Violette Maillard Wins First Premio Italia-Cina with Electric Catfish Project

French artist Violette Maillard won the first edition of the Premio Italia-Cina, a prize promoted by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, the Italian Cultural Institute of Beijing, the Garuzzo Institute for Visual Arts, and the National Art Museum of China. The award includes an exhibition and residency. Maillard's project, 'put a tiger in the sun two catfishes in the car,' was inspired by Chinese automotive industry and the Alfa Romeo Siluro Ricotti. She created a sculpture in the form of an electric car, which she plans to drive from Beijing to Milan. During a symposium at NAMOC in December, IIC-Beijing director Franco Amadei noted that an ancient Chinese symbol depicts two kissing fish, whose intersection forms a shaman's face. Maillard's work explores themes of eternity, technology, and cultural exchange, incorporating electric and solar energy. She presented sketches and guidelines for the prototype sculpture in a solo show at NAMOC.