A highlight of the Yellowren Arts Festival 2025 is the Inter-School Canvas Art Competition and Showcase, featuring the creative talents of students from primary and secondary schools in Singapore.

This year at our 8th festival edition, 150 teams representing primary and secondary schools are participating in the competition. Teams will be interpreting the festival theme "Move" and expressing their creativity on canvas.

Participants will enjoy a uniquely Yellowren experience that extends beyond the competition which will conclude with a vibrant exhibition, celebrating the interpretation of our young artists.

Derrick Goh is the Group Chief Operating Officer at DBS, where he leads the Operations and Transformation Group. With over three decades of experience in finance and banking, Derrick’s career has taken him across the globe from Paris to London, New York to Singapore. His global experience is matched by a grounded dedication to making a difference at home.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Derrick is passionate about public service. He has served the community as a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, where his focus on improving infrastructure and the daily lives of residents has left a lasting and meaningful impact. Derrick also cherishes the arts and values genuine human connection. His leadership is felt not only in the systems he helped built, but in the hearts of those he inspired.

Honda Mamoru is a Japanese artist born in 1973. He began his career as a painter in 2016 and has since held 19 solo exhibitions entitled Hitorikoten. By August 2025, Mamoru would have presented more than 700 works.

His signature character, BlackFrogs—a black frog with a single thick eyebrow—embodies his distinctive style. Dedicated to the expressive power of hand-drawn art, Mamoru continues to explore a heartfelt, unique and imaginative visual language. Mamoru will be leading the judging panel at Yellowren Canvas Art Competition 2025.
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Story of BlackFrogs
‍"Since I was a child, I used to hate frogs. I couldn’t even stand to look at them.
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After the great Tsunami struck Japan, I was in the area doing (emergency) relief work.
And I noticed a big frog.

I held the frog in my cupped hands and I sensed the frog’s vitality.
At that moment, the hate was gone, replaced by compassion and respect.​

Since then, I came to love frogs and, remembering my experience, began to draw black frogs.
That is why we are called “BlackFrogs”.

In our lives, there is happiness, joy and sometimes tough times and sadness.
At those times, BlackFrogs are always beside me.
We laugh together and we cry together."