BSB students won Forbes China Top 100 Youth Artist Award

Art is not only a tangible expression of imagination and creativity but also one of the simplest and most direct tools for human communication. It serves as a universal language and symbol across cultures, ethnicities, and regions. Therefore, the true mission of art lies in its ability to foster communication, giving it vitality and influence.

In March of this year, the 2024 Forbes China Young Artist 100 Contest was officially launched, successfully attracting numerous young artists and capturing the ongoing attention of many relevant institutions. After months of preliminary and final selections, a total of 100 winners were chosen.

3 of those winners were our BSB students, Kaylie Liu, Jocelyn Ren and Trayton Zhao. The students spend months in preparation for the exhibition, carefully planning out and preparing their artworks. Students were given 10 themes to choose from such as: Hazy, Advanced Gray, Diffusion, Plural, Dragon, Repair, Balance, Edge, Speed, Sense of History.

To honor these exceptional young artists, the 2024 Forbes China Youth Art and Innovation Forum was held on Saturday 24th August, at the Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen. The forum brought together many international art masters, representatives from renowned art institutions, and experts in art education. Jocelyn and Trayton attended the award ceremony but Kaylie was not able to attend.

(from left) Jocelyn, Ms. Milova, Trayton 

Trayton (2nd left), Jocelyn (3rd left) receiving the Forbes Youth Artist 100 Award.

Our BSB Shunyi Visual Art teacher Maria Milova was among one of the speakers on the panel as well. While celebrating the achievements of the competition winners and showcasing the talents of the new generation of artists, participants discussed the future of the art industry, trends in art education, and shared their insights on international art exchanges.

Congratulations to the Winners! Please see the students' descriptions of their winning artwork below:

Jocelyn Ren 

This artwork embodies the theme of “Hazy” through its soft color transitions and gentle brushstrokes that give a dreamlike quality to the scene. The choice of “Hazy” reflects in the blurred lines between indoors and outdoors, as well as in the misty effect achieved by natural dripping techniques on the window frame and curtains. These elements create an atmosphere that is both tranquil yet full of potential for discovery—much like how haze can obscure vision but also add mystery to a landscape.

The artist’s selection of this theme is deliberate to capture not just an ordinary moment but one that resonates with depth and introspection. The cat’s vivid portrayal, especially its piercing blue eyes, serves as an anchor within this hazy environment—suggesting clarity amidst uncertainty. This contrast aligns with “Hazy,” where visibility is limited yet beauty emerges from what can be seen.

Moreover, this painting connects to “Hazy” by illustrating how something clear-cut—the cat’s sharp gaze—can coexist within an undefined space, mirroring how moments of clarity can arise even when our surroundings seem indistinct. It invites viewers to look beyond initial impressions and discover layers of meaning within both their environment and their perceptions.

Through this artwork, one experiences not only visual pleasure from its aesthetic composition but also engages with themes of perception versus reality—a contemplation inspired by hazy surroundings where boundaries are softened, inviting exploration beyond what immediately meets the eye.

Kaylie Liu 

The artwork is completed by oil painting with the theme ‘Hazy’. It captures the scenery of the Great Fountain ruins in the Old Summer Palace that symbolized history. The time in the painting is twenty minutes after sunset, known as the “blue hour”. Choosing nightfall as the time of the painting expresses a state of silence that reminisces. The mist covered some ruins and distant trees, presenting a hazy scene, representing the forgotten, unclear, or unknown history.

The overall tone of this artwork is cool grey. The vague Great Fountain ruins show not only the decline of the Qing Dynasty but also the trampled civilization in the history of human beings. However, the retained light in the distance that is not covered by fog demonstrates the hope for the future.

History, even though as the study of change over time, should not be forgotten. Documentation of history is not about reviewing sadness and hatred, but about summarizing the gains and losses in the process of development. This meaning is reflected through the artwork of The Old Summer Palace Trapped in Mist.

Trayton Zhao

Untitled

What does it mean to create a piece of art, traditional art is precise, with an obvious objective, it means exactly what you see. Modern relies more on one’s imagination, to see with a metaphorical third eye, it’s very true that they look like as if an eight-year-old did it. However, the concept of modern art is what I find intriguing, relying on instinct instead of skill, to go wherever the mind takes me. Of course, I still have a base theme in mind most of the time.
Now, onto this piece of art. I would give it a name and a detailed description of what every part of the painting means but that’s not very interesting I feel. Art can go any way you want it to; it’s meaning depends on you and everyone can have a different interpretation of it. There is one thing I’d like to say about this art though and that is overthinking can be enjoyable, so find the meaning that makes the most sense to yourself, have your own answer, forget about what the artist thinks. Abstract art isn’t about the artists, it’s about the people who see the artwork, it’s their opinions that matters the most.