Nia Bowers
Recently, photographer Laurence Lao received the Bronze Award in the Cultural & Creative category (Lifestyle Creativity) at the 18th IAI Global Design Awards for his photographic project Human Syntax, along with the “Best Cultural Heritage Award,” selected through an internationally juried evaluation process. Initiated by the Asia-Pacific Designers Federation (APDF), the IAI Global Design Awards adopt a rigorous evaluation system and are judged by an international panel of experts. The awards are widely regarded as a comprehensive design program with broad industry recognition. Covering architecture, visual arts, and cultural creativity, the program emphasizes cross-media visual expression and cultural narrative. Within this framework, photography is considered an integral form of visual art. The recognition of Human Syntax reflects the project’s integrated exploration of visual expression and cultural Context.
Human Syntax is an ongoing photographic project developed by Lao in recent years. The series primarily employs black-and-white imagery, exploring urban spatial structures and environmental traces. Without directly depicting human figures, the work explores the relationship between humans and their surroundings through spatial order and the interplay of light and shadow, transforming everyday urban landscapes into visually reflective Compositions.
Centered around this series, Lao’s works have consistently entered multiple international photography award systems, including the Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3), established in 2007, the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), and the Neutral Density Photography Awards (ND Awards). These competitions are open to global submissions and attract entries from an international pool of professional photographers. PX3, initiated in Paris, operates as an international photography platform presenting selected works annually; TIFA is evaluated by a jury composed of established photographers and imaging industry professionals, with selected works presented through its official channels; ND Awards maintains a structured award hierarchy, including Honorable Mentions, with selected and awarded works featured in its official online showcase.
These competitions are evaluated by international juries composed of established professionals in photography and visual arts, with selections conducted through competitive and peer-reviewed processes. The Human Syntax series has received consistent recognition across multiple independently administered international competitions, reflecting its evaluation under diverse professional criteria and competitive contexts.
In addition to competition-based honors, Laurence Lao’s work has also entered international photography festivals and public exhibition platforms. In 2025, the Human Syntax series, specifically the work Suspended, was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the Head On Photo Awards and was included in the official exhibition program of the Head On Photo Festival in Australia. Organized annually in Sydney by the Head On Foundation, the festival is widely regarded as one of the largest photography festivals and award programs in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring an open global call and a competitive jury review process. Semi-finalist works are presented through both online showcases and physical exhibitions across gallery spaces and public venues in Sydney, providing sustained visibility in both professional and public-facing contexts.
Building on this trajectory, multiple works from the Human Syntax series have continued to receive recognition across various international photography award systems. Among them, Birds On the Broadway received a Gold Award at the European Photography Awards, Passage received a Silver Award at the New York Photography Awards, and Color Waves received a Gold Award at the London Photography Awards. These competitions are open to global submissions and evaluated by international juries, allowing works from the same series to form a pattern of recurring recognition across multiple independent and competitive judging Systems.
Beyond this series, Lao’s other photographic works have also gained international recognition. Eternal Horizon received a Gold Award at the MUSE Photography Awards, while the documentary work Tailor at Fashion District received a Silver Award at the Global Photography Awards. These platforms, through open submission and competitive jury evaluation processes, further extend the presence of his work across different photographic categories.
Within the North American exhibition system, Lao’s work has also entered gallery-based platforms centered on curatorial review. His works have been selected for juried exhibitions at institutions including Black Box Gallery in Oregon and Praxis Photo Center in Minnesota. Among them, Passage and Staircase to Nothing were exhibited at Black Box Gallery, while Passage was also presented at Praxis Gallery and included in its exhibition publication and online archive. These institutions typically select participating artists through curatorial and jury-based processes, and their exhibition and publication records serve as established pathways for photographic works to enter the gallery system.
Overall, Lao’s sustained practice centered on Human Syntax demonstrates continued visibility across international photography competitions, festival exhibitions, and curated gallery platforms. The repeated selection and presentation of individual works across multiple independent and competitive systems establish a sustained record of international recognition and professional visibility.