John Moores Painting Prize China
“JMPP China has the potential to be ‘a powerful source of transformation of the long tradition of Chinese painting in a contemporary global context.”
– Wang Da Wei, Executive Dean, Shanghai University, Fine Arts College
The launch of JMPP China coincided with an upsurge of interest in contemporary art in China, with many young artists seeking to find their voice against a backdrop of immense cultural and social change. The Prize aims to offer an aspirational opportunity of independent standing for Chinese artists, both established and emerging, with cultural exchange between UK and China at its heart. The Prize builds upon the twinning of the port cities of Liverpool and Shanghai. Minsheng Art Museum Shanghai is the venue partner for the Prize in China.
The China Prize is not a monetary award, but provides the prize-winning artists with the opportunity to travel to the UK, to take-up studio-based residencies and exhibitions at the School of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University. The five prize-winning works from China are displayed at the Walker Art Gallery, as part of the John Moores Painting Prize. Whenever possible, the prize-winning artists from the UK are invited to visit Shanghai and show their works alongside the JMPP China exhibition.
The Trust invites leading and influential artists from China to join with prominent international artists to form the selection team. The aim is to encourage critical debate and discussion of the China submission. A growing network of exhibiting artists, previous prize-winners and alumni help to create a professional reception for the artists. The development of a language of critique around practice is an important part of the vision for the JMPP China.
