Winners of first Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award announced

Brand Dubai yesterday announced the winners of the Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award, the world’s first award to recognise excellence in 3D art, at a ceremony at the Dubai Canvas Festival.

Tony Cuboliquido was named as first place winner while Danila Shmelev and Leon Keer were second and third place winners respectively. Tomotero Saito won the People’s Choice Award, which was decided based on public votes.

The jury of the Dubai Canvas 3D Art Award named the winners after evaluating 25 shortlisted artworks for creativity, technique, composition and design, command of the medium, and the artist’s interpretation of the theme of 'Happiness'.

According to the jury, the innocent, playful, dynamic and interactive qualities of Italian artist Cuboliquido’s winning work captured the theme of happiness. Russian artist Danila Shmelev’s second placed work engages in a deep philosophical exploration of the meaning of Happiness and how we perceive it, while Dutch artist Leon Keer’s third-placed artwork perfectly combines traditional elements of street painting with the application of precise mathematical calculations to create an engaging optical illusion, the jury said.

All the works shortlisted for the award, together with the works of four Emirati artists, are displayed at the Dubai Canvas 3D Art Festival 2017, which began in City Walk on Sunday. The award and festival are organised by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, GDMO, in partnership with Meraas, one of Dubai’s leading holding companies.

Commenting on the announcement of the winners, Mona Al Marri, Director-General of GDMO, said, "The award’s theme of Happiness evoked an exceptional creative response from the artists. The shortlisted artworks demonstrated a range of unique creative perspectives and innovative techniques. The quality of art that the award attracted reflects Dubai’s rising status as a cultural hub that provides a supportive and inspiring environment for artists to showcase their work. The Dubai Canvas 3D Art Festival also created a wonderful space for the artists shortlisted to engage with the wider public, a process that always enriches art."

Director of Brand Dubai, Maitha Buhumaid, said, "The award generated significant interest from the global 3D art world. Over 80% of the international community of accomplished 3D artists submitted entries. The winning and shortlisted artists represent the cream of global 3D art."