Lourdes Zolezzi "Que bella es la vida"

Wladyslaw Serwatowski sent me the following comments on the awards, which will be published in the Biennale catalogue: THE CHINESE IN RZESZOW – RZESZOW IN CHINA I was not very surprised about the surprisingly unanimous verdict of our 5 CAB jury. The main prize for the now 41-year-old Han Jiaying from Shenzhen in China, had confirmed my conviction, that indeed Chinese project designers will dominate in International competitions of Graphic Art and Design in the 21st century. This had been so in June of 2002, in Warsaw at the 18th International Poster Biennale Poster Awards when a silver medal in the category of ideal posters had been awarder to Jianping He (born in 1973) and a bronze medal in the category of advertisement posters to Yang Liu. This year’s prizewinner had sent in to Rzeszow, an excellent cycle of four author’s books originally assembled and dedicated to their creativity. Some jurors had dedicated several hours for the precise analysis of these books, an attractive editorial project. The best graphics proved to be those of Han’s, which he started designing in 1999 as a series of „Limits”. In the year 2000, Han received in Rzeszow from 4 CAB the second place for a cycle of works also entitled „Limits”. In 2001, „Limits” found themselves at an exhibition of the best Chinese Contemporary Posters Exhibit organised by the Museum of Posters in Ogaki, Japan by Prof. Noboru Matsura. Han distinguished himself at the exhibit in frame of the Poster Triennale in Hong Kong in 2001 under the title of „The Power of Posters” with a composition entitled „The Discovery of Cities”. He departed from it from designing in black and white to designing in colour and with mixed techniques: photography, collages and deep rastering. Han, receiving in Rzeszow of 2002 an additional honourable mention nearly dominated with his individuality this year’s competition, which has been maintaining itself on a high artistic level. Han also entered the small circle of designers (along with Leszek Szurkowski), who have been receiving prizes during the following editions of the sole competitions for works being objects as if from one family. Until now, there have been no statutory obstacles as to formally reject a piece of work, which fulfil the requirements for excellence and are derived from a computer from various years. This characteristic is one of the distinguishing features of graphic art when using a computer. Formerly, the design had been copied from a single plate, which after completing the editions, was destroyed. Today however, the author may make minimal interference into his earlier works, save it as a new project and win another competition with his friend-rivals. The attractive feature of Han’s designs consists in concentrating around signs of enhanced creativity derived from using a digital tool. It joins a skilled Chinese calligraphic tradition and creative brush writing with the transformation of a created and enlarged sign into a negative. The Genesis of Han’s works may be observed in a well known Chinese saying (chir zi jir shin – youth of the spirit) which is popular thanks to a self-sent message as well as rhythm and sound when being pronounced properly by a Chinese native. This natural design is not only well liked in China, where Han is an especially active utilitarian graphic designer, but also in Europe. The main prize of the V CAB for Jiaying Han are ensuing great laurels for Chinese designers in Rzeszow. For the I CAB, the main prize had been awarded to Kan Tai-Keung, then an independent designer from Hong-Kong. In 1998, the main prize of the III CAB was received in Rzeszow by Zhang Dali, born in 1960 (one year older than Han), graduate of the Academy of Arts and Industrial Design also from Shenzen in 1987 and Di Tang. These outstanding designers (Zhang has received a prize for Mastering Designing Skills, in 1996 in China) recall to this day, that Rzeszow was their first foreign city which they arrived in upon leaving China, from the province, which is famous for its prospering economical region. In 1998 the honorary prize had been also received by Wei Chen Xiong for his „Landscape of the Century”. The prizes received in Rzeszow are for the Chinese graphic designers a signal, that this is the most important city of the Region in which they are accomplishing the most significant settlements for their current Chinese culture. To the full aspect of Rzeszow-China relations, the participation of Qu Lei-Lei should be added (born in 1951 in Qi Qi Har, graduate of calligraphy in Beijing) as well as Henry Steiner’s (born in 1934 w Vienna and settled in Hong Kong since 1964) in an exhibition of the World’s Flags in Rzeszow in 1994, as well as the works of Tai Keung in a jury’s proceedings in 1998 along with the designing of a poster for the CAB. After several visits to Poland, Tai-Keung has published at Hong Kong’s Arts Development Council an album monogram entitled „Sentiments and Harmony”, in which Rzeszow’s influence is shown as an influential factor regarding the achievements and biography of Kan Tai Keung. The successes in Rzeszow are very also frequently exhibited by Zhang Dali. In November of 2001, Rzeszow had been visited by Geoffrey Wong from the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, co organiser of the International Triennale Poster Exhibition in the now Chinese Hong Kong. He came to win experience in Rzeszow, become acquainted with the previous competitions and lead discussions pertaining to the artistic Polish-Chinese co-operation with the chairman CEO of the Theatre named Wanda Siemaszkowa – Mr. Zbigniew Rybka. The designers, graphic designers, photographers, and poster designers and all being Chinese had been regularly sending in their works for many years to Rzeszow for both International competitions – Computer Art and Theatrical Posters. Countless works are being received from continental China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Thanks to these exhibited works during exhibitions, we get to know how the Chinese culture created a symbiosis with the influence of Portuguese and English civilizations. This type of art may be the ideal factor for Poles in getting to know the integration in Asia and the motor drive of the economic co-operation. The Articles published in w Shenzen after the successes of these Chinese artists in Rzeszow inspire Chinese businesses in establishing new economic contacts with the Province of Podkarpacie. If, and in which way the export will follow may only be observed on the exhibition’s opening day of the V CAB – 5th December, 2002. Two days prior, a decision may be taken of the final resolution in Monaco/Paris if the Universal Exhibition EXPO 2010 will be held in Poland or in China? Shanghai or Wroclaw? Rzeszow supports all efforts to receive by Poland the World Exhibition EXPO 2010 – with the slogan „Culture – Education Science – Media”. It is also the only city in which Polish and Chinese artistic interests are being focused upon. A city, which will be able to judge and comment if China is closer to Poland or is Poland is closer to China. Or maybe at the University of Rzeszow, a Centre for Chinese Culture Studies will be created, as well as Sinology, supported by Asian partners? There is a vast source of materials for research. Collections of Chinese computer art may constitute to a promising start. Wladyslaw Serwatowski Jury Leader home    more winners  page created on December 1, 2002 / this section is part of Rene Wanner's Poster Page /