2024 UOB Art in Ink Awards

Awards Introduction
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As the leading patron of the arts in Asia, UOB is committed to promoting and enriching the development of ink art. In 2023, UOB China launched the first UOB Art in Ink Awards Campus Edition. The Awards is a testament to UOB's commitment to uncovering artistic talents and rejuvenating the cultural heritage of ink art. The Awards invites the Art and Design Education FutureLab (FutureLab) as the strategic partner to provide professional advice and full support for the competition.

A total of 15 outstanding winners were selected from the judging by five professional independent judges (Mr. Zhang Zikang, former director of the Central Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, professor, and doctoral advisor; Mr. Chen Tong, teacher, artist, publisher, and critic; Mr. Qiu Anxiong, artist; Ms. Wu Wei, critic, curator; and Mr. Lorenz Helbing, founder of ShanghART Gallery). The winning artworks will be exhibited nationwide to showcase the unique charm of contemporary ink and the thinking of campus talents.

This year, the Awards will have two categories - Campus Talent and Emerging Artist two categories and launched on the same date as the "UOB Ink Art Award" in Hong Kong SAR. The new Emerging Artist category is open to young artists aged 35 and under and selected by a panel of judges.

To inspire diverse young talents’ innovative inspiration and stimulate their creative enthusiasm, the Awards will increase the selection dimensions, which aims to encourage more artists to express their ink art and feel the openness and sustainability of the Awards.

  • Awards announcement: 30 April 2024
  • Submission period: 30 April - 10 July 2024
  • Shortlisting period: 22 – 28 July 2024
  • Top 60 - Campus Talent category announcement and public voting: 29 - 31 July 2024
  • Top 30*1 - Campus Talent category announcement and portfolio submission: 1 - 15 August 2024
  • Campus Talent category second interview and artwork transportation: August 2024
  • Shortlisted Emerging Artist category announcement: September 2024
  • Final judging: September to October 2024
  • Awards ceremony: November 2024
  • Awards exhibition: November 2024 – February 2025*2

*1The top 30 candidates were selected based on the panel of judges’ decisions and public voting results.

*2 The specific date and venue of the exhibition will be confirmed later and announced by UOB China’s official WeChat account. Follow our official WeChat account to get the latest information about the Awards.

Organiser: United Overseas Bank (China) Limited

Strategic Partner: Art and Design Education FutureLab (FutureLab)

  1. Awards Category:
  • Campus Talent Category
  • Emerging Artist Category
  1. Prizes
  • Campus Talent Category

The following prizes will be awarded to winners:

UOB Most Promising Talent of the Year Award: one winner - CNY30,000

Gold Award: one winner – CNY15,000

Silver Award: one winner - CNY10,000

Bronze Award: one winner - CNY5,000

  • Emerging Artist Category

UOB Most Emerging Artist of the Year: one winner - The winning artist will be selected by judging committees. The organiser will sponsor the winner to hold a solo exhibition.

  1. Exhibition
  1. All top 15 entries of the Campus Talent category and shortlisted entries of the Emerging Artist category will be part of the Awards exhibition at the venue designated by the organiser.
  2. All top 15 entries of the Campus Talent category and shortlisted entries of the Emerging Artist category stand an opportunity to be exhibited at the 2024 FutureLab Art Fair and the UOB-owned or partnered galleries/premises in Hong Kong SAR and Southeast Asia.
  1. Transportation and Accommodation

All transportation and accommodation expenses will be borne by the Organiser if the winners participate in the UOB Art in Ink Awards ceremony.

  1. Other Art Collaborations

Awards also provide winners with excellent opportunities, including but not limited to winning artwork that will be selected as the cover of UOB China's annual report, The winners will receive an opportunity to an artist residency programme, commissioned art projects, and opportunities to engage with art experts, curators, critics, and gallery owners.

An independent panel of judges comprise renowned artists, art academics, art critics, art management and other art professionals will help with the judging of entries. The judging panel is looking for artists with outstanding concept, creativity, aesthetic expression, understanding of Chinese ink art and modern response toward today's ever-changing society.

  • Mr Zhang Zikang – Gallery Manager, Curator, Artist, Professor, PhD advisor
  • Mr Chen Tong – Teacher, Artist, Publisher, Critic
  • Mr Qiu Anxiong – Internationally renowned contemporary artist
  • Ms Wu Wei – Publisher, Critic, Curator
  • Mr Lorenz Helbing – Founder of ShanghART Gallery
  1. The Campus Talent category is open to all domestic and overseas tertiary students with the People's Republic of China Resident Identity Cards or international students with valid tertiary education certificates issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (including those who will graduate in 2024). Participation is free of charge, and the participant should submit the work via UOB and Art WeChat mini-programme.

A panel of professional judges will nominate the Emerging Artist category candidates and is open to artists under 35 holding a People's Republic of China Resident Identity Card.

  1. Each participant can submit three entries for the Awards.
  2. No medium restrictions and requirement
  • Two-dimensional Artworks

3 to 8 images of the artworks. All framed artworks should subject to a maximum width of 240cm. One image should be demonstrating the effect of the artwork hanging on a wall.

  • Three-dimensional Artworks

3 to 8 images of the artwork that fully represent the form and details of the artwork. The maximum dimension of the original artwork should be subject to 200 centimetres, and the weight should be below 150 kilograms.

Materials include bronze, iron, wood, stone, and stainless steel. Resin materials may be used for special needs, but fragile materials are limited.

  • Mixed Media

This includes installation artworks and video works.

3 to 8 images or renderings that fully represent the form and details of the artwork.

The video should not exceed 30 minutes in duration and should be in MP4 or MOV format, with a file size below 100MB.

For artworks involving sound, light, electricity, AR, VR, etc., detailed information should be provided, including the names, models, power consumption, spatial requirements of the electrical equipment, and detailed installation plans and exhibition drawings. Artworks and equipment should not have security risks, including fire, flammability, or explosion hazards. If specific technical equipment is used in the artwork, a list of equipment and operating instructions should be provided.

  1. Participants must comply with the relevant copyright legislation. All submission materials submitted for this award must be original works of the participant. The participant must also be the owner of all submitted materials. Entries in violation of copyright or related offences will be disqualified. The participant should bear his/her legal liability. Any legal dispute is not related to the Organiser.
  2. Participants should not submit artworks that have been offered for sale.
  3. The artwork must not promote illegal behaviour; support racial, religious, sexual, or other invidious prejudice; advocate sexual or violent exploitation; violate rights established by law or agreements; invade the privacy of any persons; or be otherwise disqualified by the Organiser in its sole and conclusive determination.
  4. The top 30 participants should be prepared to be able to send portfolios to the Organiser’s working email: info@ade-futurelab.com.
  1. The top 30 participants shall grant UOB China an unlimited worldwide, royalty-free, exclusive license to exhibit, archive and reproduce images of their winning entries.
  2. Participants agree that UOB China reserves the right including but not limited to reproduce, use, exhibit, publish and distribute the copy of entries through any media for the purpose of marketing and promotion without any payment in respect of such use and prior notice to the participants.
  3. All Top 30 artworks should be open to local and overseas exhibitions presented by UOB China. Details of each exhibition will be communicated to the participants in advance.
  1. Provide individual information
  2. Artwork high-resolution print-quality file (request as below)
    1. Maximum of eight images
    2. JPG/MOV/MP4 format
    3. Artwork submissions should have a file size of not less than 3MB but not exceeding 8 MB. Individual video file is less than 100MB.
    4. The participant must provide a clear and well-lit image of the artwork. The artwork should be photographed against a white background, with the camera facing the artwork at a front angle.
    5. If an artwork is drawn based on a photo, the photos must be taken by the participant, or the participant must have written permission from the photographer to use the photos.
  3. Provide bilingual artistic concepts and ideas as artwork descriptions in 300 words (Including year of creation, material, size, artwork description). Artworks must related to elements (including but not limited to materiality, form, and technique) of ink.

 

Scan to submit

The shortlisted participants are required to submit the actual artwork to the Organiser. The expense for the transportation will be borne by the Organiser.

  1. All entries will be evaluated by the panel of judges appointed at the discretion of UOB China. The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into this subject before, during, and/or after the Awards.
  2. All winners should cooperate with UOB China for the promotions related to the Awards.
  3. UOB China reserves the right not to award any of the stipulated prizes should entries fail, in the judges’ opinion, to meet the required standards.
  4. If the artworks cannot meet the above criteria and requirements for participation, UOB China reserves the final decision-making authority regarding the eligibility of all submissions.
  5. UOB China reserves the right to change the guidelines and Rules and Regulations at any time without prior notice and the Awards may be withdrawn or terminated by UOB China at its discretion without prior notice. UOB China accepts no liability for any such change, withdrawal and termination.
  6. The decision of UOB China on all matters not provided for by the above Rules and Regulations shall be final and conclusive.

For specific issues encountered during the application process, such as submission procedures, judging timeline, artwork transportation, etc., inquiries can be made via email to info@ade-futurelab.com.

UOB Campus Ink Art of the Year Award



Live as Lightning
Yuan Linxin,Ink on Paper,239X140

2023 Platinum Award



Life in Cyberspace
Fu Jingwen,Ink and Colour on paper,180X360

2023 Gold Award



Black Iron in Landscape
Li Yepeng,Ink on Silk,250X150

2023 Silver Award



My Landscape Poem to Maternal Grandfather
Zhang Ziyi,Ink on Paper and Collage,180X200X5

2023 Bronze Award



Exhaust My Interest before Returning Home
Du Ruoxin,Ink and Colour on Silk,160X200


Quiet snow
Guo Yuhui,Ink and Colour on Silk,88X198

2023 Highly Commended



Flaming Gold
Cai Fan,Ink and Colour on Silk,200X160


Sneak in Moonlight
Chen Hanqing,Ink on Paper,138X108


Dream back to Xishan
Chu Yuqi,Ink and Colour on Silk,135X180X6


Spring Roaming by the West Lake
Jiang Luyu,Ink and Colour on Silk,240X200



History Began with Pantheon
Li Zhongcheng,Ink on Silk,200X75X3


Run to Nowhere
Liu Gang,Ink and Colour on Paper,128X100


Coincide
Wei Jialin,Ink on Silk, Acrylic,175X165


Granted with the Absolute Truth
Zen Haibo,Ink on Paper,180X220


The Birds
Zhang Qian,Five-layer Cloud Dragon Paper, Ink, Watercolour Pigment,90X384

2023 UOB Ink Art Awards Videos

  • All Videos
  • Awards introduction
  • Winners’ videos
2024 Art in Ink Awards Launch
2024_art_in_ink_awards_launch
Awards introduction

2024 Art in Ink Awards Launch

    2023 Art in Ink Awards Launch
    2023_art_in_ink_awards_launch
    Awards introduction

    2023 Art in Ink Awards Launch

      2023 Art in Ink Awards Launch – Christine IP
      2023_art_in_ink_awards_launch_–_christine_ip
      Awards introduction

      2023 Art in Ink Awards Launch – Christine IP

        2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Zhang Zikang
        2023_art_in_ink_awards_judges_video_–_zhang_zikang
        Awards introduction

        2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Zhang Zikang

          2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Chen Tong
          2023_art_in_ink_awards_judges_video_–_chen_tong
          Awards introduction

          2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Chen Tong

            2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Qiu Anxiong
            2023_art_in_ink_awards_judges_video_–_qiu_anxiong
            Awards introduction

            2023 Art in Ink Awards Judges video – Qiu Anxiong

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