The prestigious competition had over 130 submissions that were reviewed by a panel of judges. These included Juju Wang, an installation artist and the Chair of the Art & Culture Committee; Michael Oviedo, Vice President at Collectors and Vice Chair of the Art & Culture Committee; and Ye Meng, Curator and Founder of "Continuous Regeneration".
Here is the work description created by Isa:
During this enchanting spring season, as nature awakens and breathes new life into everything, my contemplation of the floral tapestry within the city has ignited a creative spark. This led me to conceive the notion of gazing into a world adorned with vibrant forms of newfound vitality. Many of these blossoms hold a unique place in the urban tableau of Shanghai, a city that serves as my muse. To capture this essence, I melded elements emblematic of Shanghai – like the city's flower, the white magnolia – with touches of traditional Chinese cultural motifs.
Employing a dynamic fusion of multimedia techniques, including watercolour, coloured pencil, and lino print, I meticulously brought my artistic vision to life. The tableau features figures evoking a sense of the cinematic drama found in "Flowers of Shanghai". Moreover, the fractured celadon pattern adorning the collars of these figures is not only an artistic homage but a representation of my contemplations on the emotional ebbs and flows that confine us within the constraints of our minds and bodies. This pattern, reminiscent of cracked celadon, metaphorically delves into the inner world where emotions drive and sometimes fracture the spiritual landscape from within, ultimately revealing a soul that is as intricate as it is fragile.
