The Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards 2009, one of the largest open art competitions in Hong Kong presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art, has selected 14 winners from more than 2,200 entries after two rounds of selection. The Museum of Art has organised the Hong Kong Art Biennial since 1975 and this year’s event is the 16th in the series. Over the past 10 years, many independently curated international biennales and triennales have been presented around the world.
To distinguish the unique nature and mission of the “Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition”, this competition-cum-exhibition event was renamed the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards (HKCAB) this year. Through open competition, this large-scale art activity is organised to encourage more artistic creation, participation and exchange among artists, enhance public appreciation of art, and promote the status of Hong Kong in the international arena. The adjudicators of HKCAB 2009 noted that the winning entries, in a wide range of media, reflected the diversity of Hong Kong art as well as the styles and characteristics of contemporary Hong Kong artists.
The panel of adjudicators is composed of nine renowned local artists and scholars and six artists from overseas and the Mainland. They are the calligraphy connoisseur Mr Huang Junshi; calligrapher, painter, seal engraver and Associate Professor of the Fine Arts Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Mr Tong Kam-tang; calligrapher and expert advisor to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Mr Tsang Kwong-choi; sculptor, printmaker and expert advisor to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Mr Cheung Yee;artist-in-residence, and Assistant Professor of the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, Ms Cho Yeou-jui; chair of the board of directors ofAsia Art Archive, Ms Jane DeBevoise; sculptor and Emeritus Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, Mr Norman Ko Wah-man; installation artist, independent curator and Lecturerat the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, Ms Leung Mee-ping; and photographer, Manager of the Arts Support Division in the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and expert advisor to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ms Wong Wo-bik¡FProfessor at Southern China Normal University in Guangzhou, Mr Pi Daojian; Professor of the Art Education Centre in Fudan University in Shanghai, Mr Wang Tiande; Deputy Director of Zendai MoMA in Shanghai, Ms Binghui Huangfu; independent curator from London, Mr Scott Burnham; art critic and Dean of Ullens Fund, Mr Fei Dawei; and the Director of Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Mr Fumio Nanjo. Based on the originality, creativity and artistic merit of the entries, a total of 412 works were selected from more than 2,200 submissions for the second round of judging and 10 award winners were finally selected.
Two artists from the winners of the past 15 art biennials were selected for the Achievement Award, while two young artists were selected for the Young Artists Award. The results are as follows: Winners of the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards 2009 (In alphabetical order): Name of entrant: Ho Siu-nam Title of work: Into Light Media: Photography Name of entrant: Alexis Ip Ka-wai Title of work: Scene of Hong Kong: Fa Yuen Street Media: Photography Name of entrant: Koon Wai-bong Title of work: Reworking the Classics Media: Chinese Painting Name of entrant: Lam Tung-pang Title of work: Faith moves Mountain Media: Others Name of entrant: Kingsley Ng Title of work: Record: Light From +22 16’14″+114 08’48” Media: Installation Name of entrant: Tang Kwok-hin Title of work: The Photo Book of Mu Mu Dao Media: Sculpture Name of entrant: Tong Wing-sze Title of work: City Memory. Memorize Hong Kong Media: Video Art and Digital Art Name of entrant: Wong Hau-kwei Title of work: Rocky Cliff Media: Chinese Painting Name of entrant: Xu Bao Xun Title of work: My response towards Chinese calligraphy Media: Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Carving Name of entrant: Zhou Jin Title of work: Fu Media: Chinese Painting Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards – Achievement Awards: Name of entrant: Fung Yat-fung Title of work: Spirit of nature Media: Chinese Painting Name of entrant: Hung Keung Title of work: Dao Gives Birth to One Media: Video art and Digital Art Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards – Young Artist Awards: Name of entrant: Fong Sum-yu Title of work: Stolen times for sale Media: Video art and Digital Art Name of entrant: Lai Kwan-ting Title of work: May, 2008 Media: Chinese Painting Winners of the Art Biennial Awards will each receive a cash award of $25,000 and “The Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art Study Awards” of $30,000.
The two Young Artist Awards winners and the two Achievement Awards winners will each receive a cash award of $20,000 and $50,000 respectively. The winning entries and the other 70 selected works will be presented at an exhibition to be held at the Museum of Art from May to October next year. For more information on the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards 2009, please visit the Museum of Art’s website at http://hk.art.museum or call 2734 2137 or 2734 2138.
