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Creativity Wanted:
“Data is the New Art Form” Art Competition 2022

We are now calling for submissions from students, staff members, and alumni of The University of Hong Kong to help us design the new premises of the Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (IDS) at HKU, which is scheduled for completion in April 2022. As secondary students in Hong Kong are having an unprecedented, early summer holiday, we wish to engage our young talents to showcase how their creative minds can impact future social development!

About the Competition

Data is not limited to science – it also draws on aesthetics. To build greater awareness of data science and its impact on our lives, you are now invited to take part in our Art Competition.

Please share with us artworks representing the role of data science in everyday life. The winning submissions will be incorporated into the new IDS office at HKU:

  • Outstanding paintings will be posted on the Feature Wall clearly visible to visitors; and
  • Outstanding digital graphics will be displayed on our electronic platforms and as printouts in other parts of the office.

Please use your creativity to reflect on data science and life, and on how data science research will bring us a better future.

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Result Announcement of the Art Competition

Eligibility

  • HKU Group: All HKU students, staff, and alumni.
  • Secondary School Group: All full-time Form 1 to Form 6 students in Hong Kong enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year. 

Themes

HKU Group:

Participants are free to pick any of the Institute’s core research themes.

  • Fundamental Data Science
  • Explainable AI
  • Smart Society

Secondary School Group:

Participants are invited to express how they perceive data science, and / or its relationship with everyday life.

Shortlisted participants from both Groups will also compete for the “’Data is the New Art Form’ Special Award”, focused on the theme of “Data Science < — > Future”.

Format & Style

Painting

(both abstract and figurative works are acceptable)

  1. For abstract works, a composition using line, form, shape, and colour is recommended;
  2. Can be in any form (such as oil, acrylic, drawing, printmaking, collage, etc.) except digital graphics and photographs;
  3. Dimensions:
    • option 1: 300mm x 300mm each item in a set of two or three with inter-related content or
    • option 2: not smaller than A3 (297mm x 420mm) and not bigger than 508mm x 762mm
  4. Weight: must not exceed 2 kg

Digital Graphics

  1. PNG or JPG file
  2. Resolution at least 300dpi
  3. Dimensions: not bigger than A3 (297mm x 420mm)
  4. File size: must not exceed 10MB

* Remarks:

Please attach a printout of the “Entry Confirmation Slip” to the back of the entry when submitting the original artwork.

Entry Submissions

  • Entries must be made online from now to 5 pm on 18 May, 2022. No late or incomplete entries will be accepted after the submission deadline.
  • Participants can only submit one entry for each format. Please use a single submission form per entry.
  • Artwork submissions should be in a digital or photographic format, with a file size of not less than 3 MB but not exceeding 10MB in JPEG format. The artwork should be photographed against a white background with the camera facing the artwork at a 90-degree angle. The set of two or three paintings should be displayed together and photographed. In addition to that, a separate file for each artwork should be submitted for a clear presentation to the judging panel.
  • Entries with fragile, sharp, or heavy materials, or with parts that are not securely fixed will NOT be accepted. Entries should NOT be framed.
  • Participants should not indicate their names on the painting or the digital graphics.
  • Submitted entries must be the original, must be owned by the participant, and should in no way violate others’ rights including but not limited to their intellectual property and privacy rights.
  • Shortlisted participants will be notified by email and telephone in late May 2022 and will be responsible for covering the costs of artwork packaging, insurance, and delivery to the IDS office for final judging.
  • All shortlisted participants will be provided with a “Declaration and Permission Slip” by IDS. Please attach the slip and a printed copy of your saved submission form to your original artwork(s) and submit the piece(s) by registered post or in person during the designated hours (Monday to Friday, 9 am–12 noon, 2 pm–5 pm), to the following address: Institute of Data Science, Room P307, Graduate House, No. 3 University Drive, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Please mark the envelope with “‘Data is the New Art Form’ competition 2022”, your name, and the group you belong to.
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Judging Panel

A judging panel comprising senior management members from the University and academics from the Faculty of Arts will select the artworks for display from all entries. Group works are not eligible for any awards. The decision of the judging panel will be final.

  • Professor Max Shen, Director of IDS, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
  • Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning)
  • Professor William Hayward, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, member of the Steering Committee of IDS
  • Professor Herman Cappelen, Chair Professor of Philosophy
  • Dr Roslyn Lee Hammers, Associate Professor, Department of Art History

Judging Criteria

  • Creativity and originality (25%)​
  • Aesthetics (25%)​
  • Manipulation of technique and media (20%)​
  • Interpretation and clarity of the theme (30%)

Awards and Prizes

Submitted artworks will be selected from each of the groups. The following prizes will be awarded to winners of each genre:

For the HKU Group:

Painting

  • Gold prize: HK$2,500 and a certificate
  • Silver prize: HK$1,800 and a certificate
  • Bronze prize: HK$1,000 and a certificate
  • Merit (10 places): HK$500 book voucher and a certificate

Digital Graphics

  • Gold prize: HK$2,500 and a certificate
  • Silver prize: HK$1,800 and a certificate
  • Bronze prize: HK$1,000 and a certificate
  • Merit (10 places): HK$500 book voucher and a certificate

For the Secondary School Group:

Painting

  • Gold prize: HK$1,500 and a certificate
  • Silver prize: HK$1,000 and a certificate
  • Bronze prize: HK$500 and a certificate
  • Merit (10 places): HK$300 book voucher and a certificate

Digital Graphics

  • Gold prize: HK$1,500 and a certificate
  • Silver prize: HK$1,000 and a certificate
  • Bronze prize: HK$500 and a certificate
  • Merit (10 places): HK$300 book voucher and a certificate

All secondary school entrants will be awarded an e-certificate of participation after the Competition!

The “Most Actively Participating School” will also be awarded a certificate as recognition!

“Data is the New Art Form” Special Award
(data science <–> future)

2 outstanding entries will be selected from among all shortlisted entries
Prize: HK$2,500 and a certificate

Selection process:

  • The judges will select approximately 20-30 entries for each group, based on the quality of submission, for final judging. Gold prize, Sliver prize, Bronze prize, and Merit prizes, will then be picked from shortlisted entries.
  • A special award, “’Data is the New Art Form’ Special Award” for the theme (data science < — > future), will be selected from among all shortlisted entries for each format.

Important Dates

Terms and Conditions:

  1. Intellectual Property Rights: All participants need to ensure that their entries do not infringe any copyright and publication rights. Any entries that have infringed any intellectual property rights will NOT be accepted. IDS takes no liability whatsoever for such infringement. IDS retains the right to edit, modify, publish, and use all the entries in any form for exhibition and education purposes, and has the final decision on the above actions.
  2. Winners of the shortlisted artworks will agree to unconditionally transfer the ownership and copy right of the artworks to IDS.
  3. Loss or Damage of Entries: All entries submitted by participants will be handled with great care. However, IDS will not compensate for any loss or damage of any entries arising from any causes.
  4. Participants should not submit artworks that have been offered for sale, published, entered or awarded any prizes in previous contest(s)/ competition(s), or exhibited publicly in any form including online exhibitions.
  5. All winning artworks will be exhibited at the new IDS new office and website. IDS has the absolute discretion to decide the venues and the dates of exhibition.
  6. IDS reserves the right not to award any of the stipulated prizes should entries fail, in the judges’ opinion, to meeting the required standards.
  7. IDS reserves the right to change the guidelines and rules and regulations at any time without prior notice and the awards may be withdrawn of terminated by IDS at its discretion without prior notice. IDS accepts no liability for any such change, withdrawal, and termination.
  8. All personal information we collect from you will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used for communication purposes should you be shortlisted as winners of this Competition. Data with personal identifiers will not be kept beyond 6 months after the Competition is over.

For enquiries, please contact IDS at datascience@hku.hk.