Press Release
Original by Nature Art Installation by Egemen Kemal Vurusan Wins the A' Design Award in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
Egemen Kemal Vurusan honored for fine arts and art installation design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ Original by Nature Art Installation by Egemen Kemal Vurusan has been granted the A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Original by Nature Art Installation
Original by Nature is an art installation that turns discarded glass bottles into flowing sculptural forms. The bottles are reshaped by heat and molds through advanced upcycling methods. Each glass form holds a hydroponic system, so plants grow inside the installation. Sensor-controlled irrigation supplies water to every module, and violet ultraviolet lights at the back support plant growth. The main modular unit measures 5000 mm in width, 2000 mm in depth and 3500 mm in height. The work joins art, nature and technology to make sustainability visible.
About Egemen Kemal Vurusan
Egemen Kemal Vurusan is a glass artist and designer whose practice draws from environmental and natural inspirations. He employs traditional glass shaping techniques, integrating them with contemporary design approaches to create both functional and artistic works. With a background rooted in craftsmanship and material exploration, his work bridges past and present methods. Vurusan contributes to the cultural landscape through his commitment to preserving and evolving glass artistry. His designs often reflect an awareness of ecological themes, engaging audiences in discussions around nature, sustainability, and materiality.
Award Record
Egemen Kemal Vurusan is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards span the editions from 2020 - 2021 to 2024 - 2025 of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award
The A' Fine-Art Design Award is an international fine-art design competition recognizing best fine-art works by leading fine-art artists and creators worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to artists, painters, sculptors and ceramicists from all countries. Entries typically include sculptures, paintings, installations, photographs, drawings and mixed media works. Awarded art designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/fine-art
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/170341
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/170341
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!170341
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/277990
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.studiomercado.com/post/original-by-nature
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Original by Nature Art Installation
- Function
- Art Installation
- Category
- Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Arts
- Colors
- Dark Turquoise, Light Sea Green, Dark Cyan, Teal and Steel Blue
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Egemen Kemal Vurusan
- Country
- Turkiye
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #170341
Credits
- Image Credits
- Main; Photographer, Numan Alkan, Celal Burak Özgül, 2022 Optional; Photographer, Numan Alkan, Celal Burak Özgül, 2022
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This design redefines the potential of glass by transforming discarded bottles into fluid, amorphous forms through advanced upcycling techniques. Inspired by the continuous movement of water, the installation merges sustainability with artistic expression, turning glass into both a functional and aesthetic element. Presented in the exhibition, this project highlights the cyclical nature of transformation, where waste glass is reborn as a medium for urban agriculture and digital art.
- Inspiration
- This project, centered on an urban agriculture system driven by the advanced upcycling of used bottles, represents the completion of a life cycle. Discarded bottles are repurposed into artistic, amorphous forms, while simultaneously serving as vessels for hydroponic plant cultivation. Inspired by the purity and continuity of natural spring waters, the Original By Nature project is, at its core, a sustainability initiative, aiming to harmonize art, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
- Research
- This research explores sustainable design through glass upcycling and urban agriculture. The objective was to repurpose discarded glass into functional, aesthetic forms supporting hydroponic growth. Using experimental prototyping, material analysis, and user interaction studies, data was collected through iterative testing and observational feedback. The findings highlight glass’s adaptability, demonstrating its potential in eco-conscious design. This research contributes to sustainable production methods, influencing both environmental awareness and future urban agriculture initiatives.
- Challenge
- The biggest challenge was transforming discarded glass into organic, fluid forms without compromising structural integrity. Balancing artistic expression with hydroponic functionality required extensive material experimentation. Limited access to specialized recycling technologies and shaping techniques added complexity. Socially, raising awareness of glass upcycling’s potential was crucial. Overcoming these obstacles led to an innovative fusion of sustainability, art, and urban agriculture.
- Realization and Technology
- This project utilizes advanced glass blowing upcycling techniques, including thermal deformation and mold-based reshaping, to transform discarded bottles into amorphous sculptural forms. The integration of hydroponic systems within these glass structures enables sustainable urban agriculture. Digital art, design principles, and plant growing were employed to achieve seamless structural integrity, ensuring both aesthetic fluidity and functional resilience.
- Operation and Interaction
- This installation transforms discarded glass bottles into fluid, sculptural forms that serve as vessels for hydroponic plant growth. Visitors engage with the piece by observing how water and plants interact within the glass structures, highlighting the beauty of sustainable transformation. The seamless fusion of art, nature, and technology creates an immersive experience, making sustainability tangible while demonstrating the potential of upcycled materials in urban agriculture.
- Project Duration and Location
- This project took place from March 1-22, 2022 at Akaretler Sıraevler in Besiktas, Istanbul
- Specifications
- Physical Installation Details: Main Modular Unit: 5000 mm (W) x 2000 mm (D) x 3500mm (H) The glass components are upcycled via high-temperature annealing (approx. 850°C) to achieve amorphous forms. The integrated hydroponic system features sensor-controlled irrigation delivering 0.5 L/min per module. Additionally, purple UV lights positioned at the back of the installation enhance photosynthesis, supporting optimal plant growth.
- Keywords
- urban agriculture, glass upcycling, hydroponics, sustainable design, digital art integration, interactive installation, eco-friendly innovation, cyclic transformation
