The 2023 London International Creative Competition Has Announced Its Winners

The London International Creative Competition (LICC) is excited to unveil the exceptional winners of its 2023 competition, spotlighting extraordinary creative brilliance from across the globe. Celebrating groundbreaking and innovative works across diverse creative fields such as visual arts, interior design, photography, architecture, and more, LICC invites you to explore the remarkable talent showcased in its latest edition across various categories.

More info: licc.uk

10 PHOTOS

#1 "Father" By Tammy Swarek

Winner in Shoot (photo/video)

This is the start of a project about how humans are disconnected from nature, and how the world constantly tries to remind us that we are not. Can we overlook our emotions and the fact that we are... nature? We evolve, nature evolves... and so may this project.

Pictolic reached out to Tammy Swarek, the photographer behind the winning series ‘Father.’ The artist shared with us more about the inspiration behind the project: “My journey into the ‘Father’ series began unexpectedly during preparations for an underwater shoot with the Benson family. Joanna Benson, the mother, was apprehensive about being underwater, unlike her husband, Matt, a natural swimmer. This contrast shifted my focus toward the father-daughter relationship. Surprisingly, my search through historical art for inspiration revealed a significant gap: fathers, if depicted, were often shown as detached, a stark contrast to the involved and loving fathers of today. This realization spurred me to blend modern life with historical themes, aiming to showcase the rich, yet overlooked, narrative of fatherhood.”

#2 "Dancing Fabric" By Angelina Dorogi

Finalists in Shoot (photo/video)

Showing the way fabric can dance when on a technically skilled dancer.

#3 "Midnight-Cowboy Saddle Drawing" By Marshall Harris

Winner in Create (art)

Graphite on Mylar drawing measuring 54" x 64" I create saddle portraits of historic western saddles. They are drawn with extreme attention paid to detail and are created at 100% scale. They look as if you could take them and put them on a horse and ride away.

Tammy told us more about the idea of crafting emotional narratives through art: “Creating ‘Father’ posed unique challenges, particularly in portraying the nuanced relationship between fathers and children. The societal stigma around male affection meant navigating a fine line between intimacy and love. Flowers and water became central symbols in my work; flowers for their universal language of emotions, and water symbolized cleansing and a new perspective on fatherhood. We send flowers for so many reasons, love, death, sympathy, and congratulations. They signify emotional responses to things that are sometimes difficult to handle. They soften the hard edges of life most beautifully and delicately. Water represents cleansing, rebirth, and an alternate reality to our own. I felt like that fit our theme because the reality of paternal love has been hidden from public view. Each element was carefully chosen to support the narrative of a deep, meaningful paternal connection.”

#4 "Ripple" By Takatoku Nishi

Winner in Build (architecture)

On sunny days, when the sun shines and a certain amount of wind blows, light is led into the space from the pipes in the ceiling, creating a phenomenon of light that looks like drops falling onto the surface of the water. The light constantly moves with the wind and falls to reveal new sights. This architectural space is a remarkable manifestation of the seasonal, daily, and time-of-day changes caused by the atmosphere, and the sights that can be experienced differ depending on the time of day when you visit. It is an accidental creation of nature, which we humans cannot manipulate.

#5 "Hi Ho-Voice Development Toys For Autistic Children" By Yu Hsin Lu

Finalists in Use (product)

In the early stages, children with autism have differences in social interaction, language, and social communication compared to typical children. Low-functioning individuals with autism show significantly poorer performance in both receiving and expressing language and may even have no verbal expression ability. To address communication and social interaction, modular products can be used to promote interpersonal communication training, helping children with autism who have deficiencies in verbal expression to develop their oral communication skills.

The conceptual artist continued: “Designing the sets for ‘Father’ was an extensive process, from researching to integrating meaningful symbols to evoke the feeling of historical art while showcasing men in nurturing roles. This required careful consideration of every detail, ensuring that each photograph told a story of love, connection, and the transformative power of fatherhood.”

#6 "Putting On Label" By Devin Depamphilis

Finalists in Shoot (photo/video)

I believe that many people take great comfort in food, which brings back memories of one’s life, especially childhood. Some food reminds you of comfort and happy times, whereas others create the opposite feelings. The challenge of this project was to see past everyday food and connect with your inner child. This photo demonstrates a minimalist approach to a distinct perspective utilizing macro photography, food, and miniature figures. My macro photography captures food in a fun and exciting manner, which, in turn, will put a smile on your face.

#7 "Changsha Poly City Gather" By Siyuan Tao

Finalists in Build (architecture)

Embracing the harmony of natural ecology and urban life, the designer simulates the natural form of the wetland and takes “urban forest” as the theme, with ecology, vitality, and pleasure as principles in this forest-style community park. Vegetation, light and shadow, deer, winding paths, and landscape installations give people sensory enjoyment. Parent-child interaction, fun play, and daily social contact are integrated, and facilities like the deer house slide, runway, and seesaw become the media linking nature, the community, and the outside. Here, beautiful moments and feelings keep happening.

We were wondering what the photographer hopes the viewers take away from experiencing her series. Swarek answered: “I hope the ‘Father’ series illuminates the importance of the paternal bond, which has always been crucial yet rarely celebrated in art. The series aims to broaden the perception of fatherhood, featuring diverse representations from grandfathers raising grandchildren to two-dad families and beyond. My hope is for viewers to see the strength and depth of father-child relationships, challenging preconceived notions and celebrating their resilience and growth.”

#8 "Flexidryer" By Jiang Wei-Ting, Prof. Li Kai-Chu

Winner in Use (product)

FlexiDryer is an innovative appliance that combines hand drying, air drying, and clothes drying. With its electric heating and fan devices and structural design, it offers a wide range of solutions for users in various situations. This appliance can be mounted on the wall as a hand dryer and can also be detached as a hair dryer. When there are wet clothes, you can hang them on the pole to dry. Built-in negative ion module and air filter effectively clean dirty air to improve air quality and create a fresh and pleasant environment.

#9 "Untiteled" By Ida Fiva Bech

Winner in Shoot (photo/video)

This is the start of a project about how humans are disconnected from nature, and how the world constantly tries to remind us that we are not. Can we overlook our emotions and the fact that we are...nature? We evolve, nature evolves... and so may this project.

Tammy has also shared with us her future aspirations for continuing a journey with the series: “‘Father’ is just beginning, with a remarkable lineup of families to photograph throughout the year, leading up to its first solo show at the South Arkansas Art Center in El Dorado this December. This series is a testament to the power of art to heal, connect, and challenge societal norms, inspired by personal loss and a desire to spotlight the unseen beauty of fatherhood.”

#10 "The 24 Solar Terms Series" By Wu Liang

Finalists in Illustrate (graphic)

The ancient Chinese divided the sun's annual circular motion into 24 segments. Each segment was called a specific solar term and was used to guide agricultural affairs and farming activities. However, people today who don't have access to nature might not grasp how changes in solar terms impact farming and crop growth. Oatysis, as an enterprise deeply engaged in grain food, presented 24 posters and other materials with Bright Woo Studio to promote the Chinese traditional solar term culture and lead people to pay more attention to agricultural production.