Nadira Husain, Amina Ahmed, Varunika Saraf: ›Confluence Sangam संगम‹

as part of the WERK.STOFF Award for Painting of the Andreas Felger Cultural Foundation and the Heidelberger Kunstverein

The words Confluence, Sangam / संगम describe, in English, French and Hindi, the moment when several currents from different directions meet, flow into each other, and find their way together.

The pictorial works of Nadira Husain, laureate of the WERK.STOFF Award, express such a confluence of different cultural visual worlds. Daughter to an Indian father and a French mother, she draws from her own life experiences when Islamic art and cultural history of the Indian subcontinent meet globalized pop-cultural references in her colourful works. Hybrid bodies inhabit Husain’s canvases and textile surfaces: Comic figures meet Mughal miniatures, Indian divinities and mythological creatures. By employing traditional handicraft techniques – some of which she carries out in cooperation with various artisans – she creates transcultural visual worlds of the 21st century.

›Confluence Sangam संगम‹ extends the exhibition of the laureate by two positions: Amina Ahmed and Varunika Saraf will both present their works in Germany for the first time. They share their Indian roots and experiences of migration that shape their way of working and thinking. Varunika Saraf (Hyderabad) uses the technique of miniature painting to capture current protest movements in India. Amina Ahmed (New York) finds her basic geometric forms and patterns in the so-called folklore of different cultures that have shaped her life.

The works of the three artists are signs of appropriation and cultural contact in global contexts. Through the migration processes that are firmly embedded in their stories, they actively engage in the shaping of transcultural heritage.

WERK.STOFF  Painting Award of the Andreas Felger Kulturstiftung and the Heidelberger Kunstverein.

The Heidelberger Kunstverein (HDKV) and the Andreas Felger Kulturstiftung (AFKS) are happy to present the results of their cooperation for the WERK.STOFF painting award.
Every three years, the WERK.STOFF painting award rewards artists in the field of painting. It is open to all artists living in Germany who aren’t yet know to the general public and without any age restriction. Artists will be appointed by nominators from the field of art. The prize should allow the winner to focus on his artistic development during an intensive phase of work.

The first exhibition of the five artists nominated for the award will take place in September 2018 at Heidelberger Kunstverein. The selected artists are: Ernst Friedrich Drewes, Friedhelm Falke, Yorjander Capetillo Hernández, Nadira Husain und Michael Thümmricht. The jury – composed of Dr. Martin Engler (Director of the Contemporary Art Collection at the Städel Museum Frankfurt a. M.), Dr. Ulrike Groos (Director of the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart) and Ursula Schöndeling (Director of the Heidelberger Kunstverein) – will select the winner of the award. The winner will present his work in a monographic exhibition accompanied by a publication in 2020.

Concept:
The WERKSTOFF art award understands the concept “Painting” in a broad sense. The works can encompass the traditional combination of brush, oil and canvas but can also reach into the room and space, as well as break traditional conventions. The award aims to put the diversity of painting at the center of the public perception.

Course:
1.   Conception of an exhibition of the five selected artists (Autumn 2018).
2.   Designation of the winner and awarding of the prize money of 10.000 euros. The decision of the jury is non-disputable, recourse to legal action will not be possible.
3.   Conception of a monographic exhibition and publication of the awarded artist (2020).

The nominees are:
Ernst Friedrich Drewes (nominated by Dr. Dieter Scholz)
Friedhelm Falke (nominated by Dr. Danièle Perrier)
Yorjander Capetillo Hernández (nominated by Prof. Jean-Baptiste Joly)
Nadira Husain (nominated by Prof. Antje Majewsky)
Michael Thümmrich (nominated by AFKS)

Jury 2018:
Dr. Martin Engler (Director of the Contemporary Art Collection at the  Städel Museum Frankfurt a.M.)
Dr. Ulrike Groos (Director of the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart)
Ursula Schöndeling (Director of the Heidelberger Kunstverein)
The vernissage of the nominees’ exhibition will take place on September the 9th, 2018 at 19:00 (7:00 p.m)  at the Heidelberger Kunstverein.
The jury will distribute the award during the closing ceremony of the exhibition at the Heidelberger Kunstverein on November the 11th, 2018.