Sovereign Asian Art Prize Announces Lengthy Shortlist

Thirty artists have been put forward for the prize, which helps raise money for disadvantaged children.

The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) has announced the finalists for the 20th Sovereign Asian Art Prize.

Among them are Singapore's Sim Chi Yin, Balinese British artist Sinta Tantra, and Canadian-born, Hong Kong-based artist Chan Ka Kiu.

The full list of artists can be viewed on SAF's website here.

The 30 finalists' artworks were whittled down from 362 entries nominated by 55 art professionals. All 30 will be part of a public exhibition in Hong Kong from 8 to 16 May.

Selected artworks will be sold at the exhibition for a fixed price, while others will be auctioned at a gala dinner on 17 May. Proceeds will be split evenly between the artists and SAF's charity programmes, which include art workshops for disadvantaged children.

The winner of the Grand Prize will receive U.S. $30,000.

While almost two thirds of the shortlisted artists are women, SAF is persisting with the U.S. $5,000 Vogue Hong Kong Women's Art Prize.

Previous winners of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize include Li Binyuan and Alexander Seton. —[O]