The artist walked away with the title and $10,000 in cash

Hu Qiren at the Bazaar Art Prize 2015 | From left: Editor-in-chief of Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore Kenneth Goh, Hu Qiren, Group Managing Director of Robinsons Group Singapore Christophe Cann. Photo: Ashley Mak

Hundreds of artworks and an eight-month long search have culminated in the announcement of Singapore’s brightest emerging star in the world of art—Hu Qiren has been named the overall winner of BAZAAR Art Prize 2015, walking away with the title and $10,000 in cash. At a cocktail party held at Robinsons The Heeren tonight, Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Gohannounced the winners of BAZAAR’s inaugural Art Prize in the company of fellow judges Christophe Cann, Managing Director of Robinsons Group Singapore, Dr Susie Lingham, Director of the Singapore Arts Museum, Hazel Lim, FIne Arts Program Leader at LASALLE College of the Arts and Bala Starr, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore.

Speaking of his groundbreaking win, Hu said, “I’m really excited about winning the grand prize! I’d like to thank Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore and Robinsons for giving me the opportunity to showcase my work.” Having landed in Singapore on a long haul flight from New York just two days ago, and pulling an all-nighter to set up his prize-winning installation, American Ginseng, the exuberance and relief was palpable on the artist’s face. When asked about how he would be using his prize money, Hu laughed and said, “I’m going to make even better work in the future.” In a heady twist to an already euphoric evening, we heard that Hu’s work had already been sold mere minutes after the winner’s announcement—congratulations to him all the winners of the night!

Hu Qiren with his winning artwork, American Ginseng. Photo: Ashley Mak

For the full list of winners in each category, see below:

Overall winner of BAZAAR Art Prize 2015
Hu Qiren

Category winners

Ink or watercolour on paper: Kristie Sim Ze Ming
Photography: Jay Yao Yahan
Oil or acrylic on canvas: Fiona Koh Li Ping
Sculpture: Hu Qiren

The BAZAAR Art Prize 2015 Exhibition will be open to public from 16 January 2016 at Robinsons The Heeren, 260 Orchard Road in Singapore.

Photo: Ashley Mak