Conceptual nominee

This series explores the alchemical stage of 'Citrinitas'—traditionally known as the 'yellowing' or the transmutation of silver into gold—serving as a profound metaphor for the spiritual and physical manifestation of life. In the Great Work of alchemy, this phase represents the dawning of solar light and the awakening of consciousness within matter. Using macro photography to capture the ephemeral interplay of frost and moisture on a windowpane, the work visualises the emergence of what I term 'biological calligraphy'. These are the transient traces left by gastropods and crystalline formations, appearing as a natural ink upon a glass canvas.

The series follows a deliberate narrative arc from pure, luminous chaos to a highly structured reality. This progression is momentarily interrupted by a brief architectural anchor—a window frame—that defines the threshold between the internal space of the observer and the external natural world. By stripping away conventional scale, the work transforms into a conceptual inquiry into the hidden geometries that bridge the gap between mundane matter and sacred script. Through this alchemical lens, the mundane residue of evaporation and freezing is elevated into a celestial map, proving that within the most fragile traces of nature lies a universal, golden language.

Marcel van Beek (b. 1990, Bonn) is a Leipzig-based contemporary visual artist working at the intersection of photography, science, and fine art. Trained at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences (BFA with distinction), and shaped by an early background in stage design, he combines formal rigour with cinematic intensity.
His practice explores the fragile relationship between humanity and nature, oscillating between sociopolitical commentary and poetic abstraction. Often developed in dialogue with scientific institutions, his projects address the conditio humana and planetary boundaries. In his recent work, he focuses on the "micro-topography" of surfaces, using strictly in-camera techniques to reveal the hidden geometries of the natural world.
Van Beek’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions at the German Environment Agency, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and Leipzig University Library. His photography is held in public collections, including Leipzig University, and is represented internationally via Cuencas Art Gallery on Artsy and Singulart’s curated "In Focus" programme. He has also contributed to lecture series on municipal climate adaptation at Leipzig University. By merging scientific inquiry with a deep focus on materiality, he challenges our perception of time and the biological skin of our planet.