The Berlin-based Iranian artist Nairy Baghramian (whose upcoming show at Museo Tamayo is included in this month’s previews) and German artist Jutta Koether have turned down their nominations for the Vincent Van Gogh Biennial Award. The prize, established in 2000 and administered by the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag since 2014, is awarded to mid-career artists whose work is judged to have noticeably influenced the development of contemporary art in Europe.
In an interview for Hyperallergic, Baghramian cited the recent legal dispute between collector Bert Kreuk and artist Danh Vō, regarding a commission that was to be shown at the Dutch museum (more details on the dispute here) as the reason for her withdrawal. ‘Based on my insights, it seems safe to say that the museum didn’t assume a neutral stance in the private confrontation between two parties, but rather played an active role in this legal dispute and even stood against the artist who was invited to and exhibited in the museum,’ Baghramian said.
In response, the award committee’s statement assured that the museum remained neutral in court, and ‘answered questions under oath of both the judge and both parties’ lawyers’. According to Bortolami Gallery, Jutta Koether withdrew her nomination due to personal reasons.
15 January 2016.
