Press Release The Young Contemporaries Awards 2016

KUALA LUMPUR– National Art Gallery (NAG) are hosting the Young Contemporaries Awards 2016  a prestigious art competition for young Malaysian artists under the age of 40 that was first introduced and organized by the National Art Gallery (NAG) in 1974. It was founded by members of the NAG Exhibition and Purchasing Committee in the early 70s, consisted of Johan Ariff, Farid Wardi, Redza Piyadasa, Mat Yasser Juli, Joseph Tan, Zuraina Majid, Ismail Zain and TK Sabapathy. The NAG is proud that many who have participated in this competition have now become pivotal movers and established figures in the Malaysian visual art scene as well as abroad such as Tan Cheng Kuan, Zulkiffli Yusoff, Ponirin Amin, Zakaria Awang, Fauzan Omar, Jailani Abu Hassan, Hasnol Jamal Saidon, Hanim Khairuddin, Bayu Uotomo Radjikin, Ahmad Shukri Mohamed, Eng Hwee Chu, Kow Leong Kiang, Azizan Rahman Paiman, Susyilawati Sulaiman, Sharmiza Abu Hassan, Bibi Chew, Roslisham Ismail a.k.a Ise, Yap Sau Bin, Abdul Muthalib Musa, Azliza Ayob, Fazil Idris, Fuad Ariff, Umi Baizurah Mahir, Chan Kok Hooi and many more.

The Incentive Prize for the winner of the competition amounted to RM25, 000.00. While for the Jury Award RM 5,000.00 will be given to five selected winners. Since its inception, the Young Contemporaries Award had successfully identified and discovered numerous local talents from each generation by awarding and rewarding their creative expression in various visual art disciplines. The Young Contemporaries Award had served in many different ways- as a catalyst and give artists exposure to the public also as a stepping stone in their search for recognition and acceptance. A total of 62 participation for this year edition and 33 of them have been elected to pass the 2nd level screening. The winner will be announced during the official launching ceremony on 15 Mac 2017 at 1.00pm and will be officiated by YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.

The Young Contemporaries Award Exhibition 2016 is open to the public from 6 February 2017 until 3 April 2017 at gallery 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B. Admission is free.