The 2022 World Nature Photography Awards Vacillate Between the Humor and Brutality of Life on Earth

Photo © Staffan Widstrand. All images courtesy of World Nature Photography Awards, shared with permission

Moments of coincidental humor, stark cruelty, and surprising inter-species intimacies are on full display in this year’s World Nature Photography Awards. The winners of the 2022 competition encompass a vast array of life across six continents, from an elephant’s endearing attempt at camouflage to a crocodile covered in excessively dry mud spurred by drought. While many of the photos highlight natural occurrences, others spotlight the profound impacts humans have on the environment to particularly disastrous results, including Nicolas Remy’s heartbreaking image that shows an Australian fur seal sliced open by a boat propellor.

Find some of the winning photos below, and explore the entire collection on the contest’s site.

 

Photo © Jens Cullmann, gold winner and grand prize of the World Nature Photographer of the Year

Photo © Norihiro Ikuma

Photo © Julie Kenny

Photo © Nicolas Remy

Photo © Vladislav Tasev

Photo © Tamas Aranyossy

Photo © Dr Artur Stankiewicz

Photo © Takuya Ishiguro

Photo © Thomas Vijayan

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Paper Sculptures by Lyndi Sales Rupture into Vibrant Masses to Explore Life’s Fragility

“Unmapped realm,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters. All images © Lyndi Sales, shared with permission

Cape Town-based artist Lyndi Sales translates life’s vulnerability and fleeting nature into colorful sculptures that appear to burst and rupture in vivid forms. Using painted strips of blank paper or fragments of printed maps, Sales layers abstract compositions that splay outward, mimicking the structures of ice crystals or the cell replication process. The tension between the ephemeral and durable and the microscopic and macroscopic manifest in the large-scale works—all the pieces shown here stretch more than 4.5 feet—a relationship the artist teases out as “a way to locate myself in this universe.”

Despite the vibrancy and expansive qualities of Sales’ sculptures, much of her practice centers around dying, a theme that emerged during her childhood and which has been influenced by her father’s death in the Helderberg airplane crash of 1987. She tells Colossal:

The Buddhists believe that if you die peacefully you enter into a tunnel of light whereas if you die in fear you enter into a dark tunnel. Documented near-death experiences,  mortality, and the moment of transition from the physical to the spiritual realm became fascinating subjects for me after my research around the Helderberg plane crash.  Although my recent work is not specifically about the crash anymore, it has evolved from this core interest. I’m intrigued by the ability to see beyond the veil of the everyday into a realm that is a hair’s breath away from the reality we are familiar with, yet often difficult to access.

In addition to showing works this month at Affordable Art Fair in New York, Sales has a solo show slated for October at .M Contemporary in Sydney. You can find an archive of her work on her site, and head to Instagram for a peek inside her studio. (via Hyperallergic)

 

“Snakes Eye View,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

Detail of “Unmapped realm,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

“The serpent is a creative source,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

“Altered State of Space,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

Detail of “Altered State of Space,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

“Feathery Guides,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

“Uncharted realm,” 140 x 120 x 3 centimeters

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Everyday Objects Swirl in the Dizzying Choreography of Alain Biet’s Elaborate Animation

Items you might find on a shelf in the garage or packed away in the basement—like wrenches, your old MP3 player, key fobs, or spare light bulbs—become stars in their own right in Alain Biet’s mesmerizing animation. “Grands Canons,” which translates from French to “Big Guns,” opens with a close-up of the artist drafting a realistic, green pencil in watercolor. Once the rendering is complete, we meet another pencil, and another, as a “visual symphony” of thousands of precise drawings unfolds.

Biet’s intricately detailed illustrations highlight everyday objects we might find in a junk drawer, a closet, or even destined for the trash, emphasizing a variety of styles and how items have evolved over time. His survey of technology and tools stokes a tinge of nostalgia, too. Remember that old Discman, SLR camera, or Nokia brick? The gang’s all here in a dizzyingly choreographed sequence, accompanied by an original score that responds to the rhythms and movements of the drawings as they skitter and whirl across the surface.

Find more of the artist’s work his website and Instagram.

 

All images © Alain Biet

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Supple Forms Bow and Bulge in Jonas Noël Niedermann Bow’s Colorful Glass Sculptures

All images © Jonas Noël Niedermann, courtesy of Chesterfield Gallery, shared with permission

In his new body of work titled Loops, Jonas Noël Niedermann plays with the possibilities of color, shape, and light. The Swiss artist is known for his keen interest in the malleable, varied properties of glass, and through a variety of hot and cold sculpting techniques, he creates elegant rings in a spectrum of jewel tones. Because of their curved and bowed edges, the delicate pieces shift in depth and color when viewed from different perspectives as sides appear layered or folded in. A brass finish also coats the bottom of each sculpture to accentuate the way light catches and casts prismatic shadows through the material.

Loops is on view from March 14 to April 4 at Chesterfield Gallery in New York. You can find more from the artist on his site and Instagram.

 

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Readers Burrow into a Bookworm Haven in Kurkku Fields’ ‘Underground Library’

All images © Kurkku Fields

Undulating grass mounds at Kurkku Fields camouflage a meditative enclave for reading and rest. Opened last month in Kisarazu City, Japan, “Underground Library” is the project of Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Architects, who designed the study center so that it nestles into the ground and seamlessly merges with the surrounding landscape.

A radial skylight allows natural light to pour into the otherwise concrete and wood space, along with large glass windows that line the building’s perimeter, showcasing a selection of the 3,000 books on the shelves. Given the location of the library, many of the titles explore the natural world through poetry, art, philosophy, history, and science. Halls wind throughout the circular space and lead to cozy reading rooms, some of which have narrow shelves carved into the walls that hide volumes for surprise discoveries.

“Underground Library” is one of many projects from Nakamura and his team that embeds architecture into the landscape, and you can explore those works on the firm’s site. (via designboom)

 

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Shrouded in Mist, Spectral Icebergs Float Around the Antarctic Peninsula in Photos by Jan Erik Waider

All images © Jan Erik Waider, shared with permission

In late 2019, Jan Erik Waider boarded the Bark Europa, a 56-meter-long wooden sailing ship constructed in 1911, bound for the Antarctic Peninsula. The Hamburg-based photographer, whose work centers on polar landscapes (previously), captured the multifaceted forms of glaciers and icebergs, steely grays of storms, and shrouds of mist during the 24-day voyage. Waider is known for his documentation of dramatic northern destinations like Iceland, Norway, and Greenland, and a trip to the southern extreme proffered an opportunity to expand on his series of atmospheric vistas with the project A Faint Resemblance.

Antarctica is approximately 98% covered in ice and nearly doubles in size in the winter when the sea freezes around its periphery. In summer, the sheets break up and calve thousands of icebergs, many of which are so vast that they can be measured in square miles. Waider captured the spectral forms of these floating, icy islands as the ship rounded the coastline, drifting through patches of fog that added an extra element of surprise when it cleared to reveal a new scene. “The infinite shapes and textures of icebergs in the polar regions fascinate me again and again,” he says, adding that “the proportions are unimaginable, considering that the largest part is still under water.” Waider is always astonished by the spectrum of the color blue, which on cloudy days can appear even more vibrant, as if glowing from within.

The poles have seen record warmth and ice melt in the past few years, which contributes to rising sea levels and alters the region’s ecosystems. Waider says, “I’m really drawn to landscapes that are transforming or vanishing like icebergs and glaciers. It has a fascinating and also a sad element, and every photo is a snapshot of a moment which is long gone by now.”

Waider is preparing to publish a photo book of more images from his Antarctica trip, emphasizing a holistic interpretation of the continent’s landscape, nature, wildlife, historic sites and the Bark Europa. Find more of his work on his website and Behance.

 

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March 2023 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

Image © Paperboyo

Every month, Colossal shares a selection of opportunities for artists and designers, including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies. If you’d like to list an opportunity here, please get in touch at hello@colossal.art. You can also join our monthly Opportunities Newsletter.

 

Open Calls

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Call for Artists (Wisconsin)
Artists and curators living in Wisconsin are encouraged to submit proposals for an exhibition at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison. There is a $5 application fee.
Deadline: 5 p.m. CST on March 1, 2023.

World of WearableArt 2023 Competition (International)
Entries are open for the World of WearableArt Awards Competition, which brings the work of international designers to life each year in a large-scale theatrical spectacle held in Wellington, New Zealand. As well as a total prize pool of over $185,000 (NZD), the competition offers the chance to access exclusive residencies and internships with global creative companies.
Deadline: March 2, 2023.

The Flag Project (International)
Artists of all skill levels can submit work inspired by their most memorable food memories in the city for the fourth annual Flag Project. The exhibition will display works on the 193 flagpoles that surround Rockefeller Plaza.
Deadline: March 2, 2023.

The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 15 Competition (International)
Royal Observatory Greenwich hosts the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 15 competition, which invites entrants of all ages to submit up to ten photos of the cosmos for a chance to win the grand prize of £10,000. There is a £10 fee covering up to ten images.
Deadline: Noon GMT on March 3, 2023.

STARTS Prize 2023 of the European Commission (International)
Artists and others working at the intersection of science, technology, and the arts are eligible for the STARTS Prize 2023. Two prizes worth 20,000 Euros will be awarded to projects that combine industry or technology and the arts, with the goal of opening new paths for innovation.
Deadline: March 3, 2023.

Open Call for Art Installation Proposals to Memorialize the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground (International)
FABnyc is issuing an open call to artists to create an art installation at M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden to memorialize the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground. One winning project will receive $32,500 for artist fees and fabrication expenses.
Deadline: Midnight EST on March 18, 2023.

$1,800 Innovate Grants for Art + Photo—Winter 2023 Open Call (International)
For its Winter 2023 grant cycle, Innovate Grant is thrilled to introduce its newly increased awards of $1,800. Two awards are offered each quarter to one visual artist and one photographer, and six honorable mentions are also featured on the Innovate Grant site. Applications are open to anyone 18 and older from anywhere in the world.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on March 23, 2023.

LAVO’s Reminiscence Art and Design Competition (International)
This prize is for artists and designers with work centered around themes of reuse, repurpose, and recycle. Eleven applicants will be selected for the exhibition, and the first-prize winner will receive $20,000. Runners-up will receive $3,000 each.
Deadline: March 31, 2023.

The 11th Annual Art Competition at Bridgeport Art Center (Chicago)
Bridgeport Art Center is hosting an open call for its 11th Annual Art Competition and Exhibition, which will run from May 19 to July 7. Works in a vast array of mediums are eligible, and prizes range from $500 to $3,000.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on April 4, 2023.

The Burke Prize (U.S.)
The Burke Prize is a biannual $50,000 prize for artists working in glass, fiber, clay, metal, or wood.
Deadline: April 28, 2023.

The Future Generation Art Prize (International)
All artists aged 35 or younger from anywhere in the world and working in any medium are eligible for this prize. One winner will receive $60,000 in cash and a $40,000 investment in their practice, and five special prizes totaling $20,000 are awarded to support other projects.
Deadline: April 30, 2023.

 

Grants

Call Leaky Archive Digital Fellowship (Global South)
Artists, activists, makers, professionals, and collectives from the Global South are invited to apply for this digital fellowship to explore how colonial archives and collections can be critically developed and reflected upon. Fellows receive a 2,500 Euro grant and 500 Euros for project funding.
Deadline: March 2, 2023.

CERF+ Get Ready Grants (U.S.)
CERF+’s Get Ready program provides individual craft artists grants up to $500 to help safeguard their studios and prepare for emergencies. Approximately sixty grants will be awarded.
Deadline: March 7, 2023.

The Fluevog Artist Grant (U.S., Canada, The Netherlands, and Australia)
The John Fluevog Shoes Emerging Artist Grant is intended to help emerging artists develop their skills and increase the visibility of their artwork. The winner will receive $10,000.
Deadline: March 31, 2023.

Creative Capital Wild Futures: Art, Culture, Impact Grant (U.S.)
Creative Capital offers grants of up to $50,000 to support new works. Artists receive direct project funding without restrictions, professional advisory services, and community-building opportunities.
Deadline: March 31, 2023.

Fundación Botín Art Grants (International)
Fundación Botín will award six grants worth € 23,000 to support individual projects that may consist of training (academic or not), research (non-academic), and production.
Deadline: May 5, 2023.

Jerome Foundation Arts Organization Grants (New York City and Minnesota)
These two-year flexible grants are designed to support Minnesota and New York City-based arts organizations that offer ongoing programs, services, and/or opportunities for multiple early career generative artists.
Deadline: 4 p.m. CST on May 18, 2023.

Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund (Ukraine or refugee)
Adobe’s Creative Residency Community Fund commissions visual artists to create company projects on a rolling basis. Awardees will receive between $500 and $5,000.
Deadline: Rolling.

 

Residencies, Fellowships, & More

Ucross Foundation Residencies and Fellowships (International)
Ucross has two programs open across disciplines: a general studio residency and Ford Family Foundation Fellowships open to Oregon artists only. Chosen applicants receive studio space, living accommodations, and a $1,000 stipend. There is a $40 application fee.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. MST on March 1, 2023.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Artist Residency (International)
Five to ten artists working in wood, glass, metal, fiber, and clay will be awarded residencies. The program offers a $1,000 monthly stipend, studio space, cultural and professional development opportunities, and an opportunity to give an artist talk.
Deadline: March 1, 2023.

Art Mamas Residencies at Stoneleaf Retreat (International)
Art Mamas Alliance and Stoneleaf Retreat have two residencies available to artist parents. Each resident receives accommodations, studio space, and a $1,000 unrestricted stipend. There is a $25 application fee.
Deadline: 5 p.m. EST on March 8, 2023.

European Cultural Academy’s Contemporary Art Course (International)
Artists, curators, students, and creatives from all fields and backgrounds are eligible to apply for a full scholarship to this two-week contemporary art course in Venice. The program is designed to aid in project development.
Deadline: March 14, 2023.

Mainframe Studio Residency (International)
The aim of this residency is to provide emerging and established artists the experience of the working conditions that artist Alex Brown (1966-2019) found in Des Moines. Residents receive housing, studio space, and a $1,000 monthly stipend, plus airfare or reimbursement for other travel to and from Des Moines.
Deadline: March 15, 2023. 

Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program (International)
Artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, digital media, and installation are eligible for this residency in New Mexico. Residents receive a stipend of $1,100 per month, a $250 per month stipend for materials, housing, and a studio.
Deadline: 3 p.m. MDT on March 15, 2023.

Onassis AiR Residency (International)
This program is open to artists, curators, designers, dancers, chefs, gardeners, activists, writers, educators, legal advocates, performers, economists, architects, filmmakers and other practitioners from any medium of expression or discipline. Residencies run between September 2023 and July 2024 in Athens, and all participants receive a research fee, housing, travel to and from Athens, a research budget, and other resources.
Deadline: 12 p.m. (UTC +2) on March 20, 2023.

Kala Fellowship Award (International)
Artists working in printmaking, digital media, installation art, social practice, photography, and book arts are eligible for this award. Residents receive a $3,000 stipend and a studio residency at Kala Art Institute.
Deadline: 9 p.m. PDT on March 15, 2023.

CultureHub Residency (U.S.)
This program offers one-week residencies to artists from September 11 to December 15, 2023. Residents receive $1,500 and studio access in either New York or Los Angeles to develop a project.
Deadline: March 15, 2023.

Artlab Editorial Fellowship Open Call (International)
Artlab Editorial provides art writers at any stage of their career the space and time to consider—and reconsider—the shifting world around them. Two fellows will be offered $10,000 each to produce three pieces of writing in 2023.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on March 28, 2023.

Martin House Creative Residency Program (U.S.)
Artists and researchers working across disciplines are eligible for this residency that supports ongoing projects or the creation of new work with ties to architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, and/or the Martin House. Residents receive a stipend of $5,000 and travel expenses up to $1,000.
Deadline: March 31, 2023.

Lillstreet Art Center Artist-in-Residence Program (International)
Lillstreet Art Center offers residencies in ceramics, metalsmithing, textiles, drawing & painting, and printmaking & book arts beginning in September every year. Residents receive a $400 monthly stipend, studio space, access to the center’s facilities, an exhibition, and paid teaching opportunities.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CST on May 1, 2023.

Knight Foundation 2023 Summer Internships (International)
The Knight Foundation is seeking applicants for eight paid 10-week internships in Miami. Interns will be compensated at $18 per hour.
Deadline: Until filled.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article March 2023 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists appeared first on Colossal.

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