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!
Ice Lick
oya
open category
This piece targets a crucial institution in the United States of America: the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) that operates under Homeland Security. ICE officers have been notoriously conducting inhumane practices and illegally detaining undocumented immigrants. If one has precarious immigration status, the last thing they want to see is the ICE badge. Hence the badge is an object of fear and oppression. It’s the symbol of an institution that renders the undocumented community powerless. My starting point in this project, was to honor the resilience of the undocumented community instead of emphasizing their victimhood and despair. The ICE Lick is an object of protest that is a lollipop in the shape of an ICE badge. This candy is flavored with quintessential Mexican spices: cumin, chili pepper, and lime and made specifically for undocumented friends to enjoy. Every lick takes away from the potency of ICE’s authority. Every lick reverses the power relation between the institution of fear and its targets. The very same symbol of oppression turns into an object of protest. Viewers are invited to join the protest by taking a piece of flavored candy. How can art catalyze change?: Art can act as a storyteller, raise awareness and start a conversation around issues that we face. Therefore, art practice can spread the discussion and allow different perspectives to be part of the change.
This piece targets a crucial institution in the United States of America: the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) that operates under Homeland Security. ICE officers have been notoriously conducting inhumane practices and illegally detaining undocumented immigrants. If one has precarious immigration status, the last thing they want to see is the ICE badge. Hence the badge is an object of fear and oppression. It’s the symbol of an institution that renders the undocumented community powerless. My starting point in this project, was to honor the resilience of the undocumented community instead of emphasizing their victimhood and despair. The ICE Lick is an object of protest that is a lollipop in the shape of an ICE badge. This candy is flavored with quintessential Mexican spices: cumin, chili pepper, and lime and made specifically for undocumented friends to enjoy. Every lick takes away from the potency of ICE’s authority. Every lick reverses the power relation between the institution of fear and its targets. The very same symbol of oppression turns into an object of protest. Viewers are invited to join the protest by taking a piece of flavored candy. How can art catalyze change?: Art can act as a storyteller, raise awareness and start a conversation around issues that we face. Therefore, art practice can spread the discussion and allow different perspectives to be part of the change.