SOTY 2016: Visual Artist winner awarded full scholarship to University of the Arts London
18-year-old Sam Ng Chung-hei has been given a full scholarship from The Wharf Art Scholarship Scheme to study Fine Arts
Sam’s scholarship covers his full three year course at the University of the Arts London. Photo: MCUBE PRODUCTIONA Student of the Year (SOTY) winner has received a full scholarship for his Fine Arts studies at a university in Britain.
Sam Ng Chung-hei, 18, was 2016’s SOTY Visual Artist winner, and is currently taking Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London in Britain. He was awarded a full scholarship from The Wharf Art Scholarship Scheme that covers his full three years of undergraduate study.
The Jockey Club Ti-I College graduate is the only student this year who has been granted the scholarship. He became an eligible applicant for the scholarship after becoming the second runner-up of The Wharf Hong Kong Secondary School Art Competition 2016-17 for his work, titled Medley.
His painting depicted a surgeon, holding a newborn baby, standing by an old man lying on a hospital bed. Sam said he wanted to demonstrate that “life is like a medley”, and pay tribute to his grandfather – who had passed on to him both spirit and faith, and who had helped teach him “how to face difficult times optimistically”.
Kurt Chan Yuk-keung, the adjudicator and a renowned art educator, said the young artist “has seamlessly juxtaposed the [new born and elderly] together in the same room and under light with harmony”. He added the colour and brushwork were “rendered with great sensitivity and rhythm”.
Sam was also the second runner-up of the same competition in 2015-16, and took part (along with 19 other top achieving students) in a free arts and cultural exchange tour in Beijing on July 25-28. He was also appointed one of the “Arts Ambassadors-in-School” by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2014-15.
The Wharf Art Scholarship Scheme was launched in 2013 by The Wharf (Holdings) Limited. It aims to financially support students, selected from the top 18 entrants of The Wharf Hong Kong Secondary School Art Competition, in pursuing further studies in art-related bachelor programmes in local and overseas universities.
So far, 12 students have benefited from the scheme, and have pursued further studies in art or creative related subjects.
Edited by Ginny Wong