Zi Ling and Bridget Adams

Zi Ling is one of 26 artists shortlisted for the 2018 Royal Arts Prize Award. Her work can be seen, with that of the other shortlisted artists, until 9 March at La Galleria, Pall Mall, 5b Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, London, SW1Y 4UY. 

The aim of the Royal Arts Prize Exhibition and Award is to search out for and showcase artworks by artists that have embraced their individual exegesis in art, artworks that are a product of an inner balance in a world full of diversity and often chaos. The prize is awarded to artists that present works that are the product of this emotional connection between dream and reality; the organisers welcome contemporary art that shows the force driving individuals to express and affirm their personality and ego, through today’s modern art landscape.

Ling has also had four new paintings selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 206th Exhibition at Mall Galleries from 6 to 21 April. Showing a diversity of styles and techniques, from traditional uses of the medium to more experimental and innovative paintings. Works on display are produced by members of the RI and other artists whose pictures have been selected to hang alongside these by the RI Council, including many young painters using water-soluble media in often new and exciting ways. This exhibition is an annual survey of how contemporary artists are using this age-old medium.

Having visited the Royal Arts Prize Exhibition this evening, I was also interested to see the work of Bridget Adams. Adams has been inspired Kahlil Gibran’s book called ‘The Prophet’ where she found a way through and endeavoured to live her life with his words as a guide. She says that his words, 'made sense to me and I always refer to them for strength.'

She continues:

'My first influence has been byzantine art in all its decorative and moral wonder. To me it is a beautiful way to convey the good and sacrifice that we all make at different stages in our lives. I enjoy the 2 dimensional aspects of some religious orthodox art which offers a way to communicate innocence and basic non-judgemental qualities that we have in bucketful’s when we are young and vulnerable. This is also in the oldest and narrow minded of us. Our views can become twisted and cynical and sometimes our wonder at the world and the people who belong to it, are overwhelmed with being the best they can be. To stand back and appreciate ourselves and each other has to be a positive contribution however small it feels.

My love of pattern, texture, colour and my great respect and admiration for many artists and craftspeople whether they are from a different century or practising artists is also a way to express and focus on celebration, wisdom, feelings and joy. It is a tool that I use to reflect passion in all its forms and in a healthy and spiritually fulfilling way.'

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Damien Rice - On Children.