Dear Dover Prize,
My name is Mingzhang Sun, and I am a multidisciplinary artist originally from China, now residing in London for the past 11 years. Having trained in fine arts, fashion, and costume design, I am now merging these diverse skills into a unique artistic language that encompasses painting, sculpture, performance, digital art, and installation.
Winning this bursary would mark a transformative stage in my artistic career. I believe that art embodies humanity and evokes deep emotions. My aspiration is to create works that invite people to explore their feelings together, fostering a sense of peace and care.
I plan to use the bursary to elevate my artistic skills to a new level by dividing the funds into seven key areas: study, materials, creation, rental, promotion, transports, and daily expenses. This support will be instrumental for my ambitious project “Fuzzy Container,” which includes sculpture, painting, installation, performance, and sound, aiming to create an immersive art experience that inspires self-awareness in new generations.
I intend to have glass , canvas , sound, and digital as the primary materials, highlighting the contrasts between hard and soft, and portraying the essential values of growth.
Thank you very much for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Mingzhang Sun
I am eager to collaborate with local museums and galleries for the final exhibition, which will feature performances and discussions related to the project. I plan to invite local artists to share their experiences surrounding the same theme, fostering a sense of community and connection. Additionally, I will offer workshops aimed at cultivating pride and appreciation for art, encouraging participants to engage with and celebrate the creative process together.
My name is Mingzhang Sun (b. 1990), a multidisciplinary artist from China who now calls London home. My artistic journey is deeply rooted in a rich blend of both Chinese and European painting traditions, which I skilfully combine with elements of fashion design, costume design, soft sculpture, installation, and performance art. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Contemporary Art Practice at the Royal College of Art, building on a solid foundation from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and the University of the Arts in London. My creativity has not gone unnoticed; I have received several prestigious awards, including the CAFA President’s Choice Award in 2013 and the UAL Excellence in Design and Realisation for Performance Award in 2017. Recently, I was honoured with the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship at the Royal College of Art for 2024. My work has been featured in various solo and group exhibitions across the UK, China, New Zealand, and Europe, allowing me to share my unique perspective and artistic vision with a broader audience. Through my captivating creations, I continue to leave a lasting impression on the contemporary art scene. Currently, I am working on a new project named “And, Yet.” This project is inspired by the demolished village where I grew up. In recent decades, China has experienced rapid transformation, with many villages being torn down and rebuilt, often erasing their existence entirely. The village where I spent my childhood has vanished, now only remembered as a name on a train station. Once a chaotic hub in the 1990s, it was alive with street fights, vibrant “red light” hair salons, and adult cinemas. The realisation of its disappearance feels both strange and unsettling for me. Winning this funding will be a great support for my art practice, providing essential materials for my project. It will enable me to fully realise my vision, and I am eager to complete this work. I believe it will leave a strong impression on the audiences, showcasing the depth and significance of my artistic exploration. Thank you very much
Mingzhang Sun
• MA in Contemporary Art Practice – Royal College of Art, Uk- September 2024- July 2025
• BA in Costume for Performance – London College of Fashion, UK – September 2014 – July 2017
• BA in Fashion Design – Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China – September 2009 – July 2013
• Fine Art -Zhengzhou No.6 High School _ September 2007-July 2009
• Orleans House Gallery (London Richmond Art Council )Emerging Artist Award Solo Exhibitiion 2025
• The Deputy Vice Chancellor’s UK Scholarship- Royal College Of Art- 2024
• First-time Entrant Award winner – World of Wearable Art – 2018
• Excellence in Design & Realisation for Performance – London College of Fashion – 2017
• CAFA President’s Choice Award – Central Academy of Fine Arts – 2013
• Recognition Award for TV show Creative Sky – CCTV 5th TV Show – 2013
• First Prize of HP Fabric Print Competition – 2013
I have been teaching fine art for some time, both in one-on-one settings and in classroom environments. Additionally, I have served as a tutor for art portfolios, guiding students in developing their skills and expressing their creativity. I have also been a guest lecturer at South London University and the London College of Fashion, sharing my expertise and insights with students in these esteemed institutions.
NA
2025
• Terrence Higgins trust annual auction at Christie’s , London, UK
• Group exhibition, Day Dream, London. UK
• Group exhibition, The Blooming Dartemoor, Lian Gallery, Hangzhou, China
• Solo exhibition, After Summer Half , Orleans House Gallery, London, UK
2024
• Group exhibition, ANT project, Royal College Of Art, London,UK
• Group exhibition,Within and Without, Liliya Art Gallery, London, UK
• Group exhibition,Traveling Memories, 2Hoxton St, London, Uk
• Group exhibition, Time Has Burned, Willesden Gallery, London, UK
• Group exhibition,A Part of US, Tutussie, London, UK
2023
• Group exhibition, The Fashioned Body, The Trampery, London, UK
• Group exhibition, St. Peter’s Open, St. Peter’s Church, London, UK
• Solo exhibition, Half/Ban, The London Lighthouse Gallery, London, UK
• Group exhibition, Spring Exhibition, The London Lighthouse Gallery, London, UK
2022
• Group exhibition, British Painting 3, Bermondsey Project Space, London, UK
• Group exhibition, Spring Exhibition, The London Lighthouse Gallery, London, UK
2019
• Group exhibition, Viscious Circle, The Old Buscuit Factory, London, UK
• Group exhibition, Yugen Art gallery, Milan, Italy
2018
• Group exhibition, World of Wearable Art 2018, Aukland, New Zealand
Email: ming@mingzhangsun.com
Address: Studio 304, Limehouse Art Foundation, London, E3 3ND, GB
