Nando's artistic challenge

NANDO’S Malaysia kicked off its annual art ­initiative for the seventh year in conjunction with its CSR effort to inculcate talent and love for the arts in ­Malaysia.
Under this year’s theme of Alive, the company has decided to add a couple of new categories – digital art and street art /graffiti – in addition to the usual fine art category on canvas or print for the competition.
Open to all Malaysians from aged 18 to 29 years, submission of artwork for all three categories must be uploaded as photos online via Nando’s Art Initiative website at www.nandos.com.my/artinitiative, latest by April 30.
“Since its inception (in 2008), the art initiative has served as a stepping stone for young aspiring artists to make a name for themselves in the local art scene and beyond,” said Ian Cruddas, chief executive officer of Nando’s Chickenland Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
The first winner of the Nando’s Peri-fy Your Art competition held in 2008 was Ali Bebit, who is now an acclaimed artist and sculptor.
Cruddas added that this year’s theme (Alive) is a call to invite artists to discover ‘its meaning’ through their own perspectives and life experiences.
Popular graffiti artist Kenji Chai was commissioned to translate this year’s theme from his perspective and he proceeded to cover the entire front of the Nando’s Chinatown outlet building with a massive mural of a cockerel, which was completed in just four days.

It was the street artist’s biggest artwork to date and marked the inclusion of graffiti art in the Nando’s Art Initiative competition.
The competition will see a diverse and distinguished panel of judges comprising TimeOut KL art editor Rachel Jena; painter, illustrator and Primeworks Studio’s head of content innovation Marini “Nini” Ramlan; graffiti artist Bee from Phobia; Nando’s Chickenland Malaysia group chief executive officer Mac Chung Lynn; as well as Cruddas and Ali.
The respective winners of the grand prize for the fine art and digital art categories will receive RM5,000 cash, a sponsored solo exhibition and mentorship each.
The first and second runners-up will receive RM3,000 and RM2,000 cash respectively along with a mentorship. There will also be three consolation prizes of RM1,000 cash each.
The winner of the grand prize for the street art /graffiti category will receive RM5,000 cash while three consolation prize winners will get RM2,000 cash each.
All winners from all the categories will also be presented with Nando’s vouchers worth RM500.
All work will be judged based on originality and creativity, interpretation of theme, quality of design and composition, use of medium and artistic finish, and overall impression.