Arts Thread

Above: Drawing of the Year 2019 1. Wenhao Yang and Wenqi Wu/ 2. Haris Hasanbegovic/ 3. Youngi Kim/ 4.  Michael Daw

The Aarhus School of Architecture has announced the winners of this year’s international drawing competition, Drawing of the Year 2019.

Tsingua University, China students Wenhao Yang and Wenqi Wu were presented with the top prize for their drawing which dealt with the theme of Post Human Metamorphosis.

Yang and Wu were among some 124 entries from students hailing from 45 different countries. Their winning drawing will be on display at DOKK 1 in Aarhus until 19 December.

Speaking about the winners’ drawing titled Ruins Ring, the jury said: "The first prize winner has made a remarkable drawing that makes us reflect on human values, culture and identity. By using well known references like trophies, teddy bears, sculptures and memories from our daily lives the drawing questions whether such artifacts will exist in the post human era or whether they will be forbidden - and hidden - in an analogue memorial tower like Ruins Ring. The cathedral-like architecture with vitrines and shelves has a strong, clear composition, resembling a wunderkammer with its kaleidoscopic accumulation of objects. A very vivid drawing where one can explore times from before VR and AI. At the same time it has melancholic trajectories to Venice, the place for greatness and decay, sought by humans for its glorious past. Who are we without our memories and history, and do we want to give it up?"

Second prize was presented to Aarhus student Haris Hasanbegovic for the Post-Human Parliament drawing, which deals with the topic of refugees seeking safe haven in Denmark. Third prize was given to Youngi Kim (University of Auckland) for their drawing celebrating nature and the knowledge passed down from past generations of Maori people in New Zealand.

Mariam Arwa Al-Hachami

• Future Fossils: Mariam Arwa Al-Hachami (USA), American University of Sharjah:


• Sunny Places for Shady People: Michael Daw (UK), University of Greenwich


• The Digital Baroque: Mikalai Makhalik (Canada), Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto


• Section through Long Bristol: Hugo Lopes (Portugal), University of the West of England


• Metaquatopia: Sadia Humayra Mounata (Bangladesh), University of Anhalt Applied Sciences

Mikalai Makhalik