, 2D and 3D image rendering, Al generated art, audience interactivity data, inter-reality simulation, and virtual and augmented reality.
Judge Simon Fisher commented, “The concepts presented at the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize were excellent. Several submissions proposed ideas about the collaboration and merging of ‘life and art’, which were interesting to consider. I look forward to seeing where these artists take their ideas.”
Fellow Judge Shubigi Rao commented, “There were a number of compelling proposals that depicted imaginative and optimistic futures beyond the anxieties of a post-climate age. The strongest submissions to the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize stood out for their sureness of purpose, poetic imagination, creative use of live feed datasets, and thoughtful engagement with the audience.”
Find out more about the Winners of the 2023 Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize here.
