Article 1 - Philosophy
Despite the growing interest in various forms of artistic realizations, this nevertheless still is confronted with some limitations. Contemporary art is gaining in importance, but is only one facet of the overall contemporary artistic production. Art inspired by and in contact with the technological developments of today is not a mainstream interest. It is our aim to promote these contemporary art forms and further open them up to a wider audience.
From the very beginning, the Liedts-Meesen Foundation has made a clear choice for these little known forms of artistic expression. This conscious choice is consistent with the transnational goals of the foundation.
This award is thus restricted to new technology art.
What the word cannot voice or what the letter cannot express is completed by artistic talent, but a lasting expression was realized through canvas and paint in the form of a two dimensional image, or through the cutting and grinding of stone or wood in order to create three-dimensional objects.
In the past, artists had few ways to help to express their emotions, commitment and values. New forms have emerged: architecture, music, choreography, photography, cinematography, broadcasting, multimedia, ... have widened the boundaries of artistic expression and many restrictions from the past have been lifted. Today new sciences are used such as electronics, telecommunications, biology and genetics, as well as new materials such as steel, glass, plastics and fluids.
We situate the new technological art in these domains. This implies the use of new technologies, processes or materials but only as part of an artistic creation that does not neglect the aesthetics and artistic expression.
Article 2 - Properties of technological art
A classification of this multitude of shapes, colours and sounds on ever changing carriers is almost impossible to make, but some features are always coming back.
The creations are transnational or have universal characteristics: boundaries of religion, philosophy, economic background and geography are of no importance, thanks to the fact that the selected carriers are universally spread. Artists in this sense belong to a group who has become citizens of the world through the Internet. Technological Art thus quite easily exceeds the boundaries and must be open to very different sensibilities. A work of Technological Art belongs to the global culture and does not belong to the tradition nor the characteristics of minorities.
In the past, a painting or a sculpture could trigger emotions, could make a teenager blush, but the interaction was not reciprocal or was in any case limited. In works of technological art, the individual can directly or indirectly intervene in what he sees, hears, smells or feels. By manoeuvres like blowing, shouting, ... he/she can directly influence the outcome of the creation. Indirectly he/she may intervene in the chemical, electronic or software processes and thus the necessary degrees of freedom, in order to influence the full interactivity and reciprocal creation. This was not possible in earlier art forms. There may have been some attempts in theatre and architecture, but this activity was limited and usually not constructive.
The great diversity of these technologies and the unclassifiable nature of this technological art can be seen as an attribute. The topics are endless, every day the carriers are improved and updated. New tools and technologies arise. In most works the originality and the use of several procedures or techniques in parallel plays a major role. Finally, these resources are deployed in the various existing forms of art. This combination of resources also increases the diversity.
Article 3 - Objectives and contents
The New Technological Art Award from the Liedts-Meesen Foundation aims to reward living artists for a work in the area defined above that was created in the past two years. The prize goes to a specific work that is submitted and not to different realizations of an artist.
Article 4 - Timing
After the announcement, the artists have the opportunity to introduce, between November 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019, a detailed description of their project. During the month of May 2019, 20 projects will be selected and announced by June 1, 2019 on the website. These projects will then be realized in order to be exhibited from November 2 till November 24, 2019.
Article 5 - Location
The 20 nominated projects by the jury will be exhibited at various locations of the site of the Zebrastraat. The organizers of the competition reserve the right to choose the exact locations.
Article 6 - Setting-up
A minimum of one week is foreseen for the installation of the exhibition. The installation will be discussed individually with each artist in detail, as well as the assistance the Liedts-Meesen Foundation can provide. The exact modalities of the installation will be agreed with the artist, based on the file that was submitted.
Article 7 - Conditions of Participation
All living artists, regardless of their origin, can present their candidacy for artworks less than two years old at the time of its submission, but which may already have been exhibited. Each artist may submit only one work. The contest is international and uses English as main language.
Registration is only possible online by using an application form available on this website. This form cannot be sent unless all mandatory fields have been completed.
Costs related to transport, accommodation and technical realization are reimbursed by the Liedts-Meesen Foundation. There is no artist fee or per diem.
Article 8 – Selection
For the NTAA'19 exhibition an international jury will select 20 works to be exhibited.
The same jury will determine the exact location for the various artworks. The main criterion in this respect will be the degree of conformity with the objectives and the subject of the competition. Works that cannot be displayed for safety reasons or because of their dimensions (number of m² or m³ needed), will be rejected. The limitations of this nature can only be assessed by the jury or the responsible parties of the locations.
Article 9 – Evaluation
At the end of the exhibition and at the occasion of the international colloquium, the jury will award one single artwork. During the entire duration of the exhibition, each visitor can, with his or her entrance ticket, vote in favour of a work; the highest number of votes will determine the prize of the public. The prize of the European Commission will be given to a work that adds value to the European Union.
Article 10 - Prize
For 2019, the Liedts-Meesen Foundation has foreseen a cash prize. This indivisible prize is awarded to a single artwork and its creator. In addition to this prize, the jury is entitled to award an honorary mention to one of the artists. There is also a prize from the public linked to the contest. This entitles the winner to a presentation, after the contest, in a European museum. There’s also a prize of the European Commission.
Article 11 - Publication
Each participant grants to the Liedts-Meesen Foundation the reproduction rights of his/her work selected for the contest.
Article 12 - Dispute
All disputes concerning this organization, for which these rules are inconclusive, will be decided by the jury and/or the Liedts-Meesen Foundation.
