INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE BIENNALE – JAPAN (Applications Open 1st of December 2021)

The Yukuhashi International Sculpture Competition Executive Committee, and the City of Yukuhashi, Yukuhashi Board of Education, Yukuhashi Culture Promotion Foundation, with the supervision of Shuji Tanaka (Professor, Oita University) and the cooperation of Council for the Study of Cultural Promotion Using Works of Art, organize the 4th Yukuhashi Biennale international sculpture competition, to be held in the Spring 2023.

The Yukuhashi Biennale 2023 invites for submission to the competition bronze figurative sculptures of “historical figures who embody knowledge and intellect and whose image is suitable to be installed in public space”. The sculptures should be such that they can be appreciated by anyone of any era. Artists from anywhere in the world are eligible and the prize-winning sculptures will be installed in public spaces within the city. The subject of the sculptures may be a person of anywhere in the world who has contributed to the advancement of world culture.

One feature of the Yukuhashi Biennale is that submissions to the competition are limited to figurative sculpture. Today, when the boundaries of the sculptural arts have vastly expanded, we aspire to focus once again on sculpture of the human figure with its long tradition going back through human history, especially since Greek and Roman times. We also welcome innovative work that will renew and update the definition of “figurative sculpture.”
Through this project Yukuhashi aims to become a city known for culture and creativity. We hope many artists will take up the challenge of this competition.

Grand Prize (1) JPY10,000,000
The Grand Prize will not be awarded if no work is deemed worthy of the prize. Artists must bear all production costs. The ownership rights to the completed artwork will be revert to the City of Yukuhashi.

Citizens Award (1) JPY200,000
The winner will be decided by the citizens of Yukuhashi City by popular vote.

Children’s Grand Prize (1) Trophy
The winner will be chosen by the vote of Yukuhashi elementary and junior high school students.

Award for Excellence (5) JPY100,000
All artists who have successfully completed the first-round review are qualified to win this award. The ownership rights to the maquettes submitted to the competition and of the head will be transferred to Yukuhashi City.

Theme: A historical figure who embodies knowledge and intellect and whose image is suitable to be installed in public space.

Application Period: December 1, 2021–March 31, 2022

Requirements

• All entries must be figurative sculptures.
• The completed sculpture is to be made in bronze.
• The size of the completed sculpture should be life-size.
• Details regarding the size of the pedestal will be decided following the prize screening.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should fill in the application form ( download at: https://yukuhashi-biennale.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/08/YukuhashiBiennale2023_Applicationform.pdf ) and send the digital photographic data of the maquettes of the entire sculpture and the head in accordance with the specifications below.
The dimensions of the maquette, in the case of a standing figure, should be within H 55 cm, W 30 cm, and D 30 cm. In the case of a sitting figure, the height of the statue together with its pedestal should be within 55 cm. The head should be submitted in actual completed size, at dimensions within H 55 cm (including pedestal), W 30 cm, and D 30cm.

For more informtion: https://yukuhashi-biennale.jp/en/