A collage of different pictures in a notebook - A work of art by Kelvin Haizel

A New Gaze

About the prize

"A New Gaze" is a sponsorship prize for young, contemporary photography. Vontobel awards the prize every two years, enabling an international artist to realize a project on each occasion—from concept to exhibition, including an accompanying publication.

 

Why "A New Gaze"?

Contemporary photography can supplement our reality with new perspectives, make us question it, and break through it. With "A New Gaze", we aim to promote and convey alternative views of the world around us. The award is part of our corporate responsibility and can make a valuable contribution to the career of its winners thanks to close assistance from the team of curators.

Diversity is important to us, which is why "A New Gaze" moves from continent to continent. This helps us to expand our Eurocentric perspective and familiarize ourselves with diverse cultural viewpoints.

For this reason, Vontobel has been building up a collection of contemporary photography since 2014.  

Find out more about Art at Vontobel

 

 

Process

Experts in contemporary photography and art from the selected continent or region are invited to nominate participants. By involving curators, museum directors, teachers, and art critics, we aim to achieve broad geographic and thematic diversity. Nevertheless, full coverage of all regions within a continent is not always possible. We seek to address this through a transparent process.

The nominated artists are then invited to submit a proposal for a project of their choice. In each case, a topic that has engaged us—as individuals, society or as a firm—provides a framework. Following on from “Security/Insecurity” (2017), “Identity” (2019), “Responsibility” (2022), and “Community (2024) the latest topic is “Switzerland 2084”.

Jury

For each new edition, the core jury consists of two international experts with in-depth knowledge of the art scene in the selected continent or region, together with Georgina Casparis, Head & Curator Art Vontobel. For the final decision, they were joined by the members of the Vontobel Arts Commission.

We choose the winning project based on project proposal, CV, and portfolio. This should consist of independent work that goes beyond the purely narrative and representational aspect of photography. We look for talented individuals who are at the start of their career, who have a new and surprising view of our present, and who reveal an enhanced connection with the medium of photography.

 
The jury of A New Gaze sits at a table and deliberates.

The award winner receives 20,000 Swiss francs to realize their project. We also finance the implementation of the exhibition, including an accompanying publication, and curatorialy support the artists throught the development of their project.

Exhibition Art Vontobel - Photo showing the other part of the exhibition and the rooms with the art on the walls
Exhibition Vontobel Art - Photo showing the rooms with the art on the walls.

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