'The Sea Around Us' attracts diverse range of entries for open call
Linn Hansen was the winner of the ‘The Sea Around Us’ open call competition
To coincide with the Waterford Gallery of Art’s next exhibition, it has announced the winner of ‘The Sea Around Us’ open call competition.
Linn Hansen, an artist whose work was described as "visceral, emotive and captivating", was the overall winner.
A spokesperson for the gallery said the competition drew huge attention, with over 500 images received from almost 200 artists from around the entire island of Ireland.
Selection jury member, Marina Mulligan, Biodiversity Officer with Waterford City and County Council said: "Linn Hansen is a German visual artist and writer based in Dublin. With a background in filmmaking, her personal projects also incorporate photography, illustration, and creative writing. She is currently working on a collection of short stories and finishing her first novel."
“On a deeper level, and perhaps as a biologist, it speaks to the amount, we as humans, demand from the ocean and maybe this is its little fight back," said Marina.
"The red flow of blood against the blues of the sea creates a composition that captures the essence of the sea in a way that feels both timeless and personal," she added.
"It’s a wonderful piece with a sense of authenticity that could not be overlooked and is a highly deserved winner.”
Reflecting on a more personal resonance with the image, Conor Nolan, Arts Officer with Waterford City and County Council said: “For me the image brought back memories of my younger days on the stoney beaches of Killiney and Bray where you would end up with cuts, fly bites and shivering in the cold. However, visiting the beach was the highlight of the week.”
Final jury member, Waterford-born, Dublin-based, documentary photographer John Foley, added: “Linn’s winning entry was visceral and unfiltered, and for me it represents a confrontation between the fragility of the human condition against the power of the ocean. It is a very deserved winner.”
Linn’s work will feature in the Waterford Gallery of Art’s upcoming exhibition alongside the fantastic selection of highly commended images shortlisted by the panel.
'The Sea Around Us' is a thematic group exhibition showcasing artwork from the Waterford Art Collection as well as loans, commissions and open call submissions inspired by our relationship with the sea.
Featuring painting, sculpture, photography, sound, and installation works the artists featured include Killian Browne, Maura Culbert, Mick O’Dea, Phoebe Donovan, Paul Henry, Jane Jermyn, Patrick Leonard, Tanja Novacic, Eilis O’Toole, Clare Scott, John Skelton, Jack Thompson, Síle Walsh and more. The exhibition launches at 6pm on Culture Night, Friday, September 19.
