NewsWinners of the INBAR Photo Competition 2022
The winners of the INBAR international photo competition are finally out!
This year, the INBAR International Bamboo and Rattan Photo Competition 2022 received almost 200 impressive entries from 22 countries around the world. Out of such a talented pool of artists, it was extremely difficult to select the winners.
For 25 years, INBAR has worked across continents, promoting the use of these fantastic plants for sustainable development. Whether it be strengthening rural livelihoods, preventing deforestation, storing carbon or creating low-carbon infrastructure, the potential of bamboo and rattan is enormous. A panel of expert photographers selected the images which best reflected the uses of bamboo and rattan uses for sustainable development, particularly across INBAR’s key focus areas. Many thanks to all those who participated: Your involvement is a key part of helping to boost INBAR’s messaging about the importance of bamboo and rattan for sustainable development around the world.
Winners
First place, The Best of Bamboo – “Bamboo Scaffolding” by Kyaw Zay Yar Lin from Myanmar
“Employees are using bamboo scaffolding in construction. They are painting and cleaning the Buddha statue using bamboo scaffolding.”
First place, The Best of Rattan – “Rattan Basket for Durians” by Muhammad Syarif. S from Indonesia
“Rattan is a very important plant for durian farmers. At the foot of the Bukit Barisan, West Sumatra, there are many durian gardens, but there is no access to transportation. Durian farmers transport the harvested durians in their rattan baskets, cross the river and walk for about 30 minutes. With the elastic and strong properties of rattan, durians are carried safely in transit.”
Second place – “Bamboo in Cow Races” also by Muhammad Syarif. S from Indonesia
“Pacu jawi (cow race) is an important part of the culture of the Minangkabau people in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia. This race is held before the rice planting season, aiming to celebrate the harvest season. This event loosens the rice fields. In the cow race, the cow-racing jockey uses jawi steering gear consisting of two bamboo sticks on the left and right sides that are attached to the cow’s neck. The cow will run and the jockey will control the cow using the bamboo. The cow that reaches the finish line first wins the race.”
Second place – “City Spiders” by Wong Chi Keung from Hong Kong, China
“Compared with iron rods, bamboo rods are cheaper, faster to build, and easier to transport. In Hong Kong, bamboo scaffolding is often used for building skyscrapers and building refurbishment, which at first glance, might seem a little frightening, but is actually quite safe when done properly.”
Third place – “Rattan Collectors” by Pyi Soe Tun from Myanmar
“Rattan trees, which are natural products, are often cut in groups. In forests, the husbands collectively cut down the rattan trees and the wives left behind in the village cleaned them, dried them, and tied them together. They usually make a living by exporting and selling the rattan to workshops and factories that make human utensils from rattan at home and abroad. Tables, chairs, sculpture and other crafts are prominent human tools in the world.”
Third place – “Sandur kalongking folk show” by Wahyu Budiyanto from Indonesia
“Since ancient times, bamboo has always been present in the daily lives of people in Indonesia, especially in remote villages. The use of bamboo is not only limited to handicrafts, building materials, and food, but also in the traditions and traditional performing arts, one of which is in the traditional performances and attractions of Sandur Kalongking, a kind of folk show. The performance starts with a scorpion player climbing a bamboo stick and then enacting a performance in the middle of the rope supported by 2 towering bamboo sticks. The kalking attraction is believed by the local community to be a symbol of the journey of human life from childhood to adulthood and finally old age.”
Third place – “Sustainable Fishing” by Sujan Sarkar from India
“India is blessed with rich and varied fishery resources and habitats, and many people depend on fishing for their livelihood. The fishermen of rural India cast fishing nets across the rivers with the help of bamboo, which is an important part of sustainable development in their lives.”
Highly commended
The judges also commended 10 entries.
"Cleaning raw rattan from the forest" by Bastian AS from Indonesia
Don’t forget to connect with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) where we will share your photos and stories.
See the 2020 and 2021 winners.
