Artists from Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Russia and Taiwan, on shortlist for UK’s biggest contemporary art prize, will come to Wales.
The eight artists from around the world who have been shortlisted for Artes Mundi 4 – Wales’ international contemporary arts prize – were announced today (8 October 2009).
Viktor Misiano, one of the two selectors for the next Artes Mundi Prize, revealed the names on the Shortlist, as follows:
Yael Bartana (Israel), Fernando Bryce (Peru), Ergin Çavuşoğlu (Bulgaria), Chen Chieh-jen (Taiwan), Olga Chernysheva (Russia), Gulnara Kasmalieva & Muratbek Djumaliev (Kyrgyzstan) and Adrian Paci (Albania).
The intensive selection process involved Artes Mundi in receiving over 480 international nominations from more than 80 countries. The Shortlist was chosen by two specially appointed selectors: independent curator and art critic Viktor Misiano, formerly Curator at The Pushkin State Museum and Director of the Contemporary Art Center (CAC) in Moscow, and Levent Çalikoğlu, Chief Curator at Istanbul Museum of Modern Art.
The diversity of nationalities and artistic media on the list reveals the scope of the Artes Mundi Prize, which seeks out outstanding artists from around the world who stimulate our thinking on the human condition and humanity.
Artes Mundi was established in 2003 and works in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. One of the largest art prizes in the world, it is a biennial contemporary visual arts initiative that gives greater visibility to artists and recognises them on a truly international platform.
Tessa Jackson, founding Artistic Director of Artes Mundi said: “The purpose of this Prize is not only to recognise deserving talent, but also to introduce a wider range of artists to the British art scene, extending their reach and broadening our horizons. The strength of the work, in relation to its content and the referencing of cultures unfamiliar to many of us, provides an extraordinary opportunity to explore the world’s art and artists.”
The Shortlisted artists will each show a body of work in a major exhibition at National Museum Cardiff from 11 March – 6 June 2010. A separate, independent panel of five judges will award the Prize to one of the artists in May 2010. Their decision will be based upon work of the last five to eight years.
Artes Mundi 4 is delighted to have the support of Bank of America Merrill Lynch for the international selection process. Rena DeSisto, EMEA Head of Marketing & Corporate Affairs and Global Arts & Heritage Executive, said:
“As Bank of America Merrill Lynch extends its well-established U.S. art programme to Europe, we are tremendously excited to be involved with Artes Mundi, particularly since so many shortlisted artists are from Emerging Market countries. Artes Mundi shows us that though we may come from a broad range of cultures and social backgrounds, we are bound by the same strong universal themes. We are proud to help facilitate dialogue between different world cultures, to nurture community spirit and to enrich the lives of individuals living in the communities served by our company.”
Founder of the Prize William Wilkins said: “With this Prize I wanted to bring the world to Wales and Wales to the world. The sourcing of fascinating artists from around the globe and the involvement of key international sponsors is a mark of how seriously this project is taken.”
It is a mark of the Prize’s impact that, as a result of his exposure through Artes Mundi 3, NS Harsha, has been taken on by the Victoria Miro Gallery. His work is showing simultaneously at Rivington Place curated by Iniva and at Victoria Miro through October / November 09.
