The finalists had been collectively chosen by a jury that included Alai, Ge Fei, Jonathan Lee Chung-shan, Liang Hong and MA Ka Fai. Jack Liao, member of Swatch Group China Administration Committee and Vice President of Blancpain China, along with decide Ge Fei, introduced a Blancpain Villeret assortment watch and trophy to the grand winner Chen Chuncheng. The Literary Prize Committee granted the aspiring writer a bonus of CNY 300,000. The award cash was offered by Blancpain.
Throughout the entries submission interval which ran from April 10 to Might 15, 2021, the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize workplace obtained a file of practically 100 works from authors and publishers. On August 23, the preliminary lengthy listing of 11 works was finalized and launched by the Literary Prize Committee. The shortlist was introduced on September 15. Jack Liao and Blancpain Cultural Ambassador Leung Man-tao introduced the Blancpain Younger Buddy Award and the finalist certificates to the shortlisted 5 authors, Chen Chuncheng, Solar Pin, Zhang Ji, Zheng Zhi and Zhou Kai.
Along with the award given to Chen Chuncheng, the opposite 4 shortlisted authors will every obtain a bonus of CNY 20,000 from Blancpain in a transfer to encourage younger writers to proceed with their inventive endeavours. The Blancpain Younger Buddy Award is each a medium for figuring out literary expertise in addition to a type of mutual recognition. It not solely represents Blancpain’s appreciation of the younger, proficient writers but additionally stands for the identification and appreciation of comparable traits in Blancpain’s model values. The Blancpain Younger Buddy Award seeks to establish the perfect among the many younger, up-and-coming teams: entrepreneurs, Michelin cooks, and authors.
On behalf of all the jury, Ge Fei introduced the highest award to Chen Chuncheng. Commenting on the profitable title Submarine at Evening, he stated: “The writer has discovered a singular strategy to mix information with life, sensibility with rationality, creativeness with precision, revealing a clear and lingering temperament and a powerful command of fantasy. The novel presents a brand new path for the up to date novel by the use of elegant and charming language.”
Chen Chuncheng stated, “I thank the judges for his or her recognition. It’s a nice honour to win the award. However, one wants to acknowledge that literature isn’t a aggressive sport, however fairly one thing that depends on many non-absolutes, together with the consensus of a number of judges. Even the well-known Ballon d’Or within the aggressive sport of soccer is controversial yearly, to not point out that literature is one thing that has no set requirements or standards of any form.”
“After studying the books by the opposite 4 shortlisted writers, I believe they’re all excellent, every in their very own method. Each author ought to be true to himself, and stay true to his or her writing model and content material. If somebody, afterward, had been to say to me, it is best to write in such or such away, or, you must embody a dose of actuality, or if that somebody had been to show me all types of theories, and even divulge to me the type of writing that may guarantee my success, I can’t heed his or her recommendation. I can solely write in my very own model. I can not change into Zhou Kai, nor can Zhou Kai change into me. In a number of phrases, dwell your individual life, stay true to your self and write in the best way that you simply need to write. Thanks all!”
Jack Liao, the member of Swatch Group China Administration Committee and Vice President of Blancpain China, stated in his speech that “up to now 4 years, we now have been delivering a easy and profound message to the general public by the use of the Literary Prize: ‘Studying makes time extra priceless ‘. We’re thrilled to be taught via feedback we now have learn on-line that the books which have garnered the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize have progressively change into must-reads. We’re additionally very happy to watch the eye that extra younger authors are getting because of this prize. As soon as we introduced the shortlist, the books of the authors on the listing noticed a rise within the variety of books that wanted to be printed simply to satisfy the elevated demand. It’s our purpose to create an neutral, authoritative, skilled literary award, and our mission to offer a stage and highlight for younger writers, empowering extra folks to know them, observe them, and like them.”
“Immediately’s award ceremony is only a ‘cease alongside the best way for these younger and aspiring writers. Immediately, Blancpain is taking inventory of the occasions we’re in, after which taking a detailed take a look at the knowledge that has been collected, in order that we will discover a methodology, a strategy to gentle a fireplace below all these aspiring younger and artistic souls which are on the market, to allow them to take a stand and remove any chance of the impoverishment of the literary scene. As a model with a protracted historical past going again 286 years, we imagine within the success of each model, writer, or anybody, for that matter, as they face the inevitable hardships, difficulties and challenges. Yearly ought to be considered a brand new place to begin on the lengthy highway. These are a number of phrases I would wish to share with all of you as encouragement: ‘Might your journey be lengthy, filled with miracles and discoveries.”
