2022 John Moores Painting Prize（China）Exhibition

TAG's New Exhibition Unveiled | International Authoritative Painting Prize Debuts in Qingdao

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition" was held at TAG Art Museum on the afternoon of 20th May. The exhibition was co-organized by TAG Art Museum, John Moores Painting Prize Trust, and Powerlong Museum.

The John Moores Painting Prize, launched in the UK in 1957, has served as the leading prize for British painting for more than 60 years and has earned a reputation internationally.

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition"Exhibition View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©Shaoli Huang

The event marks the first time that an authorized international painting prize appears in Qingdao. With that, this exhibition could allow those interested in art to learn about the evolution of contemporary art around the globe while also providing a platform for international cultural and artistic exchange for local artists in this lovely coastal city.

Artists at the opening, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©JJ

A total of 1,702 artists from 32 Chinese provinces, cities, and autonomous regions submitted works for the competition. And the competition adopted an anonymous selection method, and 118 artists were chosen to participate in the exhibition after multiple rounds of decisions by an international jury. Finally, the "John Moores Painting Award (China) Winner" was given to five post-80s artists: Chen Jiabin, Nie Li, You Xin, Peng Yong, and Jin Dawei.

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition"Exhibition View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©Shaoli Huang

During the opening ceremony, the artists chosen for this exhibition demonstrated their artistic ideas and the art creation process. These artists, who are at the forefront of contemporary art in China, used their artwork to reflect their feelings and viewpoints, their concern for social issues as artists, and their perspectives about the present and the future.

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition" Exhibition View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©JJ

"The John Moores Prize represents a significant port in the field of contemporary painting, and the opening ceremony is held in the historic port city of Qingdao, demonstrating how the port's open-mindedness and acceptance of diversity are consistent with the John Moores Prize's initial goals", said Fang Qiwen, a representative of Liverpool John Moores University. In addition, she talked about the residency program for prize-winning artists in the UK.

She also invited the winners to visit Liverpool John Moores University, serving as a co-organizer to provide a conducive environment for their artistic expression.

On the day of the opening ceremony, a forum of the winning artists was also held at the music auditorium to allow participants to interact with the artists in-depth and help provide a deeper understanding of the works of the new finalists and their creative styles.

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition" Lecture View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©JJ

The significance of the prize's inception was first covered at the forum by Ling Min, director of the John Moores Trust. She explained, "The John Moores Painting Prize has been established for 66 years, and the precious memory could serve as both a historical record and archive as well as a legacy of modern art and culture."

In a panel discussion between previous winners, artists Han Feng, Nie Zhengjie, and Lang Shuilong discussed the impact of the prize on their careers, talking about the new paths they explored since winning the prize and how the John Moores Painting Prize has helped to bring them together in a community of like-minded individuals who share their artistic dreams.

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition" Lecture View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©JJ

Following that was a panel discussion among this year’s winners, in which artists Nie Li, Peng Yong, Jin Dawei, and Chen Jiabin discussed their thoughts and artistic experiences, as well as the stories behind the prize-winning works.

The artists' sincerity, passion, and love for their art careers were evident in the way they presented themselves. Furthermore, the prize will boost their confidence and courage in their future endeavors.

Curator: Lewis Biggs, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©JJ

The exhibition's curator, Lewis Biggs, spoke at the end of the forum and officially inaugurated the exhibition. "The view from the TAG Art Museum is of mountains, beaches, and even fishing boats, and the museum combines architecture with the environment excellently," he said of the exhibition's location, "when we set up the exhibition, we took this into full consideration in order to recombine the architectural space, the environment, and the natural light into a new work."

"The 7th John Moores Painting Prize (China) Exhibition"Exhibition View, @TAG Art Museum, 2023, Photographer©Shaoli Huang

The opening ceremony was live-streamed in collaboration with Art Headlines (an app developed by Shenzhen Artron net Co., Ltd.), and the artists' discussions and conversations received nearly 15,000 online views.

During the exhibition, the participants will be invited to vote for their favorite artwork by one of the 118 selected artists. And the artwork with the most votes will be awarded the "Canson Audience Award" after the exhibition.

This exhibition will be on display until the 6th of August. Visit the most beautiful coastal museum to experience the new generation of Chinese contemporary works of art.