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!
Interesting Times Are Welcome
FutureTeam
open category
Interesting Times Are Welcome is an illegal performance action carried out for 13 hours during the opening of the 58th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Venice (IT). The security jacket in the photo was used during the performance. Reflecting on the "Age of Uncertainty", characterized by social insecurity and on the dualisms defense - threat and repression - welcome, the performer played on the ambiguity between being a security guard and a visitors assistant, confusing the public and the organizing body. The performer related to the audience through two sentences: "Interesting times are welcome", pronounced in a cheerful and unexpected way when a visitor passed by him mistaken for a bodyguard, and "Sorry, I'm not here to help you" when someone asked him about the exhibition. The performance highlights the vain search for certainty and the hope for better times that people live every day in contemporary society. Interesting Times Are Welcome is a social act that, using the context of art, has allowed to give rise to dialogues and discussions among visitors about the critical situation of our times, thus creating an atmosphere of shared thoughts. How can art catalyze change?: Art can catalyze change through constant awareness and collective dialogue on social and political issues.
Interesting Times Are Welcome is an illegal performance action carried out for 13 hours during the opening of the 58th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, Venice (IT). The security jacket in the photo was used during the performance. Reflecting on the "Age of Uncertainty", characterized by social insecurity and on the dualisms defense - threat and repression - welcome, the performer played on the ambiguity between being a security guard and a visitors assistant, confusing the public and the organizing body. The performer related to the audience through two sentences: "Interesting times are welcome", pronounced in a cheerful and unexpected way when a visitor passed by him mistaken for a bodyguard, and "Sorry, I'm not here to help you" when someone asked him about the exhibition. The performance highlights the vain search for certainty and the hope for better times that people live every day in contemporary society. Interesting Times Are Welcome is a social act that, using the context of art, has allowed to give rise to dialogues and discussions among visitors about the critical situation of our times, thus creating an atmosphere of shared thoughts. How can art catalyze change?: Art can catalyze change through constant awareness and collective dialogue on social and political issues.