“The Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize represents our commitment to support the contemporary perspectives of next-generation artists. We aim to empower young talents who are leading the change in the digital age by providing them with crucial development, networking and mentorship opportunities. The creative proposals for this year’s Prize impressed us with high-quality concepts and visions of a progressive future. We are excited to see how our winning artists bring their exceptional proposals to life," says Jimmy Lee, Member of the Executive Board, Julius Baer Group Ltd and Head Asia Pacific.
The second edition of the Prize received over 300 entries representing artists across the region, all of whom demonstrated a wide breadth of talent and vision in Asia. Six artists from India, Hong Kong and Singapore were selected by our panel of jurors as Prize Winners based on their original concept submissions.
As part of the Prize, each prize winner was awarded a cash prize of USD 10,000* to support the development of their artwork. In addition, these artists participated in the exclusive Art and Technology Accelerator programme, where they were mentored by leading luminaries from the art and business world. Their completed artworks are showcased in an interactive virtual display at the end of the programme.
*Terms and conditions apply
Next Generation Art Prize Virtual Showcase
To commemorate the success of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize, we are delighted to unveil the digital creations of our six Prize Winners in this exclusive online showcase.
Inspired by the themes of Future Cities, Digital Disruption and Sustainability, their artworks creatively depict real-world challenges with future-forward optimism by leveraging the digital medium to express the artists’ views.
View the highlights of the Prize Winners’ artworks in the video below.
Meet the Artists
Meet these six talented artists who have transformed their creative concepts into captivating digital creations. Discover what the Prize means to them, as well as their perspectives on how art and technology are shaping the opportunities for next generation artists.
André Wee (Singapore)
"I am passionate about creating works that blend Technology with Art to discover newer ways to engage my viewers through creative storytelling and imagery," says André Wee, artist.
André Wee is an experimental illustrator that jumps between both the virtual and physical world when he creates his craft.
Aside from putting pencil to paper and pushing digital paint across a virtual canvas, André also works with animated layers hidden within the physical world through augmented reality where he embeds narratives within his illustrations.
Originally from Singapore, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and is currently based back in Singapore where he started his company, Studio André Wee (SAW).
Artwork: Future Retro Future
Theme: Future Cities
‘Future Retro Future’ re-envisions a new retrofuture so that we can explore alternative narratives and possibilities and imagine a newer future together with all its hopes and dreams, short-comings and obstacles to tackle.
Carla Chan (Hong Kong)
"Much like the never-ending development of new technologies, my approach to media art challenges the conventional perception of new media interface with ever-evolving possibilities for artistic expressions," says Carla Chan, artist.
Minimal in style, Carla Chan’s works blend physical and digital elements into a hybrid form of materiality, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Her work focuses on computational processes and new technology that influences an ever-evolving possibility for artistic expression.
Carla has earned the Young Artist Award (Media Arts) at HK Arts Development Awards and TOY Berlin Masters Award. Carla has exhibited internationally including HKMoA, ZKM, Tai Kwun, Asia Society, Art Basel and Frieze and her works are part of the M+ Collection.
Artwork: Traces of Space Beyond
Theme: Sustainability
‘Traces of Space Beyond’ is an ever-evolving visual experience driven in real-time by Zurich's weather, population and flight data. An artwork composed of an infinite changing sky, resembling a spatial environment with a trail of artificial clouds. It portrays the interconnectedness of earthly events and human influence, calling for careful observation and balance between progress and sustainability, leaving bittersweet traces and creating a contemplative space to reflect on the delicate equilibrium of life and nature.
Chan Wan Kyn (Singapore)
"I want to broaden my exploration by involving diverse perspectives through communal participation, creating co-created art that promotes ownership and accessibility through technology," says Chan Wan Kyn, artist.
Wan Kyn is an artist and engineer from Singapore. He is inspired by the intangible elements of his surroundings, such as negative space, light, and human connection, as well as from exploring familiar and unfamiliar environments.
Wan Kyn was part of the pioneer class of the School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA), and has exhibited his installations at the Singapore Art Museum and iLight Marina Bay. He graduated with MSc in Mechanical Engineering with the goal of melding the arts and STEM fields. Recently, he has exhibited at INSTINC Gallery, SeongSu NFT Festival, and Singapore Art Week's Urban Screens.
Artwork: City in Aether
Theme: Future Cities
Future cities will be fast-paced nature and be in constant flux, chaotic, uncertain and a reflection of our culture and values. ‘City in Aether’ emphasises pausing to appreciate and reflect on their changes. It embodies an ever-evolving cityscape, derived from personal and communal data, stimulating contemplation on technology and urban planning's role in shaping the future.
Jamela Law (Hong Kong)
"I believe it is important for fashion artists to hold multiple identities, from being a toolmaker, trendsetter, educator and game-changer, for us to convey stronger, more empowering narratives, while pushing technological boundaries," says Jamela Law, artist.
Jamela Law is an Artivist and Fashion Technologist with a BA(Hons) accredited by Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. Her futuristic output often revolves around themes of Culture, Social Justice and Environment, executed with state-of-the-art technology and self-developed processes.
Notable achievements include the Singapore Fashion Awards 2017 from Nüyou, InkluVision Human Rights Arts Prize 2021 from Justice Centre Hong Kong, and PULSE Award 2021: Art for Life- Sexual Health Matters. Jamela had exhibited at ‘DigiMuse’ under Singapore National Museum in 2018, ‘Future TechStyle’ under The Mills Hong Kong in 2019 and ‘#SGFASHIONNOW’ under Asian Civilizations Museum in 2021.
Artwork: Scars, Skins and Styles: Metamorphosis in the Metaverse
Theme: Digital Disruption
‘Scars, Skins and Styles: Metamorphosis in the Metaverse’ is a community art project that aims to bring to light invisible battles fought, celebrate those of us who have emerged from trauma and foster dialogue on mental health. Digital technologies and fashion co-designing are explored as experimental art therapy tools for mediation, introspection and reinvention in virtual reality.
Natalie Yen Ye Wong (Hong Kong)
"As an artist, I find it fascinating to create interactive digital art and observe participants' reactions to auditory and visual stimuli, understanding their unique experiences," says Natalie Yen Ye Wong, artist.
Natalie Yen Ye Wong is a mixed-media artist whose creative practice is divided between her own works in fine art and commercial client projects.
Also known as Papersneakers, Natalie is best known for her project “100 Paper Sneakers” which explored themes of modern consumption, identity and sneaker-culture. Aside from her collaborations with global brands like Nike and Adidas, Natalie has also participated in exhibitions in Hong Kong and London.
Currently, Natalie is exploring the creation of more digital works using themes of technology’s impact on today’s culture and interpersonal relationships as core themes for further discussion and individual expression.
Artwork: Algorithm Actually
Theme: Digital Disruption
‘Algorithm Actually’ is a digital artwork that uses an individual’s dating app data to generate a 3D motion dynamic artwork, visualising real-time expressions of human connections in the modern dating world. The work explores the role of language in the self-presentation of identity, in order to find emotional reciprocity within our contemporary digital age.
Viraag Desai (India)
"Digital imagery is understandably perceived as being part of a different, synthetic world. The work I create aims to bridge that gap and highlight similarities between the digital and natural," says Viraag Desai, artist.
Viraag Desai graduated with a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has participated in artist residencies in India, Spain and Bangladesh, such as the Piramal residency in India and Uronto residency in Bangladesh.
As an artist, he has expanded his practice from painting to sculpture, and now technology-based installations. Viraag’s current practice lies in the space between the physical and temporal through procedural design, virtual reality sculpting and 3D printing as recently displayed at The India Story Kolkata in 2022 and India Art Fair Delhi in 2023, both with the gallery, Art Exposure.
Artwork: Pathfinder
Theme: Digital Disruption
‘Pathfinder’ is an interactive, digital re-envisioning of the historical relief. An alternate look at the history of craft through different materials and time periods. The project is hand sculpted using VR and voxel tools as a homage to the great sculptors and muralists of the past.
What are the Judges’ thoughts on the winning concepts?
“The concepts presented at the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize were excellent. Several submissions proposed ideas about the collaboration and merging of ‘life and art’, which were interesting to consider. I look forward to seeing where these artists take their ideas,” says Simon Fisher, Co-Founder & Director, Ocula.
"This year’s submissions for the Julius Baer Next Generation Prize demonstrate the younger generation’s profound interest in technology and their willingness to use it as a tool for artistic creation,” says Fu Liaoliao, Independent Curator.
"The concept proposals for the Prize were well thought through and display an innovative approach to the themes of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize,” says Theresa McCullough, Principal Curator, Asian Civilisations Museum.
“It was refreshing to witness the unique perspectives of the aspiring artists in the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize and how they represented the issues relevant to the environment and our urban spaces,” says Shivajirao Gaekwar, Art Specialist.
“The strongest submissions for the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize stood out for their sureness of purpose, poetic imagination, creative use of live feed datasets, and thoughtful engagement with the audience,” says Shubigi Rao, Contemporary Artist & Curator.
Behind-the-Scenes
Led by industry experts and mentors, the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize winners participated in a 3-month Art and Technology Accelerator Programme that featured workshops on augmented reality, contemporary art and design, self-promotion strategies for artists, audience and collaborator management, utilising art technology for social impact, and the role of artificial intelligence in digital art.
Go behind the scenes of the programme by clicking on the link below.