After a remarkable 3 month journey of searching for young and fresh talents in the art realm, Nando’s Art Initiative 2015 finally made its final stroke as Nando’s announced the winners for Fine Art, Digital Art and Graffiti Art for this year’s art competition! The annual competition marked its 8th year and the theme “Your Art, Your Story” saw some of the most imaginative minds intensify their A-game to produce mind-blowing art pieces that can possibly change the landscape of local art scene.
For 8 years, Nando’s endless support towards Malaysia’s art scene remains to be one of the significant elements in creating the best platform for these young and talented emerging artists. Nando’s commitment to build a better local art scene displayed by the establishment of this annual art competition and each year, with growing numbers of participations, Nando’s marks yet another significant ground-breaking achievement. The launch of LOT123 in January also ascends Nando’s promise to create a better local art community.
2015 symbolized the competition’s biggest attainment so far with an astounding total of 964 submissions! The amazing total entries were dubbed the best Nando’s has ever received as it was double the total entries from last year. Great participation from students and young talents across the country contributed to the 534 fine art, 376 digital art and 54 graffiti art submissions also prove that young talents continue to emerge and toughen the local art scene.
“Nando’s Malaysia once again is very proud to have been able to provide a creative platform for young emerging artists who, each year never fail to amaze us with their creativity, passion, and artistic skills. The competition’s standards continues to rise each year and Nando’s Art Initiative 2015 is without a doubt the most challenging and inspiring at the same time for us,” said Mac Chung Lynn, Group CEO Nando’s Chickenland (Malaysia and Singapore)
“We believe that art is not something we can create blindly, it is something one must feel and embody in order to render real inspiration. “Your Art, Your Story” was definitely the best choice for this year’s theme and it has been proven today by these young talents who have poured their heart and soul into their creations. Self-exploration is the kind of experience that we would like the participant to have when they joined this competition,” added Chung Lynn further.
In the fine art category, Hug Yin Wan from DASEIN Academy of Art walked away as the grand prize winner with his masterpiece, ‘Relationship’ while Tan Yong Lin from Multimedia University emerged as the grand prize winner in the Digital Art sphere with his blooming gem entitled ‘Irreversible’.
In the graffiti art category, 10 finalists battled it out in Avenue K last month in which four finalists were announced. Today’s ceremony witnessed Mohd Zulfadli bin Ahmad Nawawi crowned as the grand prize winner after he impressed the judges with his artwork, “I Need More”.
“Because we received such great response for the graffiti category, this year we brought a little surprise element in graffiti art in which to crown the winners of this year’s competition, Nando’s held an energetic live Graffiti Jam in order to better evaluate the artistic skill required to produce each individual’s masterpiece. The event was successfully held at Avenue K on the 22nd April 2015,” Chung Lynn added on the graffiti art.
This year’s competition also saw a diverse and distinguished panel of judges comprising of Izan Tahir, Founding Member of the Alternative Printing Group, Goblock; Marvin Chan, a self-taught artist with pockets full of experience in the art scene both locally and internationally; Hirzaq Haris, former grand prize winner of Nando’s Art Competition and now a household name among young artists; Nini Ramlan, Head of Content Innovation at Primeworks Studios, painter and illustrator; Kenji Chai, well-known figure in the graffiti art scene artist and Mac Chung Lynn, Group CEO Nando’s Chickenland (Malaysia and Singapore).
Syed Nabil Syed Nahar of NN Gallery has also been an active player in the competition; taking on the role of Nando’s Art Initiative Chief Advisor.
“It was not an easy task. Having to judge all these wonderful art pieces which were created with passion and creative skills left us feeling overwhelmed and yet very excited. I’m honoured to have a great judging team this year who analysed and critiqued each art pieces to the best of their abilities. Every stroke, every contour, every colour coordination were given rigid attention to award the best among the best. That is also one of the reasons why this year’s exhibition is the largest one that we have ever hosted” mentioned Chung Lynn.
With awe-inspiring responses received nationwide, Nando’s Art Initiative 2015 will host the largest art exhibition for young emerging artists for the public to avail their sight with 78 impressive art pieces including the winning pieces! The exhibition will be held in two phases; Phase 1 – The Boulevard, Publika from 27th May until 7th June and Phase 2 – Lot 123, 2nd and 3rd Floor Nando’s Jalan Sultan from 12th June until 19th July.
Nando’s Art Initiative was created as a platform for youth with artistic talents to bring forward their creative skills. Encouraging response received since the initiative kicks off 8 years ago continue to inspire Nando’s to better enhance the competition each year and garnered a lot of interests from the art enthusiasts. Holding on to its true objective, the exhibition aims to give the participants a chance to showcase their capability to the public. Art collectors who are keen to have the inspirational artworks may own a piece of that ingenuity through an open silent auction with RM500 starting bid.
First introduced in 2008, the Nandos Art Initiative has served as a platform for creative expression and development. This has brought to the forefront an assemblage of young artistes in Malaysia who now have an exciting avenue to promote their abilities and creative production.
Full list of winners are as below:
Fine art category:
- Grand prize – Fully sponsored solo exhibition, RM5,000 cash and Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Hug Yin Wan
- 1st runner up – RM3,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Tang Li Yi
- 2nd runner up – RM2,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Izuan Bin Idris
- Consolation prize (x3) – RM1,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Paul Nickson Atia
o Winner : Lee Tieng Chiew
o Winner : Mohamad Nur Azmi Bin Mohd Noh
Digital art category:
- Grand prize – Fully sponsored solo exhibition, RM5,000 cash and Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Tan Yong Lin
- 1st runner up – RM3,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Muhamad Syahrin Mohd Nazri
- 2nd runner up – RM2,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Yong Yeat Fhan
- Consolation prize (x3) – RM1,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Wahyu Nor Abadi Bin Suyadi
o Winner : Wong Suet Teng
o Winner : Chai Sim Yee
o
Graffiti / street art category:
- Grand prize – RM5,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Mohd Zulfadli bin Ahmad Nawawi
- Consolation prize (x3) – RM2,000 cash, Nando’s vouchers worth RM500
o Winner : Nurul Syakirah Saparudin
o Winner : Chong Hong Shi
o Winner : Amirul Shah Bin Mumfahir
All works were judged based on originality and creativity, the story – concept & ideas, quality of design and composition, use of medium and artistic finish, and overall impression.
For more information on Nando’s Art Initiative, please log on to www.nandos.com.my/artinitiative.