‛The Travelling Frog‛

Regulations of the computer graphics and animation competition

‛The Travelling Frog‛

contest_frog_eng

A competition for the best computer graphics and animation, entitled ‘The Travelling Frog’, is taking place in memory of the Deputy Director of the Hermitage, Vladimir Iurevich Matveev, who amassed an impressive collection of frogs over his lifetime.

Objectives of the competition: to foster the development of creative skills and an awareness of the diversity of artistic forms in children

Main aims:

  • to identify and support creatively gifted children
  • to increase enthusiasm for history and for art in today’s youth
  • to draw the attention of children and teenagers to the collections and exhibitions of the Hermitage

COMPETITION CONDITIONS:

Types of nominations that will be accepted:

  • illustrations and graphics created on a computer
  • Multimedia presentations(PowerPoint etc.)
  • Flash and Gif animation
  • videos

Submissions must be accompanied by: a title of the work, full name of the author, age, school year and class, town and country. If a school is sending a folder containing several submissions, then class name, full name of the teacher and contact information (e-mail and telephone number) must be clearly displayed

Submissions must be sent electronically to the following email address: hermitage.competition@gmail.com, or dropped off in person at the Hermitage Volunteer Service office (tel. (812) 710-98-76)

Judging process: the best submissions will be put on display in the galleries of the State Hermitage Museum, and the winners will receive a prize.

Competition themes:

1. METAMORPHOSIS OF THE FROG. Amphibians are unique creatures and have the unique ability to transform themselves. Participants are encouraged to explore the frog’s evolutionary history and to imagine the development of its natural habitat.

2. EVERY FROG HAS ITS DAY. The most interesting, unusual species of frog (e.g. the Suriname frog, the Goliath frog which is the largest in the world, and the Paedophryne amauensis which is the smallest). Participants are encouraged to explore the diverse species of frog and to think about how they are serving science in doing so.

3. FROGS IN MYTHOLOGY. The image of the frog in legends and fairy tales, both Russian and from other cultures. Examples: the frog-tsarina, the frog-king, the role of the frog in medieval superstition, the use of frogs in medicine and magic, frogs in relation to the traditions of various countries and peoples.

For example, there is a Chinese parable about a three-footed toad: according to legend, there was an evil toad-wizard named Chan Chu, who would rob and kill all those he met on his path. After some time, he became so angry that he started to attack minor deities, who subsequently went and denounced the wizard to the Buddha. Buddha punished Chan Chu by taking away one of his feet. Now, as a way of praying for forgiveness, he tries to help people make their fortune. This image also exists in Egyptian mythology. The goddess Heqat, patron of rain and of moisture, was depicted as a frog, with a frog on her head or as a woman with a frog’s head. Since ancient times, Heqat has been associated with childbearing and fertility magic, and is also said to have the power to resurrect the dead.

4. THE MOST FAMOUS FROGS OF THE HERMITAGE. Participants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with objects from the Hermitage collection. For example, the ‘Green Frog’ china service, amulets from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the decorative paintings of the loggia by Raphael et al, and the pottery of Bernard Palissy, etc.

Competition Organisers:

State Hermitage Volunteer Service(www.benevole.ru)

Autonomous non-profit educational organization “The Academy of additional professional education” (www.znaem.org)

The Scientific-methodical Department of the State Hermitage ‛School Centre‛