Finalists of 2017 Hugo Boss Asia Art Award Announced

Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum and Hugo Boss announced the finalists for the third edition of the Hugo Boss Asia Art Award for Emerging Asian Artists on June 29. The four final candidates are Chinese artists Li Ming, Tao Hui, Yu Ji, and Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renhui. The four artists were all born in the 1980s.

The award, presented every two years, was first established in 2013 to celebrate emerging contemporary artists from greater China—including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and China—and Southeast Asia. It is now considered one of the most important awards for contemporary art in Asia. 

“The Hugo Boss Asia Art Award is a wonderful element in our arts sponsorship program. We are very happy to offer this platform to young talents for the third time, especially in such an important cultural context as Asia,” said Dr. Hjördis Kettenbach, Hugo Boss AG’s head of cultural affairs.

Robert Zhao Renhui , the only finalist from Southeast Asia, graduated from the Camberwell College of Arts in 2005 and received a master’s degree from London College of Communication in 2011. He is known for his multi-disciplinary approach that incorporates photography with documents and objects.

Hangzhou-based artist Li Ming is a China Academy of Art graduate. His recent solo exhibitions include “Meiwe” presented at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing in 2015 and “Mediation” at Antenna Space, Shanghai in 2014. 

Tao Hui graduated with a bachelor’s degree in oil painting from Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and currently lives and works in Beijing. He has held solo exhibitions in Hong Kong including “Hack Space” with K11 Art Foundation and “M+ Screening: Forty Years” at Broadway Cinematheque, both in 2016.

The only female finalist, Shanghai-based artist Yu Ji works extensively on sculpture and installation art, along with performance and videos. She has participated in exhibitions in major cities in China, Taiwan, and France, and is also a co-founder of AM Art Space, one of the few non-profit, experimental art spaces active in Shanghai today.

The final winner will be announced in November. The award includes a cash prize of RMB 300,000 (around USD 44,000). Previous recipients include Filipino artist Maria Taniguchi in 2015 and Kwan Sheung Chi from Hong Kong in 2013. A group exhibition showcasing recently commissioned and existing works by the four finalists will be on view at Rockbund Art Museum from October 27, 2017 to January 7, 2018.

Jia Dong is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.

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