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!
Breaking The Spell (Perseus Beheading Medusa)
Pierre Chaumont
open category
This work tackles the representation and the normalization of violence towards women in art and society. By using a 3D scan of this sculpture and by transforming it, a new meaning emerge. I tried to counter the image of the female figure being on the verge of beheading, by translating the violence of the act towards the protagonist. By doing so, I try to distance viewers from what they are used to see, and in the end question these representations. Digital print, 72 x 56 cm How can art catalyze change?: Art can catalyze change if the artwork tackle a modern-day issue. By positioning themselves, artists can engage a discussion through art and their artwork. The viewer, then, not only experience the artist's though but also its own place in this new reality and is given a choice; accept this reality or change it.
This work tackles the representation and the normalization of violence towards women in art and society. By using a 3D scan of this sculpture and by transforming it, a new meaning emerge. I tried to counter the image of the female figure being on the verge of beheading, by translating the violence of the act towards the protagonist. By doing so, I try to distance viewers from what they are used to see, and in the end question these representations. Digital print, 72 x 56 cm How can art catalyze change?: Art can catalyze change if the artwork tackle a modern-day issue. By positioning themselves, artists can engage a discussion through art and their artwork. The viewer, then, not only experience the artist's though but also its own place in this new reality and is given a choice; accept this reality or change it.