2023-09-29 08:48:00
Bregenz (VLK) – As already announced, the Swiss artist Florian Germann will receive the International Art Prize of the State of Vorarlberg 2023. The award, which is given every two years and is endowed with 10,000 euros, will take place on Monday, October 2nd, at 6 p.m. in the Montfort Hall took place in the Landhaus Bregenz.
The international six-person jury agreed on the great potential of the work and considered it the right moment to extend the work of the sculptor and researcher Florian Germann, born in 1978, from Kreuzlingen in the canton of Thurgau and particularly recognized in Switzerland, across national borders to make it known. This concern corresponds to the intention of the International Art Prize, which has been awarded biennially since 2007 to promote contemporary art in the Lake Constance area and neighboring regions in the visual arts category, including artistic architecture. “The list of previous award winners from Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein and Switzerland reads like a who’s who of contemporary art in the Lake Constance area,” explains State Governor Barbara Schöbi-Fink.
“The International Art Prize is a tangible sign of the strategic crossing of national borders in the visual arts. Through it, art creation within a common cultural area is increasingly brought to the attention of the public,” emphasizes Winfried Nußbaummüller, head of the state’s cultural department.
connection with society
Making energies visible, transformation processes and bringing regarding social changes through art are central categories in Florian Germann’s work. Findings from physics and philosophy as well as natural phenomena flow into his large-scale work cycles and minimalist-looking, modernist sculptures. In his installations, which are sometimes reminiscent of laboratory-like experimental setups, the sculptor addresses sociological phenomena and forms of coexistence, including between people and animals. According to Germann, the outside, the connection with society, is becoming increasingly important in his work, while the exploration of his interior takes a back seat. He sees his artistic work as work on a new world, convinced “that art can bring regarding the change that we all expect.”
Deep artistic connection to Austria
“I am extremely happy and feel very honored to receive the International Art Prize of the State of Vorarlberg. From the very beginning I felt deeply connected to Austria through its artists such as Bruno Gironcoli, Franz West or Maria Lassnig etc. The awarding of the prize is important to me because three years ago I embarked on a new artistic direction and this is being honored,” says Florian Germann, who wants to use the prize money to create a new work and move on.
Info box:
International Art Prize of the State of Vorarlberg 2023
Prize winner: Florian Germann, sculptor, Zurich/Switzerland
Prize: 10,000 Euro
Presentation on Monday, October 2nd, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Montfortsaal in the Landhaus in Bregenz.
– Welcome: State Governor Barbara Schöbi-Fink
– Laudation: Ursula Badrutt
– Music: Bregenzer Stadtblech – brass ensemble of the Stadtmusik Bregenz
Biography Florian Germann
– Born 1978
– Training as a carpenter and stone sculptor, working in art restoration, studying fine arts at the Zurich University of the Arts
– International exhibition activities
– Prizes, scholarships, residencies (selection): City of Zurich work year 2018, Swiss Art Award 2016, City of Zurich work grant 2015, Thurgau Canton grant 2014, Zurich Canton work grant 2013
– Art in public spaces: Cafécentral Affoltern/Zurich, sculpture “Lot” for the Eichrain health center in Seebach/Zurich
– Lives and works in Zurich
Jury
– Thomas D. Trummer, Kunsthaus Bregenz
– Ulrike Shepherd, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
– Ursula Badrutt, Office for Culture, St. Gallen
– Letizia Ragaglia, Liechtenstein Art Museum, Vaduz
– Maria Simma-Keller, Professional Association of Visual Artists in Vorarlberg
– Winfried Nußbaummüller, Cultural Department, State of Vorarlberg
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