Endless Aluminium: New deadline is August 28st, 2022

Since its first edition, the COMEL Award has stood as a bridge to connect artists, scholars, and enthusiasts. This position, unconventional for an art prize, has allowed us to observe and listen to the needs of everyone, especially the artists, creating a frank dialogue with them.

This period, complex from various points of view, which sees us slowly recovering from the pandemic but also entering a dark period of war and tension between countries, has led not only to an economic and energy crisis but also to a moment of greater uncertainty and difficulty.

Many artists have written to the organizers asking for more time: an extension to the call so that raw materials can be found (unfortunately aluminium in this period is rare and much more expensive compared to a few months ago) and to find laboratories, foundries, artisans who make their tools, their knowledge available to Art.

So the Mazzola family has decided, as happened during the pandemic, to extend the call for the 9th edition of the COMEL Award, Endless Aluminum, until August 28st, 2022. This obviously will also lead to the postponement of the final exhibition which will be held within the year, on dates that will be communicated on the social channels and on the Comel award website.

Therefore it is still possible to register for the international competition that rewards the aesthetic and creative use of aluminium: all artists aged 18 and over who live and/or work in one of the countries of the European continent can present a work, whether of painting, sculpture, design, photography or installation, as long as the main material is aluminium and respects the theme of this year Endless Aluminium. An exceptional jury will select 13 finalists who will exhibit the work registered at the COMEL Contemporary Art Space in Latina, among them a winner will be elected who will win a cash prize of 3500 euros and a solo show with a catalog. The public will also vote for their favorite work and choose the winner of the Audience Award.

The theme: for this year’s theme, Endless Aluminium, we focused on the ability of aluminium to be totally recycled countless times without ever losing its characteristics, therefore this metal has the possibility of living several different existences, having infinite new beginnings, always opening up to new possibilities.

The jury: a very high profile jury has recently been appointed which, as always so far, will be chaired by Giorgio Agnisola, art critic and writer, professor emeritus of sacred art and cultural heritage at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy. Alongside him in the selection of this year’s 13 finalists: Giulia Palma, Director of the Bioiconographic Archive and Historical Funds of the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome; Marilena Vita, artist, performer, curator of events and art critic, General Secretary Nuova Aica Italia; Michelangelo Giovinale, professor of art history, freelance curator, art critic; Maria Gabriella Mazzola representing COMEL company, the promoter and sole sponsor of the Award.