STUDENTS' ART PIECES TO BE DISPLAYED AT ARMY MUSEUM

"Our Army represents and protects our country!" said an elated Ms Hazel Yeoh, the third-prize winner of the Army Museum of Singapore's (ARMS) Student Art Competition.

That was the driving force which led to the creation of her award-winning artwork entitled Our Army - Our People - Our Country.

Inspired by the Army's ability to bond people from all walks of life, the second-year Art Elective Programme (AEP) student from National Junior College (NJC) was determined to create "a work of art that shows racial diversity and also how the Army has progressed since it first came about".

Ms Yeoh's efforts paid off when she, together with 10 other young budding artists, walked away with cash prizes ranging from S$500 to S$3,000 at the prize presentation ceremony held at the SAFTI Military Institute Officers' Mess on 25 Jun.

Their paintings were among the 432 entries received from 42 schools and institutions island-wide.

Organised from 1 Jan to 31 Mar, the Student Art Competition was conceptualised with the objectives of connecting with young Singaporeans, emphasising the importance of military defence, and highlighting the need to remain vigilant in the face of possible security threats.

"This competition allows Singaporeans to appreciate students' interpretations of our Army through art," said Brigadier-General (BG) Hugh Lim, Army Chief of Staff-General Staff who was guest of honour at the prize presentation ceremony.

Participants chose to work on one of two themes: 'Our Army - Our People' and 'Our Future Army'. They could use any artistic medium for their submissions.

First-prize winner, Mr Lau Hong Hu who is a first-year AEP student from NJC, saw his digital painting as a platform to educate the public that "national security should not be taken for granted".

"I was trying to make everyone appreciate this sense of national security itself," he said.

Mr Lau's artwork features the national flag overlooking Singapore's skyline with the country's Housing Development Board (HDB) flats among the landmarks portrayed.

"For the background, I used harmonious colours, the warm and cool colours to show the bliss and peace of our country."

In sharp contrast to the painting's background is its foreground "which is in black-and-white, depicting war scenes and scenes on the front-line where soldiers are actually putting their lives at risk, exposing themselves to danger and everything just for the sake of the country".

Among the judges of the Student Art Competition is Mr Ho Kok Hoe, a highly-acclaimed local artist whose contributions of two military-themed paintings to ARMS were unveiled at the ceremony.

Mr Ho produced his masterpieces entitled My Son and At Ease in 1975 and 1981 respectively. The architecture graduate drew inspiration for his paintings from his sons' participation in National Service.

Explaining the rationale behind his paintings, he said: "I try to portray the soldier boy in a very friendly, loving way so that if people were to see my paintings, they will say, 'oh, this is a Singapore soldier - he is friendly and loving.'"

"I love my boys and I love my country and it's a joy drawing the paintings, it's great fun," said the 85-year-old Singaporean who served as a member of the medical corps during the Japanese Occupation.

Mr Ho's paintings along with the winners' art pieces will be exhibited at the ARMS when the museum opens in late 2007.