Becher Prize awarded to Carrie Mae Weems amongst prominent figures from politics and the arts, 19 May 2023

At the reception in the Düsseldorf townhall (from left to right): Councillor for Culture and Integration Miriam Koch, Hannah Darabi, Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller, Carrie Mae Weems. © State Capital Düsseldorf/Ingo Lammert

Art Calendar, 20 May 2023

Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize awarded to Carrie Mae Weems amongst great prominence from politics and art. Ambitions are high. Prof. Robert Fleck compared the Becher Prize with the Turner Prize in London and the Prix Marcel Duchamp in Paris. Hilla Becher and Bernd Becher had studied together at the Art Academy and Hilla Becher set up the first photo laboratory at the Academy.

Dr Stephan Keller and Carrie Mae Weems. © State Capital Düsseldorf/Ingo Lammert

Düsseldorf, 20 May 2023: Yesterday evening, a magnificent award ceremony for the Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize took place at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in the Aula of the Academy of Arts. The main prize winner Carrie Mae Weems and the sponsorship prize winner Hannah Darabi were welcomed in the afternoon by Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller in the City Hall and Carrie Mae Weems signed the Golden Book of the City of Düsseldorf. The city was represented by Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller, Commissioner Miriam Koch and Mayor Clara Gerlach. The art world was represented in large numbers, including the director of the Kunstpalast, Dr Felix Krämer and the artists Andreas Gursky and Katharina Sieverding. But numerous Düsseldorf gallery owners and curators were also present. Tony Cragg and Prof. Dr. Robert Fleck were the hosts. Afterwards, there was an exuberant party on the grounds in front of the Eiskellerberg Galerie.

Carrie Mae Weems © State Capital Düsseldorf/Ingo Lammert

The ambitions are high

Prof. Dr. Robert Fleck compared the Becher Prize with the Turner Prize in London and the Prix Marcel Duchamp in Paris. Hilla Becher and Bernd Becher had studied together at the art academy and Hilla Becher set up the first photo lab at the academy.


The award ceremony shows the importance of photography in art. Lord Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller: "Today we honour two artists who set creative and socio-critical impulses with their work and take up topics that move us worldwide and in Düsseldorf.


The award ceremony is to be seen in the context of the German Photo Institute, which it is now clear will be based in Düsseldorf

The elaborate staging shows that Düsseldorf is well aware of the importance of the German Photo Institute for its city. The national institute is a further enrichment and international cultural attraction.


Accordingly, the award winner was chosen to be none other than Carrie Mae Weems. Weems is one of the most important contemporary artists in the USA, whose political impact reaches far beyond the art scene. Her works address racism and black identity in America. One of her best-known collections, The Kitchen Table, is also about sexism.


"The Mayor of Düsseldorf wants to speak with you right away. And I was like why?"

In 2014, New York's Guggenheim Museum dedicated a retrospective to her as the first of all African-American artists. Weem's speech yesterday emotionalised the audience and she received a standing ovation. She spoke of how she received a phone call: "In October I receive a phone call. This person said, the Mayor of Düsseldorf wants to speak with you right away. And I was like why?"


She continued, "I feel very honoured, I didn't expect anything like this. I know the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, I have been following them for years. Their work is very important to me. The way they made pictures, the way they worked together, is very special. And of course I know their son Max. My husband Jeffrey Hoone and he have done projects and exhibitions together.


Düsseldorf had paid tribute to women in Iran at several events in recent months

The sponsorship award winner is Hanna Darabi, an Iranian artist who emigrated to Paris. Her country of origin is the main subject of her photo series, in which her photographs interact with texts, archival images and objects to show the political situation and economic conditions in her country. Düsseldorf had paid tribute to women in Iran at several events in recent months. Most recently also on a very large scale at the International Women's Day. In her speech, Carrie Mae Weems was also touched by Darabi's work and drew comparisons to her own. 


Darabi professed to be inspired by the Bechers' work: "Today, whenever I look at one of their works, I am fascinated by the complexity of their work. I am honoured to receive a prize that bears her name. The jury statement reads, among other things: (excerpt) "With this award, the jury would like to promote an artistic attitude that uses the means of photography to illuminate the cultural border crossings between the Orient and the Occident. Hannah Darabi's works on the photobooks of the Iranian Revolution (1979-1983) and the Persian diaspora in Los Angeles set important impulses for documentary works of the future."


Bernd and Hilla Becher

The Düsseldorf-based photographer couple Bernd and Hilla Becher studied together at the Düsseldorf Art Academy. Hilla Becher set up the first photo lab and her photography class was the first of its kind in Germany. 


The Deutsches Fotoinstitut

There are many photography museums, but as yet no central institution. In the Netherlands, for example, there is the Netherlands Photo Museum in Rotterdam. Last night, the Lord Mayor announced that a commission would be set up to define the task and direction of the German Photo Institute. Presumably, expertise will be brought together there for technical topics or the urgent topic of conservation could take a central part.


Andreas Gursky, representative of the Düsseldorf School and one of the most important initiators, had campaigned for years for Düsseldorf as a location. Now that the German Photo Institute is approaching in leaps and bounds, he sat visibly moved next to fellow artist Katerina Sieverding last night.


In addition to the award ceremony, there is also an exhibition by Carrie Mae Wem and Hannah Darabi at the Eiskellerberg Galerie, the temporary home of the Deutsches Fotoinstitut.

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