The Second Situation by Geng Jianyi, who won the Lifetime Contribution award at the 2012 Chinese Contemporary Art Awards. Provided to China Daily

The 2012 Chinese Contemporary Art Awards were announced at the Art Gallery of the Central Academy of Fine Arts on Wednesday, naming this year's Best Artist, Best Young Artist and Lifetime Contribution Artist.

Founded as the first academic and independent Chinese art award in 1997 by Swiss collector Uli Sigg, CCAA awards are given biannually to Chinese artists and art critics who show particular talent in artistic creation and in its critique. There have been 18 artists and four critics awarded during the past 15 years.

"Through CCAA awards, we hope to enhance awareness and appreciation of a wider public for what Chinese contemporary art contributes to contemporary culture," says Sigg, CCAA founder as well as a leading collector of Chinese contemporary art. He also previously served as his country's ambassador to China.

This year's jury also includes six other renowned Chinese and foreign experts on contemporary art, namely Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Chris Dercon, Feng Boyi, Huang Zhuan, Li Zhenhua and Lars Nittve.

"The team is a good balance of knowing (the nominees well) and not knowing to avoid biased judgment," says judge Christov-Bakargiev, curator of Documenta 13, Kassel 2012 and Sydney Biennale 2008.

The honored three were carefully selected from 45 nominees through one week's review and a two-day closed-door discussion.

This year's Best Artist award went to Hong Kong-based artist Pak Sheung-chuen, who usually expresses everyday situations and common people through installations, photos and paintings.