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When international geosynthetics manufacturer NAUE GmbH & Co. KG set out to put together its annual calendar, the company could hardly have anticipated that its photography would gain recognition from a major German news source and be subsequently entered in a larger prize competition. Yet, that is exactly what has happened.
A photograph from the 2011 NAUE calendar, unveiled during the recent German Geotechnical Society (DGGT) biennial Baugrundtagung in Munich, has been selected by readers of FOCUS in the “Images of Research” contest. Next up, the photograph will be considered for a prize during a December contest in Berlin.
This unlikely fusion between engineering and art is perhaps not so surprising: the German word for geosynthetics (Geokunstoffe) also contains the German word for art (kunst).
NAUE’s marketing chief Kent von Maubeuge, who came up with the general concept for the new calendar, and his colleague Friedhelm Fischer, who himself is a photographer and 3D video artist, worked with award-winning Lübbecke, Germany-based photographer Frauke Thielking to create the 14 photos in the calendar. Ms. Thielking has previously used people in symbolic forms, and together the team came up with the concept to use people to symbolize various concepts in geosynthetics: geogrid reinforcement of soils, containment, environmental protection, etc.
In choosing to go this route, NAUE has departed significantly from most construction materials companies that produce promotional calendars, the lionshare of which depict construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and aerial views.
The models for the calendar also came from the city of Lübbecke (population approximately 26,000). They are all members of a Latin dance troupe taught by three-time “10-Dance” world champion Patsy Hull.
The photo that FOCUS readers selected as their favorite was a representation of geosynthetics in coastal protection. In gaining this recognition, NAUE’s photograph beat out more than 2,000 pictures.
Chris Kelsey is Geosynthetica’s editor. Send your news to chris@geosynthetica.net.
