[May 21, 2018, Beijing] Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot partnered with the 12th Award of Art China (AAC) awards ceremony, supporting the AAC for the fourth consecutive year. The awards ceremony was held on the evening of May 21, where Hublot and industry elites gathered at the Jianfu Palace Garden of the Palace Museum to celebrate the annual art event. The evening saw the winners of the “Artist of the Year,” “Young Artist of the Year,” and “Art Publication of the Year” awards announced. Notably, a new “Curator of the Year” award was added to this year’s AAC, designed to recognize sectors that are more professional and representative of the different ages throughout the development of China’s contemporary art in the future.
It has been 12 years since the AAC was initiated. Compared with previous editions’ judging preferences, this year’s AAC, with the theme of “Facing an Ever-Changing World,” emphasizes the rapid diversification of the current era and reviews the status quo and achievements of contemporary art from a more objective perspective. The AAC advocates original values and artistic ideas, coinciding with the innovative mindset that Hublot upholds. “Hublot Loves Art” initiative has long been dedicated to helping push the development of contemporary art by blending the western watchmaking spirit with the excellent art achievements of the East, setting an example for crossover collaborations between the watchmaking industry and the field of art. Hublot has fully exemplified its “Art of Fusion” philosophy through bold innovations and constantly diversified forms of art. The Maison’s support for Chinese contemporary art at a time when the sector continually undergoes fluctuations and reforms has given it more opportunities to get its voice heard on the international stage.
Hublot has been involved in the Chinese contemporary art since 2014. That year, the Swiss watchmaker and the famous Chinese contemporary artist Xu Zhen created a large-scale public art installation named “Eternal – Time Hourglass”, which has been on permanent display at the Chinese avant-garde 798 Art District. Continuing its treasured ties with art, Hublot has been an official partner of the ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair for three consecutive years since 2016. Early 2017, Hublot released the Hublot x Chen Man cooperation watch in partnership with world-renowned visual artist Chen Man. This year, Hublot has partnered with the first edition of Art Chengdu and then with the first edition of JINGART to host the “Hublot Loves Art” exhibition at Beijing Quanyechang. All these have demonstrated Hublot’s unswerving passion for art.
At the AAC awards ceremony, celebrities in Beijing gathered to celebrate the annual art event.
Mr. Chen Xianren was named the “Artist of the Year,” while Ms. Cao Yu received the “Young Artist of the Year” award, and Annual of Contemporary Art of China was recognized as the “Art Publication of the Year,” and Mr. Feng Boyi was chosen as the “Curator of the Year.”
