Schweizer Grand Prix Kunst Prix Meret Oppenheim 2018 Grand Prix suisse d’art Gran Premio svizzero d’arte Grond premi svizzer d’art Swiss Grand Award of Art / Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Prix Meret Oppenheim 2018 Oppenheim 2018 goes to Sylvie Fleury, Thomas Hirschhorn and Luigi Snozzi An exhibition by the Federal Office of Culture For the eighteenth time, the Federal Office of 12-17 June 2018 Culture presents the Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim to three outstanding Swiss Messe Basel, Hall 3 culture professionals: the artists Sylvie Fleury and Thomas Hirschhorn, as well as the architect Press preview 11 June 2018, 10 am Luigi Snozzi. The laureates will be honoured Award ceremony 11 June 2018, 5.30 pm together with the winners of the Swiss Art Awards Opening 11 June 2018, 7 pm on 11 June 2018 in Basel. The Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim 2018 is awarded on the recommenda- tion of the Federal Art Commission to artists, art mediators and architects whose internationally renowned work is of particular relevance and importance to Swiss artistic and architectural practice. Film portraits of the laureates of the Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim 2018 will be on show in the Swiss Art Awards exhibition which also presents the participants of the second round of the Swiss Art Competition.

2 Sylvie Fleury (born 1961 in Thomas Hirschhorn (born 1957 Luigi Snozzi (born 1932 in Geneva, lives in Geneva) in , lives in Paris) Mendrisio, lives in Locarno) Sylvie Fleury is known for her Thomas Hirschhorn is an installa- Luigi Snozzi is an architect staging of glamour, fashion tion artist whose works address and emeritus professor of archi- and luxury items. In the spirit socio-political issues. Directed at tecture. With his characteristic of Duchamp’s ready-mades and a non-exclusive audience, his exposed concrete buildings Andy Warhol’s Pop Art, she monumental spatial collages are and urban interventions, he is blows up brands and labels, made from everyday materials a leading representative creating a subtle commentary on like tape, cardboard and alumini- and theoretician of the Ticinese the world of commerce and um foil. With his stagings and School and took part in the consumerism. The unique femi- performative elements, exhibition “Tendencies - New nist approach that Fleury has Hirschhorn has developed his Architecture in ” at the advocated since the 1990s own visual language in which the ETH in 1975, the first to has brought her international worlds of politics, society and be open to the general public acclaim. commerce collide, leading to his and which was to influence Fleury has participated in many current practice of presence and the next generation of architects. exhibitions, including solo shows production projects. Snozzis long-standing involve- at the Villa Stuck, Munich (2016), Hirschhorn studied at the School ment with Monte Carasso began Bass Museum of Art, Miami, of Design and Art in Zurich from exactly 40 years ago. This Florida (2015), CAC / Centre de 1978 to 1983. His works have project is still regarded as a Arte Contemporaneo, Malaga, featured in numerous exhibitions reference for the fruitful interac- (2011), MAMCO-Musée d‘Art including the tion between architecture and Comtemporain de Genève (1999, 2015), Documenta 11 urban planning today. (2008), Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin (2002), Swiss Swiss Democracy After his studies and diploma (2007), Le Magasin, Centre in the Centre culturel suisse at the ETH in Zurich (1952-1957), National d‘Art Centemporain, (CCS) Paris (2004), the 27. Sao Snozzi opened his own architec- Grenoble (2001), ZKM, Museum Paolo Biennale (2006), the Swiss ture practice in 1958. He worked für Neue Kunst, Karlsruhe (2001) Pavilion at the Venice Biennale with Livio Vacchini from 1962 and Migros Museum für Gegen- (2011), La Triennale in the Palais to 1971. He ran another practice wartskunst, Zurich (1998). de Tokyo, Paris (2012), 9th in Zurich between 1975 and 1988 She was awarded the prestigious Shanghai Biennale (2012), with Bruno Jenni until he moved Prix de la Société des Arts de Gramsci Monument in the Bronx, to Lausanne with his second Genève in 2015. Fleury founded New York, (2013) Manifesta 10 practice in 1988. He started the record label Villa Magica in Saint Petersburg (2014), South his academic career as a guest Records in Geneva in 2004, London Gallery (2015). lecturer for architectural design together with John and Stéphane Thomas Hirschhorn has been at the ETH Zurich in 1973, Armleder. awarded the Preis für Junge teaching there until 1975 and Schweizer Kunst (1999), the Prix receiving an honorary doctorate Marcel Duchamp (2000), the in 2008. He received a full Roland Preis für Kunst im öffentli- professorship at the EPFL in chen Raum (2003), the Joseph Lausanne in 1985 and taught Beuys Preis (2004) and the Kurt there until becoming an emeritus Schwitters Preis (2011). professor in 1997. Snozzi current- His presence and production ly teaches at the University project Robert-Walser Sculpture Sassari in Alghero, Sardinia. will start on the 15 June 2018 at the 13th edition of the Swiss Sculpture Exhibition in Biel/ Bienne.

3 Jury Statements Publication The work of this year’s Prix Meret Oppenheim Coinciding with the award ceremony on 11 June laureate Sylvie Fleury characteristically drifts 2018, the Federal Office of Culture is publishing between appearance and reality. By means of “Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppen- appropriation she transposes the world of consum- heim 2018”, containing portraits of the award erism into the artistic arena and conversely opens winners and interviews conducted by Samuel Gross up the imaginary world of illusion to her own (Head Curator, Istituto Svizzero, Rome) with Sylvie staging of existence. Sylvie Fleury interweaves the Fleury, Yasmil Raymond (Associate Curator, verbal “je” with the visual “moi”, her installations, , New York) with Thomas wall pieces, videos and drawings painting a detailed Hirschhorn and Stefano Moor picture of dreams in the symbolic reality of the (architect, ) with Luigi Snozzi. social contract. (Laura Arici) 198 pages, ISBN 978-3-9524712-3-4; German, English, French, Italian; Editorial: Manuela In awarding Thomas Hirschhorn the Prix Meret Schlumpf; Graphic Design: Vela Arbutina, Zurich. Oppenheim, the CFA salutes the extreme coher- Free copies of the publication are available in the ence of his artistic process, one that is based on exhibition or can be ordered by email swissart@ the defence of society’s democratic values. From bak.admin.ch his early collages to his temporary monuments, from his large-scale installations to the conferences Film Portraits he gives all over the world, Thomas Hirschhorn The exhibition Swiss Art Awards 2018 presents film has developed a unique formal language that portraits of the laureates of the Swiss Grand Award reflects the challenges of the modern world as well for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim 2018. as the artist’s own experience. The different forms German, French and Italian with subtitles. that his process takes demonstrate the deep Duration: approx. 7 min each. Concept and commitment of an artist who sees his art as a form realisation: Matthias Huser, 8horses. of combat sport. (Julie Enckell Julliard) Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Luigi Snozzi is an architect who is equally invested Oppenheim as a builder, a professor and a citizen. As a key The Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret figure of a movement dedicated to the analysis Oppenheim was created in 2001 by the Federal of territory, his building work represents an uncom- Office of Culture in cooperation with the Federal promising type of architecture that embraces its Art Commission. It honours achievements in presence to create new spaces through a form of the fields of art and architecture as well as cura- positive confrontation. A great supporter of archi- tion, research and critique. It is presented to artists tecture that creates the city – the collective entity and architects, curators and researchers whose par excellence –, he shows unparalleled clarity work played a key role in enhancing engagement and powers of synthesis in his numerous projects with art and architecture and have fostered cultural which are a model of the productive relationship dialogue in and beyond. Each award between architecture and its context. Luigi Snozzi carries prize money of CHF 40,000. maintains his critical stance towards the conditions and limits of his profession and, having influenced and mentored many generations of architecture students, he embodies the role of the architect as upholder of political, cultural and human values. (Victoria Easton)

4 Jury Swiss Grand Award for Laureates 2001–2017 2007 Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim 2017 Véronique Bacchetta 2018 Peter Märkli Kurt W. Forster Federal Art Commission Daniela Keiser Peter Roesch President Philip Ursprung Anselm Stalder Giovanni Carmine (Director, Kunst Halle Sankt 2016 2006 Gallen, St. Gallen) Adelina von Fürstenberg Dario Gamboni Christian Philipp Müller Markus Raetz Members Martin Steinmann Catherine Schelbert Laura Arici Robert Suermondt (Art historian, Zurich) 2015 Rolf Winnewisser Valentin Carron Christoph Büchel Peter Zumthor (Artist, Fully) Olivier Mosset Victoria Easton Urs Stahel 2005 (Architect, Christ & Gantenbein, Staufer/Hasler Miriam Cahn Basel) Alexander Fickert & Julie Enckell Julliard 2014 Katharina Knapkiewicz (Head of Cultural Development Anton Bruhin Johannes Gachnang Department, HEAD, Geneva) Catherine Quéloz Gianni Motti Anne­ Julie Raccoursier Pipilotti Rist Václav Požárek (Artist, Lausanne) pool Architekten Michel Ritter Anselm Stalder (Artist, Basel) 2013 2004 Thomas Huber Christine Binswanger & Architecture Experts Quintus Miller & Paola Maranta Harry Gugger Oliver Lütjens Marc­Olivier Wahler Roman Kurzmeyer (Architect, Lütjens Padmanabhan Peter Regli Architekten, Zurich) 2012 Hannes Rickli Anne Marie Wagner Bice Curiger (Architect, Bachelard Wagner Niele Toroni 2003 Architekten, Basel) Günther Vogt Silvia Bächli Rudolf Blättler 2 011 Hervé Graumann John Armleder Harm Lux Patrick Devanthéry & Claude Sandoz Inès Lamunière Silvia Gmür 2002 Ingeborg Lüscher Ian Anüll Guido Nussbaum Hannes Brunner Marie José Burki 2010 Relax Gion A. Caminada (Marie­Antoinette Chiarenza, Yan Duyvendak Daniel Croptier, Daniel Hauser) Claudia & Julia Müller Renée Levi Annette Schindler Roman Signer 2001 Peter Kamm 2009 Ilona Rüegg Ursula Biemann George Steinmann Roger Diener Christian Marclay Muda Mathis & Sus Zwick Ingrid Wildi Merino

2008 edition fink (Georg Rutishauser) Mariann Grunder Manon Mario Pagliarani Arthur Rüegg

5 Dates Award Ceremony Swiss Grand Award for Art / Prix Meret Oppenheim and Swiss Art Awards 11 June 2018, 5.30–6.30 pm The laudatory speeches will be given by Bea Schlingelhoff (artist, Zürich) for Sylvie Fleury, Kathleen Bühler (Curator of contemporary art, Kunstmuseum Bern) for Thomas Hirschhorn and Professor Werner Oechslin (art and architecture historian, Einsiedeln) for Luigi Snozzi.

Swiss Art Awards 2018 exhibition Vernissage 11 June 2018, 7 – 10 pm Duration 12 to 17 June 2018, daily from 10 am – 7 pm Halle 3, Messe Basel Free entrance

Social Media Blog: www.swissartawards.ch Instagram: @swissartawards #swissartawards, #prixmeretoppenheim

Information On the Confederation’s culture awards: Danielle Nanchen, Cultural Creativity Section, Federal Office of Culture T +41 58 462 98 23, E [email protected]

On the Swiss Art Awards: Léa Fluck, Art Promotion, Cultural Creativity Section, Federal Office of Culture T +41 58 462 92 89, E [email protected]

Media services: Stefanie Lockwood, BUREAU N T +41 76 729 43 21, E [email protected]

Press images High-resolution portraits of the laureates are available at: www.bak.admin.ch/pmo

Film Portaits Available from May on YouTube: https://m.youtube. com/channel/UChWVzejknDLWz6p3P8LqAfA

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