Prince Claus Awards 2018 2 Foreword: Under the Prince Claus Spotlight
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PRINCE CLAUS AWARDS 2018 2 FOREWORD: UNDER THE PRINCE CLAUS SPOTLIGHT by HRH Prince Constantijn Honorary Chairman of the Prince Claus Fund Every year the Prince Claus Awards Committee comes up with another selection of outstanding artists and cultural organisations. It never fails: the range and diversity is always impressive. Each year we are filled with admi ration for all the creative people who come up with fresh ideas, different approaches, new combinations and forms of expression. Again, the Laureates this year are enriching lives and challenging fixed ideas in their own societies, from Adong Judith, whose plays energise theatre goers in East Africa, to Eka Kurniawan, whose literature mercilessly but with humour raises issues that Indonesia has long kept buried, to Marwa alSabouni, whose architectural perspectives open the possibility of building more peaceable communities, to Kidlat Tahimik, whose energetic creativity and promotion of indigenous people in the Philippines never fails to delight, and O Menelick Act 2 and Market Photo Workshop that – through their different mediums – have given expression to rarely seen realities of black life in South Africa and Brazil. One change in this year’s celebration is the addition of a Next Generation Award. The Prince Claus Fund has always been open to young and emerging artists but this new award reflects a more conscious emphasis, in all the Fund’s programmes, on developing the creative possibilities of young people. Dada Masilo, the Fund’s first Next Generation Laureate, started young and already has a remarkable career. She has broken through conventions and created her own melding of African dance and classical ballet that is relevant to modern life and speaks to audiences of all ages. She radiates an energy that says there’s much more to come. Moreover, with her strength, her innovations, and her success, she has become a role model, not only but especially for young girls and women in South Africa. We shouldn’t be surprised each year, but we are – surprised and delighted and awed – by the abundance of talent there is all around the world, and by the remarkable achievements of those who come under the spotlight of the Prince Claus Awards. 3 CONTENTS FOREWORD 3 INTRODUCTION 7 2018 PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATES 9 PRINCE CLAUS AWARDS 13 POLICY AND PROCEDURES 14 2018 PRINCIPAL PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATE MARKET PHOTO WORKSHOP 17 2018 PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATES ADONG JUDITH 29 MARWA ALSABOUNI 41 EKA KURNIAWAN 53 O MENELICK 2º ATO 65 KIDLAT TAHIMIK 79 PRINCE CLAUS NEXT GENERATION AWARD 93 POLICY AND PROCEDURES 94 2018 PRINCE CLAUS NEXT GENERATION LAUREATE DADA MASILO 97 CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS 106 PRINCE CLAUS AWARDS COMMITTEE 2018 108 CEREMONIES 112 THE PRINCE CLAUS FUND 112 PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATES 2018–1997 116 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS 122 5 INTRODUCTION: ART THAT MAKES SENSE OF OUR LIVES AND KNITS THINGS TOGETHER by Henk Pröpper, Chair of the Prince Claus Fund and Joumana El Zein Khoury, Director of the Prince Claus Fund Connection and inclusion are two themes that run through most of the work that the Prince Claus Fund does; the projects it supports and the Laureates that it honours. In this era of building walls and retreat behind borders, those themes have never been more important. The history of humankind (according to historian Noah Harari) began with small family groups and slowly expanded to larger clans and eventually even larger tribes. Fast forward to feudal lords, kingdoms, city states, nation states and republics, these were the configurations that determined identity. In the last century, there was first a great movement towards internationalism and latterly a strong countermovement towards individualism, bolstered by technology that promoted selfexpression. Discover yourself! Say what you think! Follow your dream! The challenge for each of us is to realise our potential while not losing the touchstones of what makes us who we are – staying connected to family, to community, to history, understanding those connections and how they affect us, in order to forge a meaningful path for ourselves. This search is not new. It is what Socrates was referring to in the 4th century BC when he said: ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Art and culture are essential in these quests. In primitive art we saw rock paintings of the hunt. The hunters were the rock dwellers’ heroes, for they provided the food essential for life. In classical art we saw symbols of power and spirituality. Art offers models. It reflects the tenor of the times. And throughout human history, culture has served a basic need. It often feels like in our current era, things are falling apart. Societies are changing and we need art to somehow help knit things back together in a new way. We need to mend, to repair, to bring together again, to renew beauty, to connect the pieces of the broken, link the past with the present and find the reborn. This year’s Laureates are knitters. They bring people together. They shed light on problems, while showing us paths to better places. This year’s honours include a Next Generation Award that emphasises an essential connection among generations, because it is youth who must go forward in this technologically fastchanging world. This year’s Next Generation Award goes to an outstanding ‘knitter’ who gathers many elements into her dances; a choreographer who connects classical themes and movements with specific cultural traditions and contemporary issues. A Next Generation Award that represents connection and inclusion in the finest Prince Claus tradition! 7 THE PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATES 2018 9 2018 PRINCIPAL PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATE Market Photo Workshop – SOUTH AFRICA training institution and cultural platform that has revolutionised photography in South Africa. Emphasising social consciousness alongside technical skills and ensuring opportunities for disadvantaged communities, its innovative methodology instills the ideals of socially committed photography, stimulates critical reflection, and has consistently empowered and supported generations of remarkable photographers. 10 2018 PRINCE CLAUS LAUREATES Adong Judith – UGANDA playwright, filmmaker and theatremaker who boldly provokes public debate to initiate positive change. Her entertaining productions draw audiences into personal encounters with the injustice and cruelty caused by official policies, local conventions and socialised attitudes related to issues such as child soldiers, war reparations and gender rights. Marwa al-Sabouni – SYRIA architect and urban thinker who analyses and explains the role of modern city planning in triggering and fuelling conflicts. Based on personal experience in Homs, she proposes innovative designs that aim to restore cooperation, social cohesion and a sense of identity after the devastation of war. Eka Kurniawan – INDONESIA writer who explores Indonesia’s complex recent history through appealing and accessible fiction that reveals the universal relevance of his subject matter. His inventive style draws on local storytelling, fantasy and humour to convey often traumatic realities and controversial subjects in a way people can relate to directly. O Menelick 2º Ato – BRAZIL independent publishing platform making AfroBrazilian culture visible in a racially unequal society. It documents and empowers black cultural production, increases insight into black people’s experience and generates critical debate, counteracting the lack of diversity in mainstream institutions and opening paths to interracial communication and integration. Kidlat Tahimik – PHILIPPINES artist in many disciplines and a creative force in his community, inspiring others, building infrastructure, sharing his gifts and creating spaces of freedom. His innovative works in multiple fields reject imposed conventions in favour of an ingenious, indigenous, environmentally aware DIY ethos and aesthetic. 2018 PRINCE CLAUS NEXT GENERATION LAUREATE Dada Masilo – SOUTH AFRICA dancer and choreographer who opens up striking new perspectives on the intertwining of African and Western cultures and histories. Her ground breaking work reconfigures traditions, offers fresh narratives on volatile issues such as love, gender, HIV/Aids and spirituality, and illustrates the vast potential of future intercultural coupling. 11 THE PRINCE CLAUS AWARDS 13 POLICY AND PROCEDURES The Prince Claus Awards The Prince Claus Awards honour outstanding achievements in the field of culture and development. The awards are presented annually to individuals, groups and organisations whose cultural actions have a positive impact on the development of their societies. In keeping with the Prince Claus Fund’s guiding principles, the awards highlight significant contributions in regions where resources or opportunities for cultural expression, creative production and preservation of cultural heritage are limited. Procedures The Fund invites cultural experts from its global network to nominate candidates for the awards. Research is carried out by the Fund’s Bureau and second opinions are sourced for all nominations. The Prince Claus Awards Committee meets twice a year to consider the information about the nominated candidates and presents its recommendations to the Board of the Prince Claus Fund. In December each year, the Prince Claus Awards are presented to the Laureates in a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in the presence of members of the Royal Family and an international audience. The Prince Claus Awards are also presented to the recipients at cere