Kader Attia wins the Joan Miró Prize
Endowed with $82,000, the prize was awarded to Attia for his “passionate engagement with current affairs and with the shared fate of humanity [which] has close links to Joan Miró’s involvement in the critical episodes that marked his generation, while Attia’s unique take on complex, often traumatic, human relationships across cultures resonates with Miró’s universal aspirations.” Attia was chosen by a jury consisting of Alfred Pacquement (former director of the Centre Pompidou), Iwona Blazwick (director of London’s Whitechapel gallery) and Rosa Maria Malet (director of the Joan Miró Foundation).
Previous laureates include Olafur Eliasson, Pipilotti Rist, Mona Hatoum, Roni Horn and Ignasi Aballí. Attia will have a solo show at Barcelona’s Joan Miró Foundation in 2018. More via e-flux.
Adrian Cheng announces launch of C VENTURES
Courtesy of Adrian Cheng, Photo by David Atlan.
The collector, who is also director of the K11 Art Foundation, has announced the launch of the new investment fund C VENTURES, aimed “to accelerate growth for a dynamic portfolio of Millennial and Gen Z-focused brands and services”, spanning fields as diverse as art, fashion, media and culture.
The fund has already invested in Dazed Media and bought Nowness, a video channel launched in 2010 by LVMH. Chinese Millennials and Gen Zs, often referred to as the BAT (Baidu-Alibaba-Tencent) generation, make up more than one third of China's population (427 million Chinese millennials and an additional 235 million Gen-Z). More information via Forbes.
MoMA’s Daniel H. Weiss protests US departure from UNESCO
Following the announcement that the US were to leave UNESCO, Daniel H. Weiss, director of the MoMA, has strongly criticized the decision in a press statement, describing the UN heritage agency as “an important leader and steadfast partner”, adding that “President Trump's decision to withdraw from UNESCO undermines the historic role of the United States as a leader in this effort and weakens our position as a strong advocate for cultural preservation”.
New artist representations
Mounir Fatmi, The Paradox. (2016) Courtesy the aritst.
Moroccan artist and filmmaker Mounir Fatmi (b. 1970) — who is already working with several galleries, including Goodman Gallery and Officine dell’Immagine — is joining Ceysson & Bénétière gallery (Paris, New York, Saint-Étienne, Luxembourg). The artist will participate in the upcoming edition of the “Bamako Biennial”, opening in December.
American artist Mary Weatherford (b. 1963), is now represented by Gagosian gallery. Weatherford was represented by Brennan & Griffin in New York until now, and is still working with David Kordansky gallery in Los Angeles. On October 26, works by Weatherford will be on show at Gagosian’s New York space as part of the group show “L.A. invitational”. Read more on Artnews.
Mary Weatherford, The River. (2015) Courtesy David Kordansky gallery.
