The list of winners in NTDTV’s premier “Chinese International Figure Painting Competition” was revealed on the evening of December 12 in Manhattan at the Ukrainian Institute of America. However, silver medalist, Fan Yiming, from mainland China, did not attend the award ceremony because he is currently illegally detained in Beijing for practicing Falun Gong.
Fan was born in Fujian Province, China in 1967 and majored in oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he completed his studies. Since 2001, Fan has had three solo exhibitions in Hong Kong and one in London in 2004. His works have been exhibited both in and out of China, and he has also published many books of his art.
Judges for the competition said that Fan’s award-winning painting, titled “Tibetan Boy,” demonstrated marvelous technique, outstanding style and his unique personality. It has earned the praise and awe of numerous visitors.
“It is very unfortunate that Fan Yiming could not come to America to claim his prize,” said Fang Fei, host of the competition’s award ceremony. “We truly hope that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China will end soon.”
