To summarize the academic achievements of Guanlan International Print Biennials over four years, jointly hosted by the Committee of Printmaking Art, Chinese Artists Association, and Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, organized by Beijing Unionart, “Honor: Prize-winning Prints of the Guanlan International Biennials” exhibits in Beijing Unionart, on July 6 through to August 6, 2013. Featuring all the award-winning works over the last four years, to some extent, this exhibition represents the actual appearance of the current international printmaking art. Guanlan International Print Biennial has been successfully held four times since 2007. Guang Jun, Professor of CAFA, Honorary Director of the Committee of Printmaking Art, Chinese Artists Association, as well as Professor Qi Fengge from Shenzhen University served as the curators of the first biennale, which featured 223 finalists, selected from 1976 pieces of works from 57 countries across the world, including 15 works that initially won the Guanlan Printmaking Awards, which holds an open, tolerant, pluralistic attitude.

In the Second Guanlan International Print Biennale 2009, 242 finalists were selected from2804 works from 70 countries, 11 works won the awards, Prof. Zhang Yuanfan from China Academy of Art and Prof. Li Baoquan from Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts serving as the curators.

Because of the strong propaganda and academic influence of the first and second sessions, the quantity and quality of the third year largely leapt so that 3697 works from 81 countries participated in the selection, and directed by Jiang Lu, Su Xinping and Dong Xiaoming, 233 works were ultimately selected and among 15 works won the awards. Thus, the continuous organization and development of the biennale, marks Chinese printmaking integrally participating with the world, actively intervening in the international art exchange exhibition with a more positive and open attitude, building an international exchange platform to exercise a Chinese cultural discourse in a Chinese context and cultural background.

This year, presided over by Kang Jianfei, deputy professor of CAFA, and Liu Libin, the 4th Guanlan International Print Biennale was successfully held in Shenzhen, following on from this is the touring exhibition that is scheduled to be held across the nation. The exhibition has collected 3965 works from 80 countries and regions, 15 that won the “Guanlan Printmaking Awards”, from the 260 finalists. Thus, the increasing numbers of artists and works, make a formation of a fiercer and healthier competition for the biennale, at the same time upgrading the work of artists, printmaking base, and museum, to gradually enrich and perfect the system, to maintain an image of high standard and quality, leading a trend within the Print Biennial, to promote the development of printmaking, in a professional and standardized way.

About the exhibition

Opening: 16:00 pm, July 6, 2013

Exhibition Dates: July 6 - August 6, 2013

Venue: Unionart, Creative Arts Plaza, 798 Art Zone, Beijing, China

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO