Introduction
A Short History
Courtesy of the Estate of Edward Steichen
The Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg is a tribute to the life and work of Edward Steichen, born in Luxembourg in 1879. The prize honors Steichen's artistic achievements as a photographer and curator, as well as his commitment to advocating the arts and nurturing new talent.
The Award was created in 2004 to mark the 125th anniversary of Edward Steichen's birth in Bivange, Luxembourg.
The official announcement was made by Luxembourg Minister of Culture, Higher Education and Research, Mr François Biltgen, on January 24th 2005 in Clervaux, coinciding with the anniversary of another remarkable event: the opening of Steichen's milestone exhibition The Family of Man at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, in 1955.
The prize was first awarded in 2005. It will be bestowed for the 4th time on November 24th 2011.
The Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg is conceived as a cross-cultural, artistical and educational bridge between Luxembourg and New York, the city which would become the home of Edward Steichen.
Introduction
Endorsement
Courtesy of the Estate of Edward Steichen
The Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg has been granted the patronage of HRH The Grande Duchesse of Luxembourg since the inception of the prize. The Award is also supported by the family of the artist, i.e. Joanna Steichen, his late widow, his granddaughters, Francesca Calderone-Steichen and Maria Steichen-Calderone, as well as his great-granddaughter Ariana Rodina Calderone Stahmer. We are proud to count the family representatives as honorary members of the Edward Steichen Award asbl.
Award
Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg
Courtesy of the Estate of Edward Steichen
The Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg is a biennial incentive supporting emerging European talents in the field of contemporary art. It was initiated to create an opportunity for young practitioners to expand their horizon, as well as to contribute to establishing networks between international artistic communities. A particular emphasis is put on links between the art communities of Luxembourg and New York, where Edward Steichen gained artistic prominence.
The laureate of the Edward Steichen Award is hosted for a six months residency in New York, at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), the premier residency-based contemporary art center in the United States for artists and curators around the world.
While in the program, all residents are invited to participate in a number of activities in and outside ISCP including the four core program activities: Visiting Critics, Field Trips, Salons and Open Studios.
At ISCP, each artist is provided with a private and furnished studio space. Moreover, the Award includes a stipend for housing, living expenses, travel and material.
Laureates
And the winner is... Maria Loboda
Courtesy of the Estate of Edward Steichen
2011
Maria LOBODA
Polish artist Maria Loboda received the 4rth Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg for her work that is caracterized "by a fundamental interest to translate language and knowledge into single objects and special ensembles". The offical Award Ceremony took place on November 24th at MUDAM Luxembourg in the presence of HRH the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Special guests were Ariana Stahmer, Edward Steichen's great granddaughter and Swiss visual artist Beat Streuli.
Luxembourg artist Claudia Passeri was rewarded the 1st Edward Steichen Luxembourg Resident in New York City.
2010
Bertille BAK
The young French videographer Bertille Bak was awarded the prize in recognition of her subtle and innovative work with the dispersed mining community of Pas-de-Calais (France).
2007
Etienne BOULANGER
The 2007 Award winner was Etienne Boulanger, a young installation artist from Nancy.
Sadly, Etienne Boulanger passed away during his stay in New York early in October 2008.
2005
Su-Mei TSE
In 2005 the winner was Ms Su-Mei TSE. The prize was presented to her by Mr. François Biltgen, Luxembourg Minister of Culture and Ms Ariana Stahmer, Edward Steichen’s greatgranddaughter.
Laureates
2011: Maria Loboda
Maria Loboda has a certain interest in the dilemma of obsolete material. She has an archeological habit of digging out antiquated belief systems, or old-world logic, that she links to her upbringing in Poland shortly before the breakdown of Socialism.
In a context of renewal and turning away from an oppressive past, objects from an everyday that has become anachronistic would simply disappear.
In her art she is therefore searching for similar phenomena throughout different cultures and centuries: the memories and the loss of others. Thoughts which were thought and then just stopped because they were proven wrong or deceptive, like alchemy, the occult, dated design or music which was once considered outrageous. Because she doesn’t like the weakness of nostalgia, Maria Loboda wants to give those worn out systems their power back, like buried atomic waste, which is still radiating underneath the the surface of a complex modern world. (from Michelle Cotton, In Conversation With Maria Loboda In Cura Magazine, N.7, Winter 2011)
Laureates
2009: Bertille Bak
The 3rd Edward Steichen Award was presented to 1983 born French artist Bertille Bak. She was nominated for the 2009 competition by Laurent Busine, the Director of the Musée des Arts Contemporains du Grand Hornu in Mons, Belgium. Bertille Bak was awarded the prize in recognition of her subtle and innovative work with the dispersed mining community of Pas-de-Calais (France).
Ms Bak's videos, installations and drawings bear witness of her commitment and the refinement of her artistic expression, as she is constructing the memory of a disappearing community. Humor plays also an important part in her work, and poetry appears as an additional layer.
The Award ceremony took place on February 3rd 2010 at the Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM), Luxembourg. Special guest Marie-Jo Lafontaine, whose work is internationally acknowledged and regularly shown in Luxembourg, handed over the Award trophy to the laureate.
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Laureates
2007: Etienne Boulanger
Nominated by Corinne Charpentier, Director of the Centre d'Art contemporain La synagogue de Delme, Etienne Boulanger was the porud recipient of the second Edward Steichen Award. Sadly, the young French installation artist passed away unexpectedly in early October 2008, during his residency in New York. The Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg mourns the loss together with the family and friends of Etienne and supports the Etienne Boulanger Association in their effort to perpetuate his memory.
Etienne Boulanger's research was focused on the re-appropriation of transitory zones. He produced cunning and intrusive interventions within the urban environment as well as ephemeral installations in art galleries and institutions.
He was a nomadic artist, roaming contemporary megacities for gaps and residual spaces that he would invest with clever masking strategies. His works, set up on site, do not represent nor reproduce objects. The temporary interventions and the clandestine occupation of these spaces are meant to cast a critical look on our environment. (Text: Association Etienne Boulanger)
Laureates
2005: Su-Mei Tse
The daughter of a violinist and a pianist, Su-Mei Tse is not only an artist but she is also a classically trained cellist.
Her works often incorporate rhythmic or musical elements, or actual musical performances. She seems to be able to hear and even see music where most would see only everyday events and activities. Her works transcend language and are universally comprehensible.
Su-Mei Tse was the first recipient of the Edward Steichen Award in 2005. She was nominated by Marie-Claude Beaud, Director of MUDAM Luxembourg
Luxembourg Resident in NYC
2011 Claudia Passeri
Born in 1977 in Luxembourg, Claudia Passeri now lives and works between Luxembourg and Perugia. Her art speaks of political commitment, and takes various aspects according to changing contexts. It stimulates the debate around questions of sensitive topicality, twisting the perception.
She casts doubt in order to open a new space of reflection and to trigger new discussions.
Since 2002, her work has been regularly exhibited in Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg.
Claudia is the first Edward Steichen Luxembourg Resident in NYC.
News
Edward Steichen Luxembourg Resident in NYC
As of 2011 a new category will be added to the Edward Steichen Award: the Luxembourg Resident in NYC.
Conceived exclusively for young artists from Luxembourg, this prize offers a three months residency at ISCP, and includes a stipend for traveling and housing expenses. The applicants must not be older than 35 years.
A national jury will select the Resident and proclaim his or her name during the Edward Steichen Award Ceremony on November 24th 2011 at MUDAM, Luxembourg.
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