Brand Dubai announces shortlist of Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award

Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), today announced the shortlist for the AED 2.3 million Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award.

A total of 25 artists have been chosen for the Award’s final round from 122 submissions. The shortlist features many of the luminaries of the 3D art world from across the world.

Director General of GDMO Her Excellency Mona Al Marri said: “We are delighted with the response to the the first Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award. Over 80% of the global community of accomplished 3D artists submitted their works for the Award. The shortlist features many of the stars of the 3D art world. This Award is part of Brand Dubai’s efforts to implement the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform Dubai into an open-air art museum.”

The shortlisted artists in alphabetical order are Adam Kirsch, Hungary; Andres Petroselli, Argentina; Cuboliquido, Italy; Danila Shmelev, Russia; Dima Fatum, Ukraine; Ella Mundt, Germany; Fanakapan, UK; Gennaro Troia, Italy; Junadres Vera, Mexico; Kobra, Brazil; Leon Keer, Netherlands; Milouz, France; Kas (Nelson Marques), Belgium; Nate Baranowski, USA; Nikolaj Arndt, Russia; Odeith - Joao Reis, Portugal; Qi Xinghua, China; Remko Van Schaik, Netherlands; Rene Muniz, Brazil; Ruben Poncia, Netherlands; Ryhop (Ryszard Paprocki), Poland; Tomotero, Japan; Truman Adams, USA; Vera Bugatti, Italy; and John Pugh, USA. 

“The Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award aims to promote creative excellence in 3D art not only by recognising great artistic work but also by raising interest and appreciation for this unique art form. This Award complements one of our key objectives of supporting the development of artistic talent both in the UAE and across the world,” Al Marri further said. 

The artists selected for the final round will create and display their works at Dubai Canvas 3D Art Festival to be held in City Walk from 1 to 7 March, 2017. The public spaces of City Walk will be converted into open-air ‘canvases’ for the artists to showcase their work.

A jury comprising of renowned international and local artists will evaluate the artworks to select three winners. The winners will be honoured at a ceremony to be held at the Festival. In addition to the main awards, there will also be a ‘People’s Choice’ award based on votes from the public. The Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award carries a total prizemoney of AED 2.3 million ($650,000).

The jury selected the shortlisted artists based on a range of criteria including technical excellence, visual 3D impact, artistic creativity, ability to engage the viewer and the artist’s interpretation of the theme of ‘Happiness’.

Launched at last year’s Dubai Canvas, the Award invited proposals for 3D artworks from artists across the world on the theme of ‘Happiness’ The Award theme was inspired by the UAE’s own focus on people’s happiness as one of its most important goals. The theme also reflects Dubai’s objectives of becoming a city of happy, creative and empowered people and a preferred place for people from across the world to live, work and visit.

Dubai Canvas 3D Art Festival 2017 aims to build on the success of last year’s Festival. The 2016 event, which featured the works of a wide array of artists from across the world, received an overwhelming response from both residents and visitors to Dubai.