Best brushstrokes of year of 'great pain, great joy'

The Third AAC (Artron Art of China) 2008 Awards, that brought together celebrities, artists, critics, curators and art journalists, was held last weekend at the Museum of Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The awards honored "the most influential participants in Chinese art" last year, including artists, art publishing houses, art galleries and art museums, according to Gao Minglu, a renowned art historian and chairman of the 18-member jury for the awards.

Among the notable winners are conceptual artist Cai Guoqiang, better known as special visual effects director for the Beijing Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, deputy dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts Xu Bing and veteran oil painter Liu Xiaodong.

The three shared the most coveted award of "Artists of the Year".

Cai is away at another exhibition in Bilbao, Spain, and had a friend read out his thank-you note.

"My solo exhibition, held at the same time as the Games, shows a Chinese artist's lonely, uncertain journey. The occasional winning of awards offers consolation to an artist as it means there are people who like his works."

Cai's retrospective exhibition I Want to Believe which drew thousands of viewers in New York and Beijing in 2008 was named "Exhibition of the Year 2008".

Xu Bing is a world-renowned artist who has won a string of international art awards. Last year, he returned to Beijing and was appointed deputy dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

His return and role as an art educator in China's No 1 art education institute is considered a significant event.