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| Karl Burke, The Harvest of Death v.2, 2012, 01, Grand Prix Fotofestiwal 2013 |
Joanna Kinowska (Zacheta National Gallery Warsaw, prism Contributing Editor): Karl Burke has presented a conceptual, multi-layered and addictive project. Between the photographs, tension and story are built and enhanced with a well-chosen execution technique. Burke’s photographs are carefully directed frames from a computer game that pretend to be real scenes – even from 150 years ago. In this way, they make reference to the entire history of war photography, to the people’s desire to watch dramatic scenes and finally, to war as a form of entertainment that can be played at home. Burke was awarded first of all for the multi-layered concept, extensive references and unique narration. The jury was also impressed with the perfect execution where the technique is subordinated to, and extends the “operation” of, the idea.
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| Karl Burke, The Harvest of Death v.2, 2012, 03, Grand Prix Fotofestiwal 2013 |
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| Karl Burke, The Harvest of Death v.2, 2012, 04, Grand Prix Fotofestiwal 2013 |
Tomasz Ferenc (University of Lodz): The artist, in his works, touches both the issue of modern mediatisation of reality and the tradition of war photography. Today, increasingly realistic computer games are a form of mass entertainment; at the same time, superpowers such as the U.S., execute their military operations with advanced information technologies. War resembles a computer game (the famous concept of adiaphorisation developed by Z. Bauman), and computer games are increasingly realistic. The collodion filter superimposed on all of this immediately evokes associations with old photographs by R. Fenton, M. Brady, J. Gardner and others.
In addition to the main prize, the jury awarded a special recognition – a voucher for a publication funded by Empresse – for Ilona Szwarc, for her project entitled American Girls (featured on last issue cover).
Finalists:
1. Anja Bohnhof, Bahak (Germany)
2. Jan Brykczyński, Boiko (Poland)
3. Karl Burke, The Harvest of Death, v.2 (Ireland)
4. Frank Herfort, Time in Between - Narrative Scenes (Germany)
5. Lucia Herrero, Species/Tribes, (Spain)
6. Nadav Kander, Bodies. 6 woman. 1 man (Great Britain)
7. Emilio Pemjean, Palimpsest (Spain)
8. Ilona Szwarc, American Girls (Poland)
You can see all the project and artists' profiles in the recent issue of prism #11.
The jury of Grand Prix Fotofestiwal 2013:
- Peggy Sue Amison, director of Sirius Arts Center, Cobh, Irlandia
- Alison Nordstrom, director of George Eastman House, Rochester, USA
- Rui Prata, director of Braga Image Museum, Encontros da Imagem, Portugal
- Tomasz Ferenc, University of Lodz, lecturer
- Joanna Kinowska, Zacheta National Gallery of Art
- Adam Mazur, curator of the Centre for Contemporary Art “Zamek Ujazdowski” in Warsaw
- Krzysztof Candrowicz, director of FOTOFESTIWAL International Festival of Photography in Lodz
- Marta Szymańska, programme director of FOTOFESTIWAL International Festival of Photography in Lodz.
prism congratulates and salutes the winners!
