Chinese Artist to be Awarded at Muse Awards

2015-06-09　Source: China daily

Chinese artist Wang Hongjian will be awarded for his excellence in painting at the 50th edition of the International Muse Awards in Florence, Italy, on June 13.

"The Wall" by Wang Hongjian.

The news was announced at a press conference held by the committee in Florence on June 9.

The term "Muse", when capitalized, refers to any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences. Professionals in 12 fields are to be awarded for their work at the upcoming ceremony.

Wang is to receive the Erato award, an honor established to recognize excellence in art. Wang is the first Asian recipient of a Muse award in its history spanning half a decade. After the event on Saturday, Wang will also be appointed as a member of the academy at the International Muse Academy.

Chinese oil painter Wang Hongjian was born in 1955. Aside from winning recognition from home and abroad, including four top awards at China's National At Exhibition and an honorary prize from the Russian Academy of Sciences, several works by Wang have been sold at auction, including "Spring Snow" at Sotherby's New York "Contemporary Art Asia" in 2006 for $60,000.

The Muse

The International Muse Award was established by lady Giuliana Plastino Fiumicelli and then-mayor of Florence Giorgio La Pira to recognize excellence in professionals working in cultural industries in 1965.

Initially, the nine award categories were named after one of nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over the arts, including Erato (art), Colliope (poetry), Clio (history and philosophy), Talia (literature), Polimnia (conducting and music composition), Euterpe (singing), Melpomene (theater), Tersicore (dance) and Urnnia (science). Three more categories were added later on, with X Musa (film), XI Musa (television) and Apollo Musagete (economy).

Each year, eleven jury members select and award one most representative person in the fields mentioned above. Recipients are also appointed as members of the academy in the International Muse Academy. Award ceremonies are held each year in June at Salone dei Cinquecento, a hall that's designed by artists Baccio Bandinelli and Giorgio Vasari, both students of art master Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. As a way of respecting the honored tradition, the recipients are asked to collect the award in person.