Dirk Hardy's Vivarium dioramas debut at Photoville Festival 2024 following Aesthetica Art Prize recognition

Dirk Hardy’s Vivarium project, which features intricately crafted dioramas addressing societal challenges, will be presented at the Photoville Festival 2024 in New York, running until June 16. Born in 1989, the artist from The Hague delves into topics such as labor exploitation and racial profiling. Each episode of the project requires approximately four months for research, construction, photography, and digital editing. Hardy first gained attention after being shortlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize in 2021, where Vivarium was initially displayed at York Art Gallery. The project comprises eleven episodes, showcasing six life-size installations and large-format self-portraits at Photoville. Hardy, inspired by a trampoline attendant in 2018, seeks to create 'purposeful fiction' that encourages connection. The Aesthetica Art Prize is accepting submissions until August 31, with a prize of £10,000 and exhibition opportunities.