SingartMartell’s Iconic 2014 Photo Awards
ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu returns for its 5th year to recognize the Singapore photographer most outstanding in creatively focusing on the intricately fine details that go into the art of photography.
The process of cognac making in the house of Martell shares the great importance placed on this artistic expertise as well, along with the related emphasis on timing.
Yann Soenen, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Singapore explains, ‘It is in the split second when all the elements come together that inspires the photographer to capture the moment. Similarly for cognac making, timing is especially important during distillation. Over 24 hours, the master distiller constantly monitors and makes instant adjustment, separating and re-proportioning different elements to create a crystal-clear eaux-de-vie that will eventually be used in our cognacs.’
Shared too are the founding principles of Martell: creativity, independence and the pursuit of excellence, as espoused in the very heart of every cognac it has created.
As such, the nominated photographers, who must be Singaporean citizens or permanent residents, are required to have at least 5 years of artistic practice, as a demonstration of their commitment and participation in international, regional or local exhibitions.
This year’s event will feature the works of these 7 nominees:
- Eugene Soh
Also known as DUDE.SG, he is a graduate from the School of Art, Design & Media at the Nanyang Technological University, and has had his photography featured in several shows in Singapore, including his solo exhibition at the OCBC Art Space.
- Jeannie Ho
New York-based, and with a Bachelor of Fine Arts photography degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York, she pursues a full-time career in the commercial photography and advertising industries, and has participated in group and solo exhibtions in Singapore and New York City.
- Lavender Chang
With a Bachelor of Fine Art Honours degree in Photography and Digital Imaging from the School of Art, Design and Media at the Nanyang Technological University, she has exhibited extensively in Asia and was awarded, amongst others, The Crowbar Awards 2011 Gold for Fashion and Portrait Photography.
- Ang Song Nian
After his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Photography from Camberwell College of Arts and the London College of Communications respectively, his exhibitions in Asia and Europe include photographic documentations of human behaviours made visible within landscapes.
- Wilfred Lim
As a Singapore-based Malaysian, who studied photography at the School of Art, Design and Media at the Nanyang Technological University and an IPA Photo Book Asia Award 2013 finalist, he utilizes the photographic medium as a painting tool to convey his ideas; often presenting his vision and criticism through dream-like imagery.
- Ken Cheong
Once a curator of the Singapore Art Museum for 6 years, his over 3 decade practice is rooted in street photography. And he continues to provide consultancy and photographic work for numerous cultural initiatives for Singapore institutions, corporations, for ASEAN and museums throughout Asia.
- Neo Xiaobin
A graduate from Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, she is a photojournalist with The Straits Times since April 2010, before which she was with My Paper from 2007. Her work has garnered international awards, including a silver medal for WAN-IFRA Asia Media Awards’ Best in Photojournalism (Feature Photography).
The ideals of Martell govern the selection of its ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu jury as well. So this year’s distinguished panel includes:
- Agnes de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Photography Curator and Consultant
- Charmaine Toh, Curator, National Gallery, Singapore
- Ian Berry, Magnum Photographer
- Venka Purushothaman, Vice-President (Academic) & Provost, LASALLE College of the Arts
- Yann Soenen, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Singapore
They will decide this year’s recipient of the top honour: the ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu, with a cash prize of $30,000, along with those who deserve the 2 Discernment Awards, each with a cash reward of $8,000.
Besides an exhibition featuring the submitted works by this year’s nominated photographers, the premier event offers a pictorial display highlighting the shared characteristics of photography and cognac making too, be it timing, subject, context, light and composition.
To best illustrate these fundamental similarities, the presentation will display photographs taken by past ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu winners on their visits to the Martell estate in Cognac (as part of their ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu prize). They comprise captivating shots by Sherman Ong: its 2010 winner, Sean Lee: its 2011’s and Edwin Koo: the 2012’s.
At the same time, this year’s event will give you a chance to dabble in some photography: there will be a platform from which you can demonstrate your own creativity.
Martell is collaborating with ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu 2013 winner, Sarah Choo, who will create, in her very own style and visual language, an interactive piece that lets you play the part of an artist, and so experience 1st hand that artistic discernment is indeed in the details.
And to cap this year’s stellar Martell experience, a pop-up bar will be serving its cognacs and cocktails as its exhibition runs from 20 August to 5 September, in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival 2014.
Festivity revelers, seize the night to revel in the best in Singapore photography at the Stamford Gallery in the National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 177897.
Feature photo: Eugene Soh’s “Venue & Grace” Edition 30. Photo credit: Eugene Soh
Right photo: Lavender Chang’s “Eldest Daughter”. Photo credit: Lavender Chang
