Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 longlist showcases artists exploring light through technology and nature

The Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 has longlisted five artists and collectives who utilize light as a fundamental aspect of their varied practices. Alia Mobarik, a designer from Scotland, combines cyanotypes, film photography, and phonotropes to tackle issues of sustainability and light pollution through the lenses of astronomy and geology. SPLACES.STUDIO creates immersive sculptures from natural elements like wind and sky, prompting a reevaluation of human-centric viewpoints. G23LAB, established by Gervase Clifton-Bligh, integrates cutting-edge design with production techniques for light-focused art, influenced by Clifton-Bligh's experience with NASA, Amazon, and the Bank of England. Born in Beijing in 1988, Seph Li designs interactive systems that allow visitors to generate content with algorithmic code, examining nature's dynamic balances. Uwe Langmann, a self-taught German artist influenced by Zen Buddhism, captures unique light conditions through photography, utilizing snow, fog, and diffused light for painterly effects. The deadline for entries to the Aesthetica Art Prize is 31 August. This article was written by Emma Jacob and published on 1 February 2026.