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!
the shadows strategy
thomas lisle
open category
"The shadows strategy” is the story of two alien cosmonauts, from an alien race that can manipulate their form as and when they wish, their planet has a problem and they send the two hero's to find an answer. After searching many planets they find an inhabited planet, but find they are almost invisible, as they drift through this planets everyday life they are hardly noticed. They drift into the head of an alien and find it quite comfortable there, until they realise it is all an illusion, a shadow and they are alone in empty space. "The shadows strategy”, is a psychological investigation into the collective unconscious, set within the modern day myth of Science fiction, where aliens could be seen to represent the aspect of the human consciousness or self we don’t yet know. It is an art piece which looks at societies shadows of racism, identity and climate denial, and the concept of the journey as it's psychological theme. In terms of it's visual direction, it is an experiment and research into 3D animated paint based simulation and animation, the human form, biomorphic, abstract natural forms, leading to discovery of new shapes. 3D animation, and modelling software give visual artists a vast new range of technology to extend our boundaries of visual representation. The connection between the virtual and the psychological, is in the plasticity of Image making; our subconscious communicates through a fluid use of symbols and images, and its reflected in the virtual world. As Jung said before his death, "We need more understanding of human nature. The only real danger that exists is man himself, humans are the great danger. We are pitifully unaware of it.” i.e. global warming, nuclear war, government/corporate psychology manipulation. This art work is inspired by the groundbreaking sci-fi writings of Ursula Le Guin and Doris Lessing, the visual art is inspired by artists such as the Fauves, Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois work like “Nature study”. Video: https://vimeo.com/314459123 PW: bobby " How can art catalyze change?: Images and symbols are the languages of the subconscious, so visual art is constantly communicating with the psyche, whether we like it or not. Stories are like subconscious mind maps which trigger responses in the audience and can lead the viewer into re-confirming, or strengthening already held believes or lead them to new avenues of thought. So by talking to the subconscious, art can effect change on a deep level.
"The shadows strategy” is the story of two alien cosmonauts, from an alien race that can manipulate their form as and when they wish, their planet has a problem and they send the two hero's to find an answer. After searching many planets they find an inhabited planet, but find they are almost invisible, as they drift through this planets everyday life they are hardly noticed. They drift into the head of an alien and find it quite comfortable there, until they realise it is all an illusion, a shadow and they are alone in empty space. "The shadows strategy”, is a psychological investigation into the collective unconscious, set within the modern day myth of Science fiction, where aliens could be seen to represent the aspect of the human consciousness or self we don’t yet know. It is an art piece which looks at societies shadows of racism, identity and climate denial, and the concept of the journey as it's psychological theme. In terms of it's visual direction, it is an experiment and research into 3D animated paint based simulation and animation, the human form, biomorphic, abstract natural forms, leading to discovery of new shapes. 3D animation, and modelling software give visual artists a vast new range of technology to extend our boundaries of visual representation. The connection between the virtual and the psychological, is in the plasticity of Image making; our subconscious communicates through a fluid use of symbols and images, and its reflected in the virtual world. As Jung said before his death, "We need more understanding of human nature. The only real danger that exists is man himself, humans are the great danger. We are pitifully unaware of it.” i.e. global warming, nuclear war, government/corporate psychology manipulation. This art work is inspired by the groundbreaking sci-fi writings of Ursula Le Guin and Doris Lessing, the visual art is inspired by artists such as the Fauves, Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois work like “Nature study”. Video: https://vimeo.com/314459123 PW: bobby " How can art catalyze change?: Images and symbols are the languages of the subconscious, so visual art is constantly communicating with the psyche, whether we like it or not. Stories are like subconscious mind maps which trigger responses in the audience and can lead the viewer into re-confirming, or strengthening already held believes or lead them to new avenues of thought. So by talking to the subconscious, art can effect change on a deep level.