September 28th, the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale was inaugurated at the National Art Museum of China. As a large international art exhibition jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Beijing Municipal People’s Government and the Chinese Artists Association with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale will run from September 28th through to October 22nd Themed “Future and Reality”, it has attracted artists from 84 countries with a total of over 700 works, producing extensive attention from the art worlds at home and abroad.

The Awards Ceremony and Welcome Dinner of the Fifth China Beijing International Art Biennale were held at the Beijing International Hotel on the evening of September 28th. Zhao Shi, Party Secretary and Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Qin Zhigang, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Zuo Zhongyi, Party member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Liu Dawei, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, Wu Changjiang, Executive Vice Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association and other leaders attended the Awards Ceremony. Artists from Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt and over 80 countries gathered together, sharing their experiences in art.

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Three teachers Chen Qi(Printmaking Department), Kang Jianfei(Printmaking Department) and Lu Hao(College of Extended Education) from the Central Academy of Fine Arts received awards at the ceremony. Prof. Chen Qi won an Outstanding Award with his printmaking “Annals No.2”(2012) while Associate Professor Kang Jianfei and Lu Hao won Young Chinese Artist Award with their works “Art as Media—Unwilling to Leave One’s Homeland No.2”(2010)and “Return to Paris in Dream”(2006).

It is reported that the Fifth Beijing International Art Biennale launched the Award Category of Best Award, Outstanding Award, and Young Chinese Artist Award with a total of 10 winners. Among which, Best Award is geared to foreign artists and two winners of this year’s awards were Alessandro Cardinale(Italy) with his installation “Redrawing Future”(2011) and Karannagodage Duminda Niroshan (Sri Lanka) with his sculpture “Post-war Period”(2010). Five winners of the Outstanding Awards included Abel Jimenez with his painting “Astral Journey”(2010), Jakrapong (Thailand) with his print” My Father”(2008), Chen Qi(China) with his print “Annals No.2”(2012), Maurice Pasternak (Belgium) with his print “Prabole2”(2007) and Shepherd Ndudzo (Zimbabwe) with his sculpture “Tug-of-War”(2008). Three winners of the Young Chinese Artists Awards included Liu Song’s sculpture “Remote Call”(2011), Kang Jianfei’s print “Art as Media—Unwilling to Leave One’s Homeland No.2”(2010) and Lu Hao with his oil painting “Return to Paris in Dream”(2006).

Curated by Wu Changjiang, the scurrent vice president of China Artists Association, the 5th Beijing Biennale, themed with “Future and Reality”, combines the future spiritual pursuit and the real human care, and builds a colorful art world that transcends reality and marches forward into the future through art. It not only records the arduous footprint of contemporary people to get out of the trouble of reality and create a bright future, but also carries the everlasting dream of ancient people. The exhibition covers over 500 pieces of works from 84 countries, and also includes a Special Exhibition of Mexican Art, a Special Exhibition of Armenia Contemporary Art, a Special Exhibition of Indian Contemporary Art and a Special Exhibition of Francisco Goya’s Print Making. It is worth mentioning that, in preparation for “the Mexican Modern and Contemporary Art Exhibition”, the Chinese Artists Association has a specialized delegation to conduct fieldwork negotiations in Mexico, which has become one of the highlights of this biennale showcasing the unique charm of modern and contemporary art in Mexico. Also international symposiums will be held during this biennale focusing on the issues related with “Future and Reality of Art”.