Trompe l'oeil

• Prize
• Photographer
  Jakub Skokan, Czech Republic
• Studio
  Zoolandscape.eu

Trompe l'oeil series is part of Zoolandscape project. Trompe
l'oeil describes relationship between nature and artificial
painted landscapes in enclosures of the animals in the Zoo
Gardens.

Zoolandscape project - www.zoolandscape.eu - is work of two
photographers Jakub Skokan & Martin Tůma. Project records
forms of artificially constructed biotopes and landscape scenes
of the environment of European zoological gardens. Zoological
landscapes have a specific role. Their purpose is to simulate
biotopes of presented animals. The animals’ environment is
made artificially out of imitating materials or is reconstructed
from original living products of nature. The landscape is
simplified, systematized and idealized. It is adjusted to meet
the aesthetic demands of a viewer and just like a stage in a
theater it aims to present the animal - the performer - in the
most ideal way. This project focuses on environments inside of
terrariums, cages, and outdoor and indoor spaces. Photographs
of these installations introduce new roles of a landscape and
point out traditional anthropocentric understanding of nature in
relation to the need of order and aesthetics. It is apparent from
these photographs that environments found in zoological
gardens do not only result from the natural living needs of the
animals but also from the aesthetic requirements of humans.
These two dimensional photo-translations of the landscape
installations reveal visual references to landscapes known
through the cultural history. The project shows a significant role
of an image in understanding and creating a landscape. This is
even more true in the environment of a zoological garden,
which accumulates surreal scenic formations created by human
beings. The exact record of these landscape installations maps
out aesthetic intentions reflected in the landscapes and their
spectacular impact. The project broadens options of
interpretation of a photographic image of landscapes and
understanding the term landscape in general.

Awards Sony World Photography Award 2014
/ Shotlisted / category - Architecture
/ United Kingdom / www.worldphoto.org

Frame 009
/ 3rd prize / category – Relation
/ Czech Republic / www.fotoframe.net

Nomination Joop Swart Masterclass 2009, World Press Photo
/ Netherlands

Shots 2008 Young photographers competition
/ 3rd prize / category - Instinct
/ United Kingdom / www.shots.net/young_photographers.asp

Czech press photo 2008
/ 1st prize / category – Everyday life
/ Czech Republic / www.czechpressphoto.cz

Czech press photo 2008
/ Sony junior award / category – Everyday life
/ Czech Republic / www.czechpressphoto.cz

Frame 008
/ 1st prize / category – Strenght
/ Czech Republic / www.fotoframe.net