Winners of the BMW ART MAKERS Programme
Paris/Munich – The BMW ART MAKERS programme has named artist Lara Tabet and curator Yasmine Chemali as the winners for their project titled “Le corps vitré”. This collaboration promises to explore new artistic dimensions and will culminate in two exhibitions at Les Rencontres d’Arles and Paris Photo, further solidifying BMW’s commitment to the arts.
The Jury’s Composition
The selection jury included notable figures from the art world, such as:
- Pascal Beausse – Head of the Photography Collection at the Centre National des Arts Plastiques
- Florence Bourgeois – Director of Paris Photo
- Andreina de Bei – Photo Director and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sciences et Avenir
- Hervé Digne – President of Poush-Manifesto
- Chantal Nedjib – Founder of Image par l’image
- Christoph Wiesner – Director of Rencontres d’Arles
- Maryse Bataillard – Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at BMW Group France
Exploring “Le corps vitré”
“Le corps vitré” is an innovative project led by Lara Tabet, who combines her expertise in biology with artistic vision. The project examines the intricate relationships between living organisms, imagery, and ecological systems through a process called bacteriography. Tabet employs microbiological samples from aquatic environments to create images that arise from interactions between micro-organisms and light-sensitive materials.
This work bridges scientific inquiry and artistic expression, transforming biological imprints into contemporary stained-glass windows. It seeks to reveal often hidden ecosystems, raising awareness of pressing environmental issues.
Statements from the Winners
Upon their selection, Tabet and Chemali expressed their enthusiasm: “This appointment acknowledges our shared journey from Beirut to southern France. We are excited to develop a project that interrogates bodily permeability through a feminist lens, celebrating the hybrid nature of photography since its inception. The BMW ART MAKERS programme provides an ideal context for our artistic exploration that resonates with current ecological challenges.”
Programme Support and Applications
The BMW ART MAKERS programme underscores the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and cultural expression. Maryse Bataillard stated, “This award not only supports the artists but also embodies our dedication to nurturing diverse talent and encouraging dialogue between art, science, and society.”
This year saw over 210 applications submitted, reflecting a wide array of artistic concerns. The finalists were tasked with presenting comprehensive proposals, including budgets and production schedules. Notably, 63% of the selected duos were mixed-gender teams, with a significant representation of international artists.
Thematic Diversity in Submissions
This year’s submissions tackled themes such as:
- The environment
- Human experiences
- Living organisms
- Memory and history
These themes align with the bicentenary of photography, showcasing a variety of practices from traditional methods to contemporary technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
Preliminary Selection Process
A preliminary jury comprising professionals from visual arts selected five nominated artist-curator pairs for final interviews:
- Amr Alfiky (artist), Azu Nwagbogu (curator) – Project: Recuerdos del Mar: Memories of the Sea
- Marta Bogdanska (artist), Emmanuelle Halkin (curator) – Project: Animae
- Charlotte Charbonnel (artist), Léa Bismuth (curator) – Project: Paléorama
- Nicolas Lebeau (artist), Aden Vincendeau (curator) – Project: Silver Lining
- Lara Tabet (artist), Yasmine Chemali (curator) – Project: Le corps vitré
Biographies of the Winners
Lara Tabet is a Lebanese medical biologist and visual artist based in Marseille. Her work merges life sciences with visual arts, employing experimental photography and bio-art to explore biological interactions. Tabet’s accolades include the Prince Claus Mentorship Award in 2022.
Yasmine Chemali, trained in art history and museology, has over a decade of curatorial experience focused on photography and representation. She previously directed the modern and contemporary art collections at the Sursock Museum in Beirut and currently leads the Centre de la Photographie de Mougins.
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