Ellen Yiu left Hong Kong at the age of twelve for boarding school in the UK. Her work draws inspiration from personal anecdotes. “My practice is like a tactile visual diary, often rooted in memories,” Ellen says. “I like to turn small details into universal stories.”
The reception centre for Ukrainian refugees in Kijkduin has become a real home for Vladyslav and Veronika. They have made their room truly cosy with simple furniture and meaningful objects speaking of past and present; their stately tomcat Boston evidently likes the place too. The building, formerly an educational consultancy, is welcoming and well equipped, alive with the noise and laughter of children playing. What’s more, it provides some twenty dancers of the disbanded United Ukrainian Ballet with a spacious studio where they can train and rehearse.
Adam Centko describes himself as a ‘lens-based artist’. “I look at the world and try to make sense of it,” he says. “As an artist I interpret what’s around, but not just by using my two eyes.”
Choreographer, musician, and poet Amos Ben-Tal joined the Piket Art Prizes jury in 2022. At the end of last year, he decided it would be better to say goodbye. Although he very much enjoyed his two years as a jury member, he found it increasingly difficult to juggle his manifold commitments.
A few weeks after the Piket Art Prizes award ceremony, Katarina Head moved back to the UK, where she has found a place to live and work. She is now exploring the London art scene, looking for opportunities to show her paintings. It’s not easy, but Katarina is undaunted: “I’m going to be making forever.”
Kamila Sipika has recently returned from a trip to Poland and is busy working towards setting up her new studio in The Hague. She feels grateful to have found a new space where she may create. She is also busy applying for funding that will allow her to pursue her creative goals. “Having to write about my work and formulating an artistic vision is essential as it helps to prioritize and select my ideas and their realizations.”
Sophie Whittome, one of this year’s nominees in the Dance category, recently joined NDT 1 after two years with NDT 2. “So far, it feels familiar, in some ways. There are unique qualities to each of the two companies, but what remains is that there are many people in each who are dear to me. It is the people, always, who pique and maintain my interest in a place. The brilliance of a company of this size is that it can act as an anchor that draws all these wonderful people together.”
Katarina Head, one of this year’s nominees in the Painting category, is busy making work for an upcoming exhibition at artist-run space Trixie on the Scheldestraat. She’ll be sharing the space with two other former Royal Academy of Art (KABK) artists who, like her, are inspired by nature and natural materials. Natural processes, the merging and morphing of natural forms, are a common thread in her work.
“It feels as if the Piket award ceremony is only a week ago,” Isla Clarke (winner Piket Art prize 2022 (Dance)) “The past few months have been so demanding and intense.” She will be taking next season off for the final stages of her transition and looks forward to what she calls her ‘next chapter.’
The prize really took Joep by surprise – he hadn’t expected it at all. But it’s a tremendous piece of good luck for the Poezieboys. Joep and his fellow-Poezieboy Jos Nargy (who in 2018 won the Piket Prize in the same category) are embracing the future with spirit and confidence. “With poetry you can go anywhere,” says Joep.
