Acclaimed in the industry as the "Oscars of the Imaging World" and one of the most prestigious photography competitions in China, the "ColorPhotography.com? 4th China New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey" Annual New Rising Photographers Awards Ceremony will take place on January 11 at Fulidu Qingfengyuan Hotel in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. This year’s ceremony will reveal the winners of the 2013 China New Rising Photographers Award.
The ColorPhotography.com? China New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey was launched in 2010, and this year marks its fourth edition. The "New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey" is dedicated to scouting new forces in the photography world, continuously discovering emerging local photographers, providing more creative opportunities for innovative talents, and contributing to building a healthy ecosystem for China’s imaging industry.
The 4th edition of the ColorPhotography.com? China New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey officially launched on July 1, 2013, and went through four stages: preliminary selection, initial selection, refined selection, and final selection. The preliminary round lasted four months and received 1,872 series from 1,377 photographers, totaling 32,175 images. During the refined selection phase, after careful review, comparison, discussion, and judging by authoritative experts including Ruan Yizhong, Gu Zheng, Xiao Quan, Gao Lei, Chen Guangjun, Liu Lihong, Duan Yuting, Wang Jingchun, and Yan Zhigang, 10 series were ultimately selected. Their creators were shortlisted as nominees for the Top 10 New Rising Photographers and competed for the 2013 New Rising Photographers Award. They are (in no particular order): Sheng Junwei Faceless, Zhang Wei Artificial Troupe – The Leaders, Yang Liu A Chinese Fatty’s Western Art History, Ouyang Shizhong New Territory – New Jiangnan Water Towns, Li Hongqiang The Lost “Landscape”, Liu Tao 24 Abducted Children, Yang Yang Floating Dust, Wu Jingli Inside and Outside Zhuangli, Song Wenhui Father’s Land, and Li Ming Home.
All finalists will attend an expert meet-and-greet organized by ColorPhotography.com on January 10 at Canal No. 5, a creative district located by the canal on Sanbao Street in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, where they will engage in in-depth discussions with the judges. The judges will comprehensively evaluate each photographer’s creative background, intentions, and future artistic plans, while also providing tailored advice and suggestions regarding both the works and the photographers themselves. Ultimately, based on the submissions and personal assessments, the judges will select the winner of the Annual New Rising Photographers Award.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s "ColorPhotography.com? China New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey" will also host a New Rising Image Power Summit under the theme "Building a New Photography Ecosystem." The summit has invited Frederick Baldwin, founder and president of the Houston Photo Festival in the United States, Pierre-Yves Mahé, director of the Paris College of Art and curator of the Niépce Museum, as well as renowned Taiwanese photographer Ruan Yizhong to deliver keynote speeches. Additionally, the summit will explore three topics in depth with this year’s judges and special guests: "Glory and Dreams: How Chinese Photography Connects with the International Stage," "Representation and Expression: How Chinese Photography Breaks from Tradition," and "Value and Discovery: How the Image Collection Industry Can Thrive Rationally." The summit aims to offer more perspectives and insights for building a positive ecosystem for emerging talent in China’s photography community.
In addition, following last year’s successful photography exhibition, this year’s "New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey" by ColorPhotography.comwill collaborate with Changzhou Guanghefang Culture Communication Co., Ltd. to continue hosting the "ColorPhotography.com 2013 China New Rising Photographers Works Exhibition" at Canal No. 5, Changzhou’s creative district. In addition to showcasing works by the Top 10 New Rising Photographers, the exhibition will feature 50 images from the French Sipa Press’s themed exhibition "Passion for France," provided by one of the world’s four major photo agencies, Sipa Images, as well as a thematic exhibition by 20 renowned photographers from Changzhou under the theme "Harmony in Diversity." The rich variety of themes is sure to bring this year’s New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey to a perfect close. Gao Lei, the exhibition’s curator, internationally renowned photographic artist, and one of the jury members, spoke highly of ColorPhotography.com’s four-year "China New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey": "This is an event that creates a 'new rising ecosystem.' Its rigorous and fair 'new' selection mechanism affirms the free spirit of grassroots photographers. This system serves as a catalyst for encouraging new talents to spread correct values to the general public—not a planner of flashy displays, nor a Charon-like ferryman sending them into the 'art museum island' to become new art elites."
The exhibition will officially open at 10:00 AM on January 11 at Canal No. 5, 141 Sanbao Street, Changzhou, and is expected to run until February 28.
Information 1: Judges of the 2013 ColorPhotography.com New Rising Photographers Discovery Journey
Ruan Yizhong