Postscript of 2019 Guanlan International Print Biennial

In the thirteen years of the flourishing development of the GuanlanInternational Print Biennial, artists from all over the world havewitnessed our growth, and we have accompanied their youthful years and appreciated their talents and contributions in the art of printmaking. The entry forms of all the participating artists for the biennial have been classified into archival cases and fill the entire bookshelf against the wall in the biennial office. Time left its traces on the faces of the artists , while the Biennial has just entered into itsyouth. My heart is full of emotions whenever I think of this. It is the artists who are guarding the growth of this Biennial.

We live in an era of rapid information development. The printmakers of all countries in the world can be closely connected because of prints, regardless of their geographical proximity. During this quiet and flowing time, we continue to work for the Biennial, and printmakers are contributing their talents of artistic creation. As time flows and the spring starts, 4,598 works from 105 countries and regions were neatly placed in the exhibition hall of the Chinese Printmaking Museum, waiting for the jurors’ review. We know that somewhere on the earth, there must be some artists who are wringing their hands or crossing fingers, hoping for good news from Guanlan.

Because of printmaking, we share common emotions and values even though we are thousands of miles away from each other. Intimacy with artists from all over the world makes us feel that the world is small. However, it is through printmaking that we come to understand that the world is actually very large. When the sky is clear and the spring blossoms in Guanlan, there are still places in the world where the air is foggy and cold. In today's world, there are still invisible barriers that hinder people's communication and transportation of artworks. Most artists can send their work with ease, whiles some artists have to work really hard to make it successful. Edwin Garcia, professor from Venezuela, keeps up his practice of artistic creation even in a turbulent and food-poor city. Together with his two colleagues, they waded through the mountains to find place to deliver a package to us, and finally with the help of many other people, their works crossed the globe and reached us.

The charm of the Guanlan International Print Biennial lies in the entanglement of incomparably fierce competition and unpredictable results with artists’ peaceful creative practice and waiting time for the possibility that everyone has the same opportunity to win honors regardless of identity and age, based on the determination of thousands of artists going to the same mountain peak, on the collision and integration of the latest concepts and skills of different countries, different religions and different cultures, and on the artists from all over the world with skilled individuality, enthusiasm and perseverance.

Amid the expectation and attention of artists from all over the world, 300 pieces of artwork have stood out through two rounds of rigorous selection. Among those, twelve works have won the final victory and, with that, the title of “Guanlan International Print Biennial Honorary Work”. In addition to the award-winning and selected works, 577 shortlisted works are also included in the catalogue. In the highly competitive biennial selection, we hope to prove to the world by the caliber of submitted works that it is also a glory to be shortlisted in the Guanlan International Print Biennial.

This year's Biennial not only has the enthusiastic participation of artists from all over the world, but also the support and care of leaders at all levels. Under the strong support of the Chinese Artists Association, Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Shenzhen Longhua District People’s Government, and under the careful guidance of the curators Mr. Jiang Lu and Mr. Su Xinping, the Biennial has been carried out in an efficient and orderly manner. The high-standard of academic and professional image has been built up and the Guanlan International Print Biennial further leads the trend of the biennials of printmaking worldwide, becoming the starting point and platform for the artist's dream, and promoting the exchange and development of contemporary international prints.

Through thirteen years of hard work, step by step, Guanlan International Print Biennial relies on the development of the Guanlan Original Printmaking Base, and grows from scratch to reach its prime. It allows us to get in touch with the world, so that we understand more about it and cherish its peace and happiness. At the same time we are thinking of the opportunities and challenges facing the Biennial. We believe that under the leadership of the sponsors, the biennial will surely have better development and breakthroughs with the support of artists from all over the world. We will continue to adhere to a fulfilling life and make dreams that make the world a better place. The Biennial is like a long river in our hearts, with its waves raging and billows beating the shores. We believe the river will converge into the ocean of happiness and peace in the end.