Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia took part in The Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Signature Art Prize representing five works of art nomination of Indonesian artists competing for a price of 45,000 Singapore dollars.

The Indonesian artists taking part in the event included Ay Tjoe Christine, Eko Nugroho, Agustinus Kuswidananto, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra and Tintin Wulia competing for 130 works from 24 countries.

Director of Singapore Art Museum (SAM) Tan Boon Hui said Indonesia for the first time take part in the APB Foundation Signature Art Prize.

"SAM was very proud in collaborating with APB Foundation for the second edition of Signature Art Prize," he said.

He said Asian contemporary art has emerged as one of the most innovative and sensitive arts and the expanded reach of appreciations this year.

"It is this that enabled us to validate and present more artists and operate in Asia and the Pacific," he said.

The appreciation and presenting the best of the contemporary art in the part of the world in the last few years.

"This shows a role played by SAM in finding works of art as a breakthrough with a significant meaning for our part of the world, and show the audience of art lovers, art critics and international level collectors, he said.

Therefore, he said, in view of the success of the event in 2008, the APB Foundation has raised its fundings to offer artists from Asia and Pacific in the appreciation.

The 2011 nomination has been expanded from only 12 countries and participating areas to include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, and other Oceasiania and Pacific islands, he said.

He said the APB Foundation has increased its prizes from 2.25 million US dollars for five events to 4.45 million US dollars.

Therefore, the 2011 event has received almost four times the nominated works of art with 34 works of art in the first event. This event will also elect 15 finalists for the main prize, compared to 10 finalists back in 2008, he said.

In the meantime General Manager of Group Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific Breweries Limited, Ms. Sarah Koh said the leading appreciations is based on judging by the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) under the sponsorship of APB Foundation identifying and appreciating artists for their extraordinary works of art, presenting the lastest and significant work from the world of art in this part of the world and encourage the development of contemporary art in Asia and Pacific.

The second edition of the three years of activities of APB Foundation Signature Art Prize had expanded to cover nominations from Asia and Pacific, he said.

Sarah Koh said that the nominated 130 works are the work of art and a breakthrough, made created between 2008 and 2010 and selected by 31 professionals of the world of art and independent curators.

The exhibition displayed the works of art of the finalists to be opened on November 11, 2011, and the community may also give their votes during the event, he said.

The winners of the main prize, appreciation from the jury and the People`s Choice Awards will be announced at a dinner of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize Awards Dinner on November 18, 2011. (*)