Awards Ceremony Enters Its Ninth Year

Last year's ceremony honored the work of artists like Sui Jianguo and Hai Bo

Like every major cognac maker, Martell continues to invest significant amounts of time and money to better tap China’s booming demand for the spirit, imports of which grew 21.5 percent to 2.3 million cases last year. Owned by spirits giant Pernod Ricard, in recent years Martell has split its marketing efforts almost evenly between the luxury side and the cultural side of China’s urban scene, holding themed Martell parties across the country while teaming up with Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2007 to create ongoing the Martell Art Foundation. Since 2004, Martell has also sponsored the Martell Artists of the Year Exhibition, a yearly show featuring up-and-coming as well as established creatives.

Over the past eight years, the exhibition has featured the work of 34 prominent artists, working in a range of mediums including painting, sculpture and photography. Last year’s show, held at the Shanghai Art Museum, highlighted the work of five world-spanning artists: Sui Jianguo (best-known for his “Legacy Mantle” series), painter Li Songsong (who held a solo exhibition at New York’s Pace Gallery last year), photographer Hai Bo, and fashion and portrait photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.