The Sovereign Asian Art Prize was launched in 2003 to increase the international exposure of artists in the region, whilst raising funds for programmes that support disadvantaged children using expressive arts. Held annually, The Prize is now recognised as the most established and prestigious annual art award in Asia-Pacific. The Prize acts as a springboard, enabling many artists to achieve record prices and wider audiences for their work. Notable successes include Adrian Wong, Debbie Han, Haris Purnomo, Jeongmee Yoon, Qi Zhi Long, Rashid Rana and Yang Yongliang, amongst others.
Welcome to Charity!
The Sovereign Asian Art Prize
Overview
Aims and Objectives
To exhibit a true and balanced representation of the most significant contemporary art from the Asia-Pacific region, to showcase its diverse character and qualities, and to build and share a rich educational programme around the artists and the exhibition.
To widen and build knowledge of the work of lesser-known mid-career artists in the region, to give them public visibility, exposure in the art market and a wider international following.
To exhibit the works in a public art space or museum so that people in Hong Kong and overseas visitors may directly engage with some of the best contemporary art from the region and to make this exhibition available online to as broad an audience as possible.
To sell artworks and raise a significant amount for the artists and for charitable causes helping disadvantaged children in the region.
How It Works
Nomination and Shortlisting
The Prize invites mid-career contemporary artists, nominated by a board of independent art professionals, to each enter up to three artworks online. A judging panel comprised of world-class art experts shortlist the 30 best artworks from a range of digital images.
Exhibition and Artwork Auction
The shortlisted artworks are then exhibited in Hong Kong, where they are judged for a second time and voted on by the public. The judges scores are aggregated, and a Grand Prize winner is named. The other shortlisted artworks are auctioned, and proceeds split evenly between the artists and SAF. Artists receive the same split as they would through a gallery and the artworks often fetch higher prices thanks to generous bidding from charity patrons.
Public Vote
To boost engagement and increase exposure for the artists, the general public are invited to cast a vote online or in person for their favourite artwork displayed in the exhibition.
The Prizes
US$30,000 Grand Prize
US$1,000 Public Vote Prize
US$5,000 Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize
Prize Recipients and Previous Finalists
2021 Winner
Grand Prize Winner
Li Binyuan (China), Tilted Portrait
Public Vote Prize Winner
Imtiaj Rasel (Bangladesh), Journey by Bus
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner
Rithika Merchant (India), Saudade
2020 Winner
Alex Seton | Australia
Public Vote Prize Winner
Made Wiguna Valasara | Indonesia
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Prize Winner
Saba Qizilbash | Pakistan
2019 Winner
Ahmed Javed | Pakistan
Public Vote Prize Winner
Munawar Ali Syed | Pakistan
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Prize Winner
Fuxiaotong | China
2018 Winner
Halima Cassell | Pakistan
Public Vote Prize Winner
Onaiz Taji | Pakistan
2017 Winner
Hongbo Li | China
Public Vote Prize Winner
Yogie Achmad Ginanjar | Indonesia
2016 Winner
Baptist Coelho | India
Public Vote Prize Winner
Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan | Philippines
2014/15 Winner
Anida Yoeu Ali | Cambodia
Public Vote Prize Winner
Alia Bilgrami | Pakistan
2013/14 Winner
Adrian Wong | Hong Kong
Public Vote Prize Winner
Julius Anthony Del Castillo | Philippines
2012/13 Winner
MAP Office | Hong Kong
Public Vote Prize Winner
Mark Salvatus | Philippines
2011 Winner
JeongMee Yoon | Korea
Public Vote Prize Winner
Chongil Woo | Korea
2010 Winner
Pala Pothupitiye | Sri Lanka
Public Vote Prize Winner
Julius Anthony Del Castillo | Philippines
2009 Winner
Debbie Han | Korea
Public Vote Prize Winner
Miguel Payano | China
2008 Winner
Chow Chun Fai | Hong Kong
Public Vote Prize Winner
Mor Mor | Myanmar
2007 Winner
Kumi Machida | Japan
Public Vote Prize Winner
Haris Purnomo | Indonesia
2006 Winner
Uttaporn Nimmalaikaew | Thailand
Public Vote Prize Winner
Lam Tung Pang | Hong Kong
2005 Winner
Tsang Kin Wah | Hong Kong
Public Vote Prize Winner
Yip Siu Ka | Hong Kong
2004 Winner
Jeffrey Aranita | Hong Kong
Second Prize Winner
Christopher Ng | Malaysia
Public Vote Prize Winner
Simon Birch | Hong Kong
