Amateur and professional photographers are being invited to showcase their skills on a global stage, with the launch of a competition highlighting the ‘Concordia’ glass art installation unveiled last week.
The stunning 34-metre by 17-metre installation by British painter, architectural artist, designer and printmaker Sir Brian Clarke was unveiled at Bahrain International Airport last week ahead of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix during a special ceremony attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
“We wanted to build on the momentum of the unveiling and, to commemorate World Art Day, we are launching the Concordia Art Photography Competition,” Bahrain Arts Society president Shaikha Marwa bint Rashid Al Khalifa told the GDN. “We would love to see this unique art piece interpreted through the creative lens of different photographers!”
The competition is divided into two main categories: professional camera photography and mobile phone photography.
One winning photograph will be selected in each category.
The winning entries will receive a cash prize and will be showcased on display screens at Bahrain International Airport’s terminals, in addition to being featured on the digital platforms of both the airport and the society. “We have received a lot of interest already from photographers,” Shaikha Marwa added. “This is great opportunity for them to have their work showcased to all the international visitors at the Bahrain International Airport.
“This initiative will document and highlight the artistic beauty of the monumental artwork by Sir Brian.”
Mobile phone photographers can visit the airport at their convenience to take pictures of the piece. Professional photographers will need to get in touch with the society in order to sign the required consent forms to bring their equipment to the site.
“While we expect there to be some similar shots, I am quite excited to see the unique and creative photographs our talented creatives will showcase,” Shaikha Marwa added.
“The Bahrain Arts Society is always eager to partner with different entities to showcase Bahrain’s creative talent. In February, we partnered with the Bahrain International Garden Show and we are currently working on another exhibition.”
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, April 30.
The ‘Concordia’ piece highlights the country’s commitment to cross-cultural exchange and its desire to foster connections between diverse cultures. It weighs a total of approximately 32 tonnes and is made of 127 individual handcrafted stained glass panels, each weighing around 250kg.
The 21-person team behind the project took around two and a half years to design, fabricate and instal the masterpiece. The glass panels were mouthblown in Germany by five artisans over 40 days.
The installation process for one of the largest stained-glass installations in the world took 43 days in total, and approximately 296 working hours.
- Further details on registration as well as competition terms and conditions are available on the Bahrain Arts Society’s official social media accounts.
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