On April 12, the Creative Council of the International Competition for Young Artists Kartina Mira announced the results of the second stage — the shortlist included 50 best works. Let us recall that earlier, based on the results of the first stage, the Youth Creative Council selected a record number of participants, 300 works, 100 in each nomination (Painting, Graphics and Digital Art).
"True art is a craft multiplied by the heartbeat of the master. Art is a theme that makes it possible to design a future picture of the world, and the future is a tool for creating your own picture of the world. And then this tool in the skillful hands of a professional can improve the picture of the world, make it more harmonious, more aesthetic and more in demand. Among the competition works, we saw an incredible diversity and interpretation of one common theme about the values of the nations. How interesting it turned out: for example, we have contestants from Asia and Africa, Russia and America, they all see the embodiment of the theme in their own way. And the most interesting thing is that there are no wrong options. You can and should listen and take a closer look at each one," shared his impressions of the participants' works Sergei Kurasov, designer, member of the Creative Council of the Competition, Rector of Russian State University of Design and Applied Arts (Stroganov University).
The shortlist includes participants from Libya, the USA, Turkey, Angola, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Vietnam, Algeria, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. The largest number of works are presented in Painting nomination — 34, Graphics nomination includes 13 participants and 3 works are presented in Digital Art nomination.
"It is amazing how the young artists have insightfully interpreted the theme of the competition, ‘Values of my Nation as Part of the Global Human Culture'. In traditional Paintings and Graphics, the participants reinterpret cultural DNA through contemporary perspectives. Through thematic innovations and compositional breakthroughs, they transform indigenous philosophical concepts, ethical principles, and aesthetic traditions into visual languages with universal resonance. The Digital Art category particularly highlights contemporary breakthroughs in cultural inheritance. Using computer-based technologies, the artists have transformed the spiritual essence of ethnic cultures into dynamic, immersive artistic expressions, infusing ancient civilizations with digital vitality. The works not only preserve cultural roots, but also build bridges for inter-civilizational dialogue, successfully elevating regional cultural symbols beyond their original contexts into artistic vessels that carry universal human sentiments," said Dong Shubing, member of the Creative Council of the competition, Vice Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University.
The selection of fifty works is not the final stage of the Competition. Very soon, on April 28, the Creative Council will determine 14 finalists who will be able to exhibit their works at the branch of the Tretyakov Gallery.
"The theme of Kartina Mira Competition is multifaceted and opens up wide opportunities for creative self-expression. Participants touched important social topics and embodied them in painting, graphics, digital art and animation. Each nation has its own values, vision of the world and life, but one thing unites them all — love for beauty, respect for traditions, preservation of cultural values. It is important that academic and realistic traditions are preserved in the world, educational and spiritual-moral aspects can be traced in them. It was also interesting to look at the bright, extraordinary works of Modern Art. Participation in international art competitions is a rich experience that allows you to get acquainted with the inner world and worldview of artists from other countries, participants can learn their thoughts, perception of events and the manner of their presentation in the form of fine art," Irina Tiukalova, member of the Creative Council, director of Penza Art College named after Konstantin Savitsky, commented on the works of the Competition’s participants.
Let us recall that the award ceremony for the winners and the final exhibition of works will take place in June at the Tretyakov Gallery branch in Kaliningrad as part of the V International Festival of Classical Music "Kantata".
