Hentie van der Merwe named best artist on Turin Biennial
Johannesburg artist Hentie van der Merwe has won the Artissimo 2002/Big Torino Prize as the best artist exhibiting in the visual arts section of theTurin Biennial.The prize includes the offer of a "Big/Premio Artissima" booth where the artist is invited to exhibit his work on the occasion of the ninth edition of the Artissima 2002 Art Fair, which will take place from November 14 to 17 at the Torino Esposizioni exhibition centre. The opportunity will give the artist an unparalleled opportunity to have his work seen by gallerists from the 180 galleries from 20 countries which will participate.
In awarding the prize to Van der Merwe, the judging committee said, "We are delighted to present at Artissima 2002 a young artist who has the capability to cleverly combine a
social thought - the big social game - with a rigorous and clean expressive language,avoiding easy experimental solutions for an only apparently aseptic vision, actually very sensitive and dramatic.
"Artissima is the only art fair in Italy, exclusively devoted to contemporary art and has become a leading art event in Europe for all young avant-garde galleries". The last event attracted 30 000 visitors. More information: www.artissima.it
Van der Merwe's installation United Colours combines a line of beautifully coloured ribbons - which are, in fact, commemorative war-ribbons - with12 black-and-white Benetton-like portraits, and a book with text about the history of the ribbons. Says Van der Merwe, "I would like to draw the viewer's critical attention to questions relating to a world history of violence, domination and exploitation and that of a current emerging 'global economy'. Furthermore, the kind of images produced by the mass media and advertising in promoting it's products to a 'global market'. Also, the kind of identities produced and created by such an industry. I see myself as part of a younger generation of people faced with such questions and having to negotiate between a history fraught with political struggle, violence and injustices and thinking about the kind of identities and morals we would, and could, assume in this particular moment."
The artist is currently living in Antwerp and working at the Hisk - Higher Institute for the Arts in Flanders.
