Contemporary Talents Award

Pinhole Photography by Corine Hörmann

Wattwiller, France

I was nominated for the Contemporary Talents Award by the François Schneider Foundation, located in Wattwiller, France. This competition focused on the theme of water, which is essential to all life. I worked hard to complete my submission on time.


The Submission Process

One of the requirements was to create presentations in PDF format. It was a time-consuming process, as I had to design the pages in a way that would truly showcase my work at its best.

The deadline was New Year’s Eve, so I was still working on this piece that night.

I was frustrated because all the festivities were starting, and I was still struggling to get my submission ready in a way that felt satisfying. I was about to give up, but somehow, I didn’t and managed to finish it within the time frame.


A Surprise Call

A few months later, I had completely forgotten about the submission, but then I received a phone call from a lovely woman working at the François Schneider Foundation. She told me I had been nominated for the award. I was thrilled, as it felt like a significant recognition for my work, something I could really use at the time.


Visiting the François Schneider Foundation

I decided to attend the awards ceremony in Wattwiller, located in the French region of Alsace. It was a nostalgic experience, as I had spent family vacations in the area when I was a child.

I was truly surprised to find such a wonderful art centre in such a small village. I was very impressed by the art shown at the centre, which is dedicated to the theme of water, a concept that also resonates with the village of Wattwiller (the village of water). This connection to water is something I also explore in my work, as I’m always looking for water and waterfronts for my photography.


The Finalists

The finalists were chosen by four expert committees for photography, drawing/painting, video, and sculpture/installation. The photography committee included François Hébel, former director of Rencontres d’Arles, and Agnès Sire, director of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation.

Unfortunately, I didn’t win the award, but I had the chance to meet some wonderful people at the ceremony and had a really special time that day.

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