Beauty for a Better World 2020 launches an open-call for creatives to share their representation of pure beauty.
Organized by Beauty Without Irony, the platform offers much-needed respite and antidote to the fear, anxiety and dark reality that has engulfed 2020, this collaborative art project is an open-call for artists, designers, students and beyond to demonstrate what beauty means to them.
Bolaji Alonge has already contributed three photos to this global initiative, a sneak peak into his new project Street Flowers of Lagos. He said: “These flowers grow in city gardens and sidewalks in between the dirt and rubble. They symbolize the beauty of nature, both fragile and strong at the same time. Together with Lagosians, they stand proudly in the midst of the urban jungle. During these trying times, when uncertainty is the new normal, the “small” things in life can make all the difference. However, once enlarged, they can become magical objects of wonder.”
Ninette Murk, creative director, Beauty Without Irony, told eyesofalagosboy.com, “Now more than ever, we believe that during such challenging moments as this, the transformative power of art should be amplified. Real beauty unites people. Everybody loves nature, a sunset, babies, animals, seeing tenderness between a parent and child. In a world full of fear, hate and division we need to find a way to re- connect people with one another so that we realise that we all want a better, safer and more beautiful future. We are all one.”
Back in the summer of 2001, the social platform Beauty Without Irony launched as a reaction to the jadedness, superficiality and darkness in editorials and advertisements -too much irony, not enough compassion and real feelings. They asked hundreds of artists, designers and other creatives to share a photo, video, poem, music or other work that represented pure beauty to them. The goal was simple: inspire people and make them forget about their daily problems for a while – and this resulted in an exhibition, a digital platform and later the successful Designers Against AIDS (DAA) First Decade book.
As with Beauty Without Irony, Beauty for a Better World 2020 will be a long-running and ultimately, uplifting multi platform project. New images and artworks are already coming in daily.
The Better World Team includes Jens Laugesen (Advisor and Editor), Alex Hidalgo (social media manager), Sean Black (photographer and educator), Jan Van Mol (Addictlab), Katie Dominy and Alex Brownless (Arts Thread), Carl Navarro (Recess Assembly), Kym Nelson (writer) and Steve Salter (journalist).
Artists can submit their definition(s) of beauty here
Alternatively, you can send your photos (up to 3 max, no more than 1 MB each) or the link to a video plus a screenshot directly to ninette@beautywithoutirony.com with your name, title of the photo(s) or video, website and a quote about what pure beauty means to you.
The more beauty and positive energy we can share in the world, the better.
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