Supporting the next generation of talent, the Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition opens to the public, showcasing the work of 12 contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Having attracted thousands of entries, this year’s presentation includes pieces from 12 shortlisted artists, new visionaries that hail from locations such as Australia, Belgium, Italy, the UK and USA. As well as displaying inspiring examples of sculpture, painting, photography, installation and video, works from the 2018 longlist are available to view across various monitors around the gallery; viewers are encouraged to be inspired by a diverse collection of concepts and techniques.
Each piece draws upon social and political structures to question the value that we place on the world around us and on ourselves. From global financial systems to technology that replicates nature, the diverse subject matter included in this year’s presentation defines a new vocabulary for life in the 21st century.
The shortlisted artists for 2018 include: David Birkin (USA); Electra Lyhne-Gold (UK); Fabio Lattanzi Antinori (UK); Jiayu Liu (UK); Jukhee Kwon (Italy); Kenji Ouellet (Germany); Laura Woodward (Australia); Lisa Chang Lee (UK); Noémi Varga (UK); Peter Davis (UK); Reginald Van de Velde (Belgium); Shauna Frischkorn (USA).
Running concurrently with the opening of the exhibition is the Future Now Symposium (17-18 May, York St John University), a dynamic two-day event that provides an imaginative platform for attendees to consider the arts ecosystem within a broader social, political and professional context. Holding talent development at its core, this two-day event is a hive of innovation and idea generation.
Topics for 2018 include The Value of Design; Ethics of Content: Arts Journalism in the Digital Age; How To Get Ahead as an Emerging Artist; An Examination of Post-Truth; Diversity in the Art World
A range of delegates from the UK’s leading arts organisations are in attendance including Tate, V&A, Frieze, VICE, i-D, It’s Nice That, BALTIC, Open Eye Gallery, PHOTOFAIRS, Royal College of Art and Serpentine.
The Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition runs until 30 September at York Art Gallery. For more information, click here.
Credits:
1 Noémi Varga, still from The Happiest Barrack. Courtesy of the artist.
