The award for this jubilee year was created by Joep van Lieshout. He must have thought that, after five years of Piket Art Prizes, it was high time we had a picket (as in ‘picket fence’; ‘piketpaaltje’ in Dutch).
Tagarchief: Piket Art Prizes
We proudly present the nominees for the fifth edition of the Piket Art Prizes!
We proudly present the nominees for the fifth edition of the Piket Art Prizes! These are the nine, young and upcoming artists nominated for the Piket Art Prizes this year:
Painting
Brigitte Louter
Dramatic Arts
Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe
From the left to the right: Teun Wolters, Kinda Gozo, Eden Latham, Elias Boersma, Boston Gallacher, Brigitte Louter. Credits: Janneke van Beek
Presentation of the 2018 nominees in the Theater aan het Spui
On Saturday 1 September presenter Paula Udondek and the new chairman of the jury Erik Pals (director of the Scapino Ballet, Rotterdam) presented this year’s nominees in the foyer of the Theater aan het Spui during the The Hague UIT Festival, the annual kick-off of the cultural season. Pals stressed the importance of the prizes, because they are a means to thrust young artists who strengthen the cultural climate into the limelight.
Eden Latham (visual arts), one of the nominees who was present at the occasion, said she was very happy: “At first I thought someone was kidding me. This nomination is extremely motivating.” Teun Wolters, nominated in the dramatic arts category, was equally delighted: “I know I’m allright, but it’s great to see others think so, too.” Elias Boersma (dance) had not at all expected this: “I am very surprised and feel tremendously honoured.” After the nominees had been announced, former nominee Alice Godfrey (NDT1) presented an enthralling preview of the performance Ohgirl!, which she created with dancer and choreographer Antonin Rioche. Ohgirl! is Godfrey’s first choreographic work.
2018 is a special year for the Piket Art Prizes, not only because it marks our fifth edition, but also because so many of our nominees are from abroad. Eden Latham (visual arts) is from London, dance nominees Boston Gallacher and Kinda Gozo are from Scotland and France respectively, and dramatic arts nominee Benjamin Meirhaeghe is from Belgium. Brigitte Louter (visual arts), seizing the chance to show her work, lived in Reykjavik for some time. It is clear that The Hague is a city with international appeal.
On Monday 26 November this year’s winners will be announced during a festive award event in the Theater aan het Spui. Winners will receive a sculpture made by Joep van Lieshout and 8,000 euros.
Since 2014, the Piket Art Prizes have been annually presented to artists under the age of 30 in the fields of dance, drama and visual arts. Every year, a jury consisting of professionals from these fields draws up a shortlist of nominees on the basis of a careful inventory of artistic talent from the The Hague area. The members of this year’s jury are: Erik Pals (Scapino Ballet Rotterdam), Maarten Demmink (Demiak), Suzanne Swarts (Museum Voorlinden), Stacz Wilhelm (Korzo theater), Isabelle Chaffaud (MEYER-CHAFFAUD), David Geysen (Bureau Dégradé) and Antoinette Jelgersma (Het Nationale Theater).
Winners Piket Art Prizes 2017
Painting: Julien Guettab (1992)
Verdict of the jury: From the very first moment both members of the jury were enchanted by this artist’s small, intimate water colours and drawings. His work is dreamlike as well as precise, almost meditative and at the same time explicit. Inspired by books, Julien seems to be creating an encyclopedia of his own. But whereas an encyclopedia explains and interprets, this sometimes cryptic collection of images raises questions. Instead of plugging into current trends and styles in contemporary art, this artist looks inward and presents the viewer with his inner world. He gives shape to his memories, fears and fantasies, and in this way stimulates the viewer to imagine and associate. His very personal signature, drive and productivity strongly suggest that this painter is totally focused on this fragile but at the same time powerful work.
Dance: Astrid Boons (1988)
Verdict of the jury: Astrid Boons’ record of service as a dancer includes NDT 2 and the Göteborgs Operans Danskompani. In the past few years she also turned to choreography. In this capacity she was nominated for the Piket Art Prizes. Astrid came back to the Netherlands in 2016 and made a strong impression with her duet Rhizoma. Her work is remarkably mature for a fledgeling choreographer. It is characterised by a great intensity and a subtle sense of measurement, enabling her to keep the tension to the end. It is unusual that she has been able to develop these delicate qualities so early in her choreographic career.
Dramatic arts: Bram Suijker (1989)
Verdict of the jury: Bram is an actor who keeps developing. The jury felt he was thoroughly convincing in his role in De Verzamelde Werken van Shakespeare (ingekort) (Shakespeare’s Collected Works – abbreviated), in which he allows his audience to see many aspects of himself. From the first moment he shows a strong presence and the capacity to engage, but he is also capable to weigh what he gives. He is credible and very well able to communicate both emotion and humor. Bram knows how to transform himself, how to use his voice and his body, which contributes to his persuasiveness. It is also obvious that he really enjoys himself on the stage. During the past year he so much developed as an actor that he is now able to carry a performance. It is evident to the jury that he is more independent, more mature. Bram has for several years been a member of Het Nationale Theater, which creates a link with the city of the Hague.
Winners Piket Art Prizes 2015
Painting: Lennart Lahuis (1986)
Verdict of the jury: Lennart Lahuis treats the concept of visibility in an inventive way, playing with the amount of information he grants to the viewer, and the time he takes to relinquish it. Both the disposable images he hides behind a layer of wax and his floor projects, apparently consisting of nothing but water, demand a certain effort on the side of the viewer. The effect, however, is all the more forceful. The image fades or, quite literally, evaporates, leaving the viewer with its ghost. In this way he forces us to think about what we are actually seeing. By using this conceptual approach Lahuis consciously limits his creative scope.
Dance: Sarah Murphy (1988)
Verdict of the Jury: It is evident that the Canadian Sarah Murphy is a talented and hard worker. Her movement is striking; she truly employs her whole body. Murphy uses every fibre, and manages to enchant her audience without effort. She is able to draw the viewer into her vast imagination, and has a large array of dance styles at her disposal. Like no other, Murphy is able to integrate emotion and feeling into her performance. Her ability to enrich her emotions with expressive detail is intriguing. Murphy’s expressiveness genuinely touched the jury.
Dramatic Arts: Nik van den Berg (1987)
Verdict of the Jury: Nik van den Berg is enormously talented. It is small wonder that he was already nominated last year. At that time he made an impression with his Parade performance, where he amply demonstrated his ability to seduce his audience with his extravagant stage personality. Over the past year, he managed to develop even further. Van den Berg possesses a clear artistic signature and is able to change gear at a moment’s notice. He can really twist the audience round his finger. The jury hopes van den Berg will continue to look for new layers as an actor, maker and performer, and will find collaborators who will challenge him. It also hopes he will enlarge his palette as a solo performer in such a way as to help him find new substance and meaning, and engage his audience artistically as well as intellectually.
Winners Piket Art Prizes 2014
Painting: Inge Aanstoot (1987)
Verdict of the Jury: Inge Aanstoot’s work is imaginative, powerful, organic, and colourful, and is characterised by interesting contrasts. She creates a world of her own, both personal and recognisable. Aanstoot’s paintings are usually large – the canvas completely covered. However, she is also able to create tension through empty space between figures and objects. Her colours are deep and intense. She works from her own experience, brain and soul in a seemingly natural manner. Her intelligent use of colour and surface enables her to obtain a striking unity of composition, despite the many details. Her work lives! She has shown a strong development since her graduation in 2009, and the jury expects she will further mature in the future.
Dance: Joshua Junker (1998)
Verdict of the Jury: Joshua deeply impressed the jury – he is a pure, rare dance talent. His body, with its fine legs and feet, is an ideal instrument for a great career as a dancer. Starting from a breakdance background, Joshua received his classical basis at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. His recent transfer to the Royal Ballet School in London not only offers him first class training, but also unique opportunities within the international dance circuit. The jury relishes the thought that, in this way, he will be able to present his initial formation in The Hague.
Dramatic Arts: Karel van Laere (1988)
Verdict of the Jury: Karel van Laere is a headstrong, original polymath, who designs costumes and sets for various performances at his own studio in The Hague, and stages fashion shows. He is not afraid to confront the technical obstacles these activities present. In addition, he tours with a very physical dance/music performance, and makes short films in which he is moving and immovable at the same time: he explores the human body’s way and scope of movement as well as the technical developments that surround us. Van Laere’s work expresses his desire to astonish his audience with new points of view and new ways of viewing. The jury envisages an important role for him in the theatrical future.
