The Sovereign Asian Art Prize - The Sovereign Art Foundation

Overview

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.

2021 Edition

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