Aesthetica Art Prize 2026

Morstang, Heidi (Recipient)

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Prize: Other distinction

Description

Art Works Longlisted for Art Prize.

Awarded date	1 Jul 2026
Degree of recognition	International
Granting Organisations	Aesthetica Art Prize / Aesthetica Magazine

Documents & Links

Now marking its 20th anniversary, the Aesthetica Art Prize stands as an international platform for contemporary art, amplifying voices that shape and challenge the cultural conditions of the present-day. Over two decades, it has become a space where artistic practice is activated as well as exhibited – supporting careers, fostering global dialogue, and championing work that responds directly to the urgencies of now. In 2026, the 20 shortlisted and 150+ longlisted artists respond to interconnected pressures shaping contemporary life: accelerating technologies that reshape perception and truth; the legacies of colonial histories and their impact on identity and belonging; and ecological systems under strain. Landscapes of Deep Time Heidi Morstang is a photographer and filmmaker whose work explores environmental and landscape change through contemporary photography and experimental documentary. Working extensively in the Nordic Arctic, she collaborates with scientists to develop interdisciplinary visual methods. Part of the ongoing series Landscapes of Deep Time, the Ringhorndalen series examines rare Arctic seeds from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, using detailed scans to reveal interior structures that mirror Svalbard’s landscapes, transforming dormant flora into imagined terrains visible only through high-resolution, scientific imaging. Her films have screened internationally, and her photographs have been widely exhibited several private and public collections.

Related content

Research outputs
Work-in-Progress Exhibition: Landscapes of Deep Time - New Work
Research output: Practice research and digital outputs › Exhibition
Ringhorndalen
Research output: Practice research and digital outputs › Artwork
Landscapes of Deep Time
Research output: Practice research and digital outputs › Exhibition