Francis Ng Teck Yong
LASALLE-SIA alumnus wins
Singapore's first grand prize at Philip Morris Group of Companies ASEAN Art
Awards
LaSalle SIA Press Release Friday, 10 May 2002
LASALLE-SIA alumnus, Francis Ng, won the grand prize of US$15,000 at the Philip
Morris Group of Companies ASEAN Art Awards 2001/2002 - Singapore's first grand
prize win at this prestigious regional art competition. Ng's work beat over 30
entries from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam. Originally a painting-based competition, this is the first time the
grand prize had been awarded to a photographic work.
"Changes in spaces interest me greatly," said Ng of the inspiration behind his
work, Construction Construction #1, a 183cm x 183cm x 4cm colour photographic
C-type print of a highway under construction in Singapore. "Where once there was
a building, there can no be a void. Out of nothing can monuments be constructed
"I use photography to capture the essence of this edifice. The process of
construction, reconstruction, deconstruction and spaces in transition, are
recurrent themes in my work. My intention is to raise awareness and to reinstate
the significance of this 'in-between-ness' of the space, in order to contain a
moment in time and hold a presence."
Ng grew up with interests in drawing and hands-on work, influenced by his
parents' business in the construction industry. After his National Service, O
Levels and A Levels, he pursued his Diploma in Fine Art and RMIT University
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) at LASALLE-SIA. An award-winner throughout his
academic life, Ng was a Georgette Chen Arts Scholar from 1998 to 2000; received
the 5th Ericsson Scholarship to pursue his degree studies in 2000; and, during
his final year, was selected for a student exchange programme with Canberra
School of Arts, Australian National University. He completed his diploma and
degree with Distinction and High Distinction marks, respectively.
The biennial Philip Morris Group of Companies ASEAN Art Awards is one of the
most comprehensive and prestigious ASEAN-wide painting and two-dimensional art
competitions. With a total prize pool of over US$160,000, this year's
competition attracted several thousand artists from all over the region. At the
Philip Morris Group of Companies Singapore Art Awards, which is the national leg
of the ASEAN Art Awards, three out of five Juror's Choice winners who
represented Singapore at the regional finals were LASALLE-SIA alumni - Francis
Ng, Eric Chan and Keith Su. Honourable Mention prizes also went to eight
LASALLE-SIA alumni.
First Prize:
Photography Medium Category
(摄影作品组)
S$8,000
Mr Francis Ng
Teck Yong
Intimate Space #1
C-Type Print
130 x 130