/ 2026 / Architecture / Industrial

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Marcel van Beek, Germany
• Date of Photograph
  2022-2025
• Website
  https://www.marcelvanbeek.de
• Instagram
  @_marcel_van_beek_

This series investigates the monumental remains of industrial and military engineering encountered across Europe, portrayed as silent characters in a shifting landscape. The narrative evolves from the intricate micro-structures of steel into cavernous subterranean voids and deep spatial perspectives, culminating in structures that stand open to the elements. Utilising a cinematic palette and deliberate tonal shifts, the work explores the tension between structural permanence and abandonment, capturing a built environment that oscillates between brutalist utility and atmospheric decay.

Marcel van Beek (b. 1990) is a contemporary fine art photographer whose work explores the intersection of functional landscapes and ecological transformation. His practice constitutes a meticulous study of space, navigating the boundaries between expansive landscapes and densifying cityscapes. In collaboration with scientific institutions like the UFZ Leipzig, he translates complex environmental systems into a reduced, painterly visual language. Van Beek’s work transcends traditional photography, offering a tactile, cinematic meditation on a world in flux.

Awards Curators' Pick, Artsy (2025)
Featured in "In Focus" programme, Singulart (2025)
2nd, 3rd Place Subcategories, Phi Photo Awards 2026
Multiple Platinum & Gold Winnings, MUSE Photography Awards 2026
2 Nominations, Fine Art Photography Awards 2026
Editors' Picks, LensCulture: Critics' Award (2026) & Minimalist Photography Awards (2026)