Photo Courtesy: The Sovereign Asian Art Prize

Visual artist Ashmina Ranjit’s artwork ‘Sacredness within and beyond: Multiple Kailash’ has been nominated as one among 30 other international artists for The Sovereign Asian Art Prize, representing Nepal. The Sovereign Asian Art Prize is held annually where mid-career contemporary artists are invited and nominated by a carefully selected board of independent art experts across Asia-Pacific. It accepts entry up to three artworks online. Entries are then shortlisted by a small judging panel consisting of world-class art specialists, who select the best 30 artworks from a range of digital images. These 30 artworks are exhibited in a prominent public space in Hong Kong, where the pieces are judged a second time and the winner is selected.

Ranjit in ‘Sacredness within and beyond: Multiple Kailash’ has depicted the liminal space where one is free yet not free, stemming from the strains of the present political scenario. This artwork was conceptualized when Ranjit sent her effigy to Kailash Yatra with her friends. During this pilgrimage, they were constantly connected. One need not be physically present at a sacred place to feel connection.

Sacredness within and beyond – Multiple Kailash was conceptualized when Ranjit sent her effigy to Kailash Yatra with her friends. During this pilgrimage, they were constantly connected. One need not be physically present at a sacred place to feel connection. Ranjit created digital images of the effigy during the Yatra. Her work is about the liminal space where one is free yet not free, stemming from the strains of the present political scenario.

Ranjit’s work has received acclaim internationally. She has shown work at Nepal Art Now, Vienna (2019), the Kathmandu Triennale (2017), the 2nd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (2002) and the Dhaka Art Biennale (2001). A collection of her works was published in ‘Silence No Longer: Artivism of Ashmina, Vajra Books’ (2018).

According to ‘The Sovereign Asian Art Prize’ official website, the winning artist is awarded US$30,000 at an annual sell-out Gala Dinner in Hong Kong. The 29 other works are auctioned, with the artists receiving 50 percent of proceeds and the other 50 percent funding the charitable work of the Foundation. Thus, each artist receives the same split as they would if their work had sold through a gallery.

The winning piece becomes the property of the Foundation and is used to further its charitable aims. The Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize, launched in 2019, awards US$5,000 to the highest scoring female artist in the competition. A Public Vote Prize of US$1,000 is awarded to the artist whose work receives the most votes from the public, be it at the exhibition, through the Foundation’s website or Facebook voting app.