UOB Thailand announced Mr Weerapong Sansomporn as the winner of the 2026 UOB Painting of the Year (Thailand) for his work, Memories From the Forest, a striking piece crafted from woven copper wire on black velvet fabric.
Drawing inspiration from tree rings, cracks, gaps and weathered surfaces, the artwork reflects the traces of growth, loss and time embedded in nature. Through the intricate weaving of copper wire on velvet, a typically rigid industrial material is transformed into a delicate and organic surface. The repetitive handwoven process serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the cycles of emergence, existence and disappearance.
Mr Richard Maloney, President and CEO of UOB Thailand, said, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Weerapong on winning the 2026 UOB Painting of the Year Award (Thailand). Through Memories From the Forest, he reminds us that while everything in nature is subject to change, its traces endure through memory and experience. The work demonstrates remarkable technical mastery while offering a profound reflection on time, transformation and our connection with the natural world. At UOB, we believe that art has the power to move hearts, challenge perspectives and inspire meaningful conversations. Our longstanding commitment to the arts reflects our belief that creativity is not only a form of expression, but also a force for connection, cultural understanding and social progress.”
Rather than depicting a single tree, Memories From the Forest brings together traces of nature that remain rooted in memory, even as landscapes evolve. Through forms reminiscent of tree rings and weathered wood, the work explores memory as both enduring and fragile, preserving traces of places, experiences and lives amid constant change.
Mr Weerapong is awarded a cash prize of THB750,000. His artwork will represent Thailand at the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award 2026, where it will compete against winning works from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. He will also compete for a UOB-sponsored art residency programme at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, alongside the other four country winners.
On receiving the award, Mr Weerapong said, “I wanted to capture how nature preserves its history through growth, scars and transformation. The woven copper wire on velvet reflects both the resilience and fragility of memory, while the gaps within the work represent moments that are remembered, forgotten or transformed over time. As landscapes continue to change, I hope the artwork reminds viewers that while physical environments may evolve, the memories and stories they leave behind can endure. I am truly grateful and honoured to receive the 2026 UOB Painting of the Year (Thailand)” award.
2026 UOB POY competition in Thailand was judged by an esteemed panel, including:
Mr. Amrit Chusuwan, Thailand National Artist in Visual Arts (Painting-Mixed Media) in 2020; Consultant, Songkhla Old Town Foundation; and Member and Secretary, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Foundation Committee
Mr. Panya Vijinthanasarn, Thailand National Artist in Visual Arts (Painting) in 2014
Dr. Rémy Jarry, Curator, Lecturer, and Writer
The judges praised Mr Weerapong’s innovative use of materials and symbolism, noting that the work successfully combines technical excellence with a thoughtful exploration of memory, impermanence and humanity’s relationship with nature.
Emerging Artist Category
In the Emerging Artist Category, Mr Watcharaphong Seethiang was named the 2026 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Thailand) for his work Life is Impermanent, but Death is Certain.
Created during a period of personal grief and reflection, the artwork draws inspiration from Buddhist contemplation of the body and the practice of maranasati, or mindfulness of death. Through traditional techniques and symbolic imagery, the work explores the transient nature of life and invites viewers to reflect on the value of existence within the natural cycle through which all things arise, change and pass away.
Mr Watcharaphong said, “This work emerged from a period of grief and reflection on the impermanence of life. Inspired by Buddhist contemplation and the practice of maranasati, or mindfulness of death, I wanted to explore the fragile yet precious nature of our existence. Through this painting, I hope to encourage viewers to pause, appreciate the gift of being alive, and reflect on the natural cycle through which all things arise, change and pass away. I am deeply honoured to be named the 2026 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Thailand).”
2026 UOB POY (Thailand) Winners’ Showcase
The winning artworks from both the Established and Emerging Artist Categories will be exhibited at three locations. Admission is free.
The UOB POY competition is the Bank’s flagship art programme, launched in 1982 to uncover and nurture artistic talent across Southeast Asia. Today, it is the longest-running annual art competition in Singapore and one of the most recognised in the region.
