2024 UOB Art in Ink Awards

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.

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

Requirements

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.

2. Each participant can submit three entries for the Awards.

3. 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.