2017 Guanlan International Print Biennial Preface

Guanlan International Print Biennial, collectively held by China Artists Association, Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Administrative Committee of Longhua New District and Shenzhen Bao'an District People's Government once two years, it’s been the fifth time ever since the first Biennial held in 2007. That the Biennial has been held successfully and continuously has built solid academic foundation for the establishment and development of China Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, which also increases the international influence of Guanlan Base in the printmaking field steadily.

China Printmaking Museum, one important part of overall plan of Guanlan Original Printmaking Base and completed in 2014, has international first-class exhibition space and facilities and adopts internationalized management mode, which makes it become an academic communication center and high-end platform of international print art field. Professional studio and exhibition space was offered since Biennial office was established in the museum. All the work concerning the fifth Biennial has been conducted in China Printmaking Museum, which has become a routine international project of this Museum.

Guanlan International Print Biennial is an academic platform on print art for the world artists to collide on the concepts and compete there. The Biennial adopts curator system and has formed stable mode in recent 10 years, even so, it has been pursing to surpass itself and finding new ways. Ever since it’s inviting contributions, the fifth Guanlan International Print Biennial, China 2015 has received 4034 works of 2168 artists from 83 countries and regions. 268 works have been finally selected in the Biennial after two rounds of assessment by the Jury Committee, and among them, 11 works have been awarded Guanlan International Print Prize. These works include the creativity, wisdom and deep feelings and represent the first-rate techniques and concepts of the international printmaking artists, which undoubtedly are the cohesion of the artists’ contemporary caring and artistic pursue.

The thematic exhibition of this fifth Biennial on “Mutual Matching of Knife and Plate--Process Research in Printmaking Creation” corresponds with the last thematic exhibition on “Straight to the Point--Directness Research in Printmaking Creation”, which not only makes strong comparison and perfect echo with the main exhibition of the Biennial but also makes up the shortage on the academic orientation produced by the main exhibition’s inclusion and fairness, and thus increases the potential and interest for the public to participate in.

In the today of active social thoughts and diversified concepts, the active participation of the public surely increases the significance of the Biennial. We wish this Biennial can provoke your thoughts, enlighten your mind and bring visual pleasure to you.