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!
This Garden of Ours
Jessica El Mal
open category
This Garden of Ours, a partnership with Journeys Festival International, explores the positive effects of nature and diversity within it as well as critiquing the key role of botany in the construction of global power dynamics and climate change, and the lasting effects this has on migration and attitudes towards it. The project consisted of a 6-month research and workshop schedule with a group consisting of the refugee and asylum seeker community, before together producing a public-facing programme of exhibitions and events. The installation exhibited at Manchester Museum, consisting of handmade pottery, frames, self portrait photography and more, to place our own narratives within the complex narrative of plants and power, and evoke a feeling of the garden of Eden - an ideological safe haven we should all have access to! How can art catalyze change?: By evoking a feeling within the audience, by challenging preconceptions and opening minds. In the words of Helen, one of the artists in my group “art makes the heart lighter”.
This Garden of Ours, a partnership with Journeys Festival International, explores the positive effects of nature and diversity within it as well as critiquing the key role of botany in the construction of global power dynamics and climate change, and the lasting effects this has on migration and attitudes towards it. The project consisted of a 6-month research and workshop schedule with a group consisting of the refugee and asylum seeker community, before together producing a public-facing programme of exhibitions and events. The installation exhibited at Manchester Museum, consisting of handmade pottery, frames, self portrait photography and more, to place our own narratives within the complex narrative of plants and power, and evoke a feeling of the garden of Eden - an ideological safe haven we should all have access to! How can art catalyze change?: By evoking a feeling within the audience, by challenging preconceptions and opening minds. In the words of Helen, one of the artists in my group “art makes the heart lighter”.