The Open Call for the Social Art Award 2019 under the topic “We are the People – Peaceful Revolutions” was closed on December 15, 2019. We are very impressed by 558 submissions that were contributed by artists coming from 65 countries across all continents.
The winners of The Social Art Award 2019 are Narcissa Gold (USA), Melinda Mouzannar (Lebanon) and Bogna Grazyna Jaroslawski (Poland/Germany). The Honorary Mention goes to Kingson Kin Sing Chan (Hong Kong/UK).
Below you find the artworks, that passed the initial jury round. The public voting took place till 30 December and is a tool to give more public visibility to the topic and the artworks. It does not replace the final jury judgment. There were two wildcards for the most voted artworks that entered the final shortlist.
The focus diversity of applications shows that artists are active in the multi-faceted fields of socially engaged art reflecting on wars, genocides, femicides, traumata, violence against refugees, children, women, men, disabled people, LGBTIQs, animals. They share feelings for the planet and its living species, but also showing hopelessness due to complex crises be it climate change (e.g. in regard to water pollution), capitalism, corruption, a violation against human rights, nature, protected national parks. Many of the artists are constantly trying to give a voice to the poorest or empower unheard social groups.
It’s not only about peaceful revolutions, but it’s also about feeling a deep connection and showing love and respect for each other.
Thank you all for sharing your great and inspirational work and look at all the great contributions!
Untitled: Novacane
Thulani Kubeka
open category
This work is an exploration of my seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that occurs within different seasons and with me it occurs each year during winter. Around this time my focus starts fading, most of the time I’m there in the physical but mentally I’m fatigued. I have a fear of rejection, anxiety, insomnia and social withdrawals. With this work I aim to visually interpret and explore my emotional state and challenges that lead me to constant vulnerability and disconnection from everything else. I have chosen to work on this project because Mental health issues in black communities continue to be a taboo subject.
This work is an exploration of my seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that occurs within different seasons and with me it occurs each year during winter. Around this time my focus starts fading, most of the time I’m there in the physical but mentally I’m fatigued. I have a fear of rejection, anxiety, insomnia and social withdrawals. With this work I aim to visually interpret and explore my emotional state and challenges that lead me to constant vulnerability and disconnection from everything else. I have chosen to work on this project because Mental health issues in black communities continue to be a taboo subject.