NEB Prizes 2023: All Applications

LABIOMISTA is an atypical project, emerging from a remarkable collaboration between an artist, Koen Vanmechelen, and a city, Genk. LA-BIO-MISTA, a self-invented word that points to life in all its mixed and variegated glory, is conceived by Vanmechelen as a permanent and evolving work of art. It represents humanity, nature and the relationship between both. The site weaves together culture, heritage, public park, contemporary architecture and ‘wild’ nature.

The Last Transhumance is a visual art project which takes us into the world of shepherds who walk with their animals very long distances in search for food, an ancient way of life not compatible with the modern world. Transhumance is replaced by sedentary forms of animal breeding affecting the spiritual, social, cultural life & biodiversity. Stories of shepherds from Romania, Greece, Albania, Turkey, Italy & Wales invite us through photography and film to reconsider our relationship with nature.

MUCE is the first museum of circular economy started by the 25 year old Nina Maat. As a pop-up it tried to convince the governments that we need a place where citizens, knowledge institutions, artists and companies go in dialogue about several sustainability topics like circular economy, regeneration, biomimicry and social inclusion. By putting these actors together and stimulate debate, artists gave all the topics body by making artworks. People paid their visit to MUCE with empty batteries.

Awarded the highest global design awards Dieline Awards, D&AD, ADC, the Bee Loop packaging of Lithuanian beeswax is organic, recyclable, renewable, edible, self-degrading, anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic. Filled with 100% pure honey, the innovative container is fully sustainable, leaving no waste and ensuring the circle of nature continues.

Digital pagakia (benches) is a public art intervention which aims to collect audio recordings from citizens in the city of Athens. Everyday life stories were initially shared while sat on benches whilst digital platform digitalpagakia.gr gathers them and creates a storytelling ‘museum’ in the heart of the city. With the use of their smartphones, citizens scan the QR code found on the bench’s intervention or simply visit digitalpagakia.gr. They easily get directed to listen and record stories.

Blackest-Black is a transdisciplinary project about a revolutionary colour bridging art and science, technology and philosophy. Our goal is to inspire future generations to use the minimum of material resources to create unique materials with exceptional tuneable properties for innovative applications. Our project is a prime example of turning sterile technologies into social technologies by embedding Art to achieve a universal and meaningful societal impact nurturing a sense of belonging.

The vast revitalized riverfront area stretches along the three Prague embankments. The completed first phase is Prague's largest post-revolutionary investment in public space, the first with such sociocultural impact. It focused on the reconstruction of 20 vaults in the riverside wall allowing maximum contact with the river. The vaults will serve as cafes, workshops, galleries and public toilets. 6 vaults are accessible by elliptical pivoting windows that are probably the largest in the world.

The goal of the Prison Honey project was to raise awareness of the importance of bees for the environment and empowering people in prisons through practical lessons in beekeeping. Over two years, 25 prisoners in the facility outside Ljubljana were involved in the project and some are already working independently as beekeepers after their release. During its inception, the Faculty of Design students generated special hive stands and decorations, implemented by the imprisoned persons themselves.

22@ is the urban renewal area in the industrial neighborhood of Poblenou, a legacy of the industrial past of Barcelona where tradition coexists with technological innovation and artistic creation.
With a morphology based on urban integration and a genetic that reinterprets local features through innovative processes, the Smart 22@ rises from the cultural substratum of the industrial legacy to stand out as a landmark that encourages the values of arts, sustainability, and technology.

Urbana Basta Podgorica is the largest in-situ community garden in Europe,with 10,000 m2 of endemic and exotic trees, shrubs, fruit and vegetables. Located in the Montenegrin capital’s Tološi Forest,the garden is cared for following the 12 principles of permaculture, by volunteers of all ages and social backgrounds.The area used to be known as the “Thorn field”. Now it provides organic food for the volunteers and for disadvantaged families, access to nature and increased biodiversity in the city.