Ymker’s work presented at the competition’s group exhibition was a woven tapestry titled “Vervlogen”, or “Bygone” (as seen above). The image is in line with much of the artist’s work, which tends to deal with alienation.

Using herself as a model for her photos, Ymker then transforms photos into weaving patterns, parts of which she then embroiders for impact. She has a modern take on what she calls “gobelins”, a term which historically referred to woven tapestries and were originally used to line the interior walls of castles. 

The competition, now in its 5th edition, aims to promote emerging talent in a variety of media, disregarding age, nationality or residence. This year saw 11 artists competing from a wide range of countries, including Adele Razkövi (Austria), Clay Johnson (US), Duncan Wylie (UK/Zimbabwe/France), Fosca Boggi (Italy), Izumi Ueda Yuu (Japan/Portugal), Jenna Hobbs (Canada), Jon Setter (Australia/US), Martin Lyonnet (France), Sara Bomans (Belgium) and Yannic Ilito Betofe (Belgium/ Democratic Republic of Congo).