Art Stage Singapore and U.S. Embassy Singapore today announced the three finalists of the Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art 2017.
The award recognizes an artist or curator from Southeast Asia who is actively committed to the ideals of liberty and freedom of expression, and through his or her work, continually seeks to express these ideals.
The recipient will receive a prize of $15,000 USD. The three 2017 finalists are:
- Arahmaiani (Indonesia) – Arahmaiani is regarded as one of Indonesia’s most respected and iconic contemporary artists, known for her commanding and challenging commentaries on social and cultural issues. Her artistic practice incorporates an extensive range of media including video, installation, painting, drawing and sculpture. Since the 1980s and 1990s, Arahmaiani has established herself as a pioneer in performance art in Southeast Asia. Her artistic practice is a survey of thoughts and actions that investigate social, political and cultural issues.
- Aye Ko (Myanmar) – Aye Ko’s performance art has established his position as one of Myanmar’s most high-profile artists. For the past two decades, his practice has interrogated the meaning of politics and nature. In 2008 Aye Ko and his colleagues established ‘New Zero Art Space’ to share their ideas and activities with the wider public. This space continues to actively stir the dynamics of contemporary art in Myanmar.
- Chaw Ei Thein (Myanmar) – Chaw Ei Thein continues to challenge and give insight into the language of womanhood specific to her culture and Southeast Asia. She gained international attention in the mid-1990s with her performance works, particularly in 2008 for her collaborative sugar piece September Sweetness. Today, Thein continues to find strategies and opportunities for Burmese artists to share their work, seeking to encourage active and participatory dialogue and exchange with her artistic community in Yangon.
“We’re proud that in its third year, the Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art continues to recognize artists who push creative and expressive boundaries,” said U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Kirk Wagar. “The three finalists – Arahmaiani, Aye Ko and Chaw Ei Thein – are opening up new dialogues on important issues in their communities, and around the world, through their art. I look forward to congratulating all the finalists and announcing the winner on January 10.”
“I congratulate Arahmaiani, Aye Koh and Chaw Ei Thein as the finalists of the Joseph Balestier Award for the Freedom of Art 2017, an award that underscores the moral and socio-political roles of contemporary art. That two of the three finalists are women artists sends a strong message about the position of women in our societies. As artists they have worked tirelessly to bring the world’s attention to pressing socio-political issues in their home countries. As women artists, their participation in this Award serves to advance the cause for women and gender equality not only in the region, but also the rest of the world,” said Lorenzo Rudolf, Founder and President, Art Stage Singapore.
The 2017 award jury that selected the finalists included: Professor Ute Meta Bauer, Director, Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Singapore; Ms Zoe Butt, Artistic Director, The Factory Contemporary Art Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Mr Enin Supriyanto, Independent Art Curator and writer, Indonesia.
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Kirk Wagar and Lorenzo Rudolf, Founder and President, Art Stage Singapore, will announce the winner at an award ceremony on January 10, 2017.
Art Stage Singapore is the leading Asian art fair connecting the world to the best of Asian contemporary art. With a deep understanding of Asia’s dynamic visual arts scene, Art Stage Singapore presents the diversity of contemporary art rising from the region. Presenting handpicked galleries from Asian and Western countries that complement each other, Art Stage Singapore promotes dialogue not only between Asia and the West but amongst the countries of the Asian region as well.
Joseph Balestier was the first Consul General of the United States of America to Singapore, serving between 1836-1852. His wife, Maria Revere Balestier, was the daughter of American patriot Paul Revere. Balestier was officially recognised as the Consul at Singapore in June 1837, when ships from America were permitted by the British East India Company to trade on an equal footing.
