Chang Zhipeng

57589527@qq.com

WINNERS of the Fourth Oriental Cup Chinese Calligraphy Contest for the International Community, which received over 360 calligraphy works by expats from 36 countries, were unveiled at an awards ceremony held at Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery in Futian District on Saturday.

Nifontova Viktoriia from Russia won the first prize of the contest with a Xiaozhuan-style calligraphy work of the ancient enlightenment children’s books “Qian Zi Wen” (“The Thousand Character Classic”). Second prize went to Mexican Alan Hermandez and Indonesian Boby Kristanto, while third prize went to Mohamed, Alex Wijaya and Barbora Sloupova.

There were also 20 expats who won honorable mentions.

The prizewinners received 10,000 yuan (US$1,528), 5,000 yuan, 3,000 yuan and 600 yuan in prize money, respectively. The honorable mention winners were awarded trophies rather than prize money.

The third-prize winner Sloupova is an international student at Shenzhen University. She said the contest is an important way for foreign students to have a deeper and better understanding of Chinese culture.

Li Ruiqi, vice chairman of the Guangdong Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said in his speech that Chinese culture is of profound history. The Chinese calligraphy has vividly demonstrated the charm of and has become a significant symbol of Chinese culture.

The contest is hosted by Futian’s publicity department and Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery and is subsidized by the Special Funds to Promote Cultural and Sports Development of Futian District, aiming to carry forward traditional Chinese culture, promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries and regions and provide a stage for foreigners to exchange and display their Chinese calligraphy talent.