Polish artist wins top prize at 1st Xuyuan International Print Biennial in Beijing

The first Xuyuan International Print Biennial opened on Saturday at the Xuyuan Art Museum in Beijing with Polish printmaker Kamil Kocurek winning the event’s top prize of $ 15,000 with his work Topography of War.

Prints from 88 artists on display at the biennial were selected from among 5,000 pieces by 1,169 artists from 50 countries and regions.

The jury was made up of members from both domestic art academies and art managing organizations overseas including Belgium, Italy, Poland and the US.

“During the judging process, jury members often became caught up in fierce debates because artworks from different countries, on one hand, explore the intension of printmaking and, on the other hand, challenge its limits; which is the core of controversy,” Qiu Zhijie, one of the jury members, said at the opening ceremony on Saturday.

The origins of printmaking can be traced back nearly 1,500 years to China’s Sui Dynasty ( 581- 618), eight centuries earlier than its use during the Renaissance.

“Although print is presented differently in different cultural traditions around the world, it is all the same pursuit when approached on the spiritual level. This exhibition focuses on understanding different techniques and content, and appreciating different cultural values,” exhibition curator Zhou Rongrong said at the opening.

Established in 2011, Xuyuan is an art- collection- based platform whose goal is to promote printmaking, sculpture and ceramics.