On October 12, 2024, the long-awaited opening ceremony of the award-winning works exhibition for the second Venice International Watercolor Festival took place at the Trecento Palace in Treviso, Italy. This year's watercolor festival is one of the official projects authorized by the city of Venice to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo. It is organized by the Treviso City Hall and supervised by the president of the Shanghai China Foreign Cultural and Art Exchange Association. The event is jointly hosted by the Italian Cultural and Art Exchange Association and Shengxinyu Art (China), with the aim of promoting dialogue and exchange between Eastern and Western cultures through the unique art form of watercolor, and fostering mutual learning among different civilizations.

The opening ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Raphael, President of the Italian Cultural and Art Exchange Association; Cristina Santi, Special Representative of the City of Venice, Head of the "700th Anniversary of Marco Polo's Death" commemorative activities, and Director of the Venice Getano Watercolor Institute; Santoni, President of the Marango Art Association in Italy; Sandra Miranda, a judge of the watercolor festival competition; local Italian artists; and many artists who traveled from Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, and China. Zhao Kangwei, Vice Chairman of the Venice International Watercolor Festival Organizing Committee and President of the Shanghai China Foreign Cultural and Art Exchange Association, extended his congratulations on the successful launch of the festival via video link. The second Venice International Watercolor Festival also received strong support from the well-known Chinese art materials brand, "Rubens."

As one of the most important watercolor art events in the world, the second Venice International Watercolor Festival showcased over 160 watercolor works from more than 20 countries and regions, highlighting the extraordinary creative talents of watercolor artists from around the globe. The exhibited works covered a wide range of subjects, from landscapes and portraits to still life and abstract art. Each piece told the unique story of its creator through the distinctive language of watercolor.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Raphael, President of the Italian Cultural and Art Exchange Association, remarked, "This is a very successful global watercolor event. The entries exhibit diversity in both style and technique, as well as unique beauty in terms of quality and expressiveness. In particular, the abstract works have brought delightful surprises."Zhao Kangwei, Vice Chairman of the Venice International Watercolor Festival Organizing Committee and President of the Shanghai China Foreign Cultural and Art Exchange Association, delivered a congratulatory video message. He extended warm congratulations on the successful opening of the festival and expressed his honor in participating in the cultural and artistic exchange between Italy and China. He also looked forward to the outstanding achievements of Chinese watercolor artists in this year's competition.

The Venice International Watercolor Festival was founded in 2023, and due to its adherence to international norms in team formation, rule-setting, jury invitations, publicity, and exhibition planning, it has gained recognition from international authoritative organizations within just two years. The professional quality, scale of participation, and global influence of the festival have been widely acknowledged. In 2024, the second Venice International Watercolor Festival was rigorously reviewed by the Secretariat and Scientific Committee of the "Marco Polo 700th Anniversary National Celebration Committee" and ultimately became an important part of the official celebrations for the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death.

At the opening ceremony, Cristina Santi, the representative of the "Marco Polo 700th Anniversary National Celebration Committee," delivered a speech. She stated, "Venice hosts many watercolor exhibitions, and we have various collaborative projects with international watercolor artists, having invited many renowned artists to participate in the past. However, the quality of the works showcased here today truly amazes me. In particular, the selection of works for this watercolor art festival has successfully spread and presented the diverse techniques of artists from around the world. The theme of Marco Polo is a new addition to this event, and it represents not only a commemoration of Marco Polo but also a celebration of Venice. It offers an interesting perspective on understanding and honoring Marco Polo, both from the angle of cultural exchange and through the medium of watercolor art."

According to Zhang Hongbin, the Chief Curator of the Venice International Watercolor Festival, this year's event is divided into two parts. One is the "Unthemed" section, which aims to provide artists with maximum creative freedom, allowing them to fully express their individual style and artistic imagination. The other is the "Marco Polo" themed section, which encourages artists from around the world to use Marco Polo's life journey as the source of inspiration for their watercolor creations, paying tribute to this great explorer and pioneer of East-West cultural exchange.The works in the "Unthemed" exhibition demonstrate remarkable diversity, encompassing various styles and techniques. Some artists depict natural landscapes with fine brushwork, showcasing their awe and love for nature, while others use bold colors and exaggerated compositions to explore and release their inner emotions. These pieces not only reflect the high diversity of contemporary watercolor art but also highlight the differences and resonances in the creative concepts of artists from various countries.

The "Marco Polo" themed exhibition, set against the backdrop of history, takes the audience on a journey through the legendary explorer's remarkable travels. The works in this section use watercolor as a medium to depict Marco Polo's journey from Venice, across Central Asia, and ultimately to China. Many of the artworks incorporate unique perspectives, blending history with modern artistic expression, and reflecting the fusion and transformation of Eastern and Western cultures through exchange and collision. One painting, which portrays Marco Polo interacting with the local people in China, employs bright watercolor tones to vividly depict the prosperity and cultural diversity of ancient China, evoking a deep sense of history and the power of art.

Sandra Miranda, a renowned Italian artist and international curator, has served as a juror for the Venice International Watercolor Festival for two consecutive years, attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition both times. Reflecting on her experience, Sandra remarked, "Being a juror for two editions of the watercolor competition has been a challenging task, as the number of entries and their quality exceeded my expectations. It was a significant amount of work, with many pieces technically indistinguishable from one another. The themes were also quite similar, making it difficult to make definitive judgments. To ensure the quality of the exhibition, we were very careful in selecting each piece, making sure that the competition maintained a high level of prestige and the exhibition offered a strong visual appeal. Particularly notable is the fact that many artists participated in the competition twice, and I am grateful for their continued support. This shows that this young festival is growing and has gained affection and recognition from the artistic community."

To honor outstanding watercolor artworks, the second Venice International Watercolor Festival established several awards, including the "Venice International Watercolor Festival Award," the "Marco Polo Themed Award," as well as first, second, and third prizes in various categories. The entries were rigorously evaluated through both preliminary and final rounds, with the winners ultimately selected by an international jury. The jury was composed of renowned artists, art critics, association presidents, and curators from around the world, including Rosa Sepple, former President of the Royal Watercolour Society in the UK; Manuel Alpañés Ramos, President of the Spanish Watercolour Society; and Jayne Barry, President of the Watercolour Society of Ireland. They provided meticulous feedback on the entries, ensuring that the selection process was fair and just.

It is noteworthy that the evaluation criteria for this year's Venice International Watercolor Festival not only focused on the technical skills and aesthetic value of the artworks but also placed a special emphasis on the originality and intellectual depth of the works. This approach aims to encourage artists to not only pursue technical excellence but also to consider the cultural and societal significance behind their creations. In this way, the festival became more than just a competition of artistic techniques; it also served as a platform for the collision and exchange of cultural ideas.As a result, Liu Yunsheng, an artist from China, won the **"First Prize of the Venice International Watercolor Festival"** for his work *"Bald Head"*. Meanwhile, Yao Hongyu received the **"Marco Polo Themed Creation Award"** for his poetic and lyrical depiction of Marco Polo Square in his piece *"Rainy Walk Series 5"*. Both artists received a cash prize of $2,000. Additionally, Felice Feltracco, an Italian watercolor artist, and Jessica Bryant from Minnesota, USA, were awarded second and third prizes for their exceptional works, respectively.

Since its inception, the Venice International Watercolor Festival has been dedicated to fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the East and the West. As an international art event, it provides a shared platform for artists from diverse cultural backgrounds to create and communicate, promoting dialogue and cooperation between artists from different countries. According to Ji Yinglun, Secretary-General of the festival's organizing committee, over 2,000 works were submitted for the two editions of the festival by artists, students, and art enthusiasts from nearly 40 countries. Through the Venice International Watercolor Festival, artists from China, the United States, Italy, France, the UK, Spain, and many other countries gathered to engage in cross-cultural dialogue and exchange through the language of art.Watercolor art has not only been widely spread and promoted through this event but has also provided a new platform for East-West artistic communication. It offers a fresh channel for mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. The festival's success is seen as a testament to the vibrant and diverse nature of watercolor art and its potential to bring about deeper cultural exchange. Looking ahead, the festival aims to continue offering artists the opportunity to share their understanding and reflections of the world through watercolor, a medium that allows for the blending of tradition and innovation.

As cultural exchanges deepen and times evolve, watercolor art continues to blend, innovate, and progress across different countries. Many contemporary watercolor artists, while inheriting traditional techniques, are incorporating modern artistic concepts and elements, breathing new life into the medium. In this year's Venice International Watercolor Festival, the audience could see numerous works combining traditional watercolor techniques with contemporary artistic ideas, showcasing the unique position and vast potential of watercolor in the realm of contemporary art.The success of the Venice International Watercolor Festival not only highlighted the diversity and creativity of global watercolor art but also injected new momentum into the international development of watercolor art. As a global artistic event, it not only provided artists with a platform to showcase their talents but also offered art lovers and the general public the chance to engage closely with and learn about watercolor art. The Venice International Watercolor Festival will continue to be committed to promoting cultural exchange and integration between the East and the West, using art as a common language to foster mutual understanding and respect among different cultures.

"Understanding the world through art, linking the future through watercolor"—this sentiment echoes the legacy of Marco Polo, who, 700 years ago, connected the East and the West via the Silk Road. Today, the Venice International Watercolor Festival, through the power of art, brings together artists and audiences from around the world, creating an artistic celebration that transcends time and culture. This event has become a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange, much like Marco Polo's journeys did in his time. We look forward to more exceptional artists joining this global artistic journey in the future.The **award-winning works** of the Venice International Watercolor Festival are being showcased at the **Palazzo Tressinato** in the Veneto region of Italy, where the exhibition will run until **October 27th**. This extended exhibition offers art lovers a chance to experience the diverse and profound works that have won recognition at this prestigious international event.