With three weeks to go until the Aesthetica Art Prize call for entries closes, we reflect on the striking variety of artists’ film submitted to 2015’s competition. Spanning a range of universal themes including identity, memory and loss,  this year’s Video, Installation & Performance category collated an exemplary selection of contemporary artists working with the moving image. Today, we take a look at José Ramón Da Cruz’s audiovisual composition, Madre Quentina.

A film in six acts, with an epilogue, Madre Quentina makes use of three characters, Quentin Crisp, Barbaro and Dzohar, to explore the idea of shame and to question the act of observation. The piece ridicules the limits and margins of social and psychological exposition, and ultimately, is a work dedicated to all those who observe others. Born in Tangier, Ramón Da Cruz is a Spanish video artist, also working across advertising, film and television.

The Aesthetica Art Prize is open for entries until 31 August. Prizes include £5,000 Main Prize courtesy of Hiscox, £1,000 Student Prize courtesy of Hiscox, a group exhibition in partnership with York Museums Trust, publication in the Aesthetica Art Prize Anthology, editorial in Aesthetica (186,000 readership worldwide), art books courtesy of Prestel, and art supplies vouchers courtesy of Winsor & Newton (£250 for main prize winner; £150 for student prize winner).

Entries are open until 31 August 2015. Register your artwork at www.aestheticamagazine.com/art-prize.

More information can be found at www.minimoproducciones.com.

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Credits
1. José Ramón Da Cruz, Madre Quentina, 2014. Courtesy of the artist.