Kunsthochschule Kassel and cdw Foundation honor graduates
At the opening of this year's exam exhibition "Examen 25 - a script, a sketch, a show" on Wednesday evening, December 10, 2025, in the documenta hall, graduates Tetyana Zolotopupova and Shirin Kara were honored for their outstanding final projects. Both received prize money of 4,000 euros. Zolotopupova completed her degree in Visual Communication, Kara in Product Design. An honorable mention went to Yifan Zhou from the Visual Communication department.
The prize offers the winners the opportunity to continue their artistic and design work after graduation and to present the results in the next graduation exhibition. The jury, consisting of Prof. Nil Atalay, Dean of Studies Fashion Design, AMD Akademie Mode & Design, Berlin, Dr. Ellen Wagner, author and art historian, Saskia Wagner, Director and Managing Director, Caricatura - Galerie für Komische Kunst, Moritz Micalef, cdw Foundation, praised the outstanding quality of the graduates' work.
The jury citations:
Tetyana Zolotopupova, 5 pro 1 m2
The conceptually and aesthetically stringent work literally forces us to behave physically and also morally. We raise and lower our feet carefully so as not to break the small ceramics that litter the floor. If we bend down to take a closer look at the objects, we see aerial photographs of agricultural areas in the Ukraine and "impact craters" placed over them with colored glazes, which stand for the contamination of the areas by mines, but at the same time form highly attractive pictorial compositions. All objects are for sale and must be removed from the exhibition space so that the proceeds can be used to support mine clearance in the Ukraine.
The work is convincing in its thoughtfulness down to every complex detail, from the production of the individual pieces to their spatial arrangement and sale. It challenges us to look carefully around us, creating a strong emotional ambivalence of wanting to select, admire and own the artworks and at the same time bear a highly political responsibility. By positioning the work along a window front, the objects are reflected in the pane and thus physically visualize the frighteningly endless continuation of the minefield, while the artist offers us the opportunity to get involved ourselves.
The sponsorship prize of 4,000 euros goes to Tetyana Zolotopupova for her work 5 per 1m2.
Shirin Kara, Loops of Optimism – Faserschonendes Textilrecycling für eine zirkuläre Zukunft
With numerous cooperation partners from industry, crafts and research, Shirin Kara worked intensively on recycling processes for knitted fabrics. By gently separating pieces of wool, quantitatively longer fibers can be obtained. This significantly improves the quality of the recycled wool and fewer new fibers need to be added.
Shirin Kara's professional, aesthetically pleasing presentation in the room and in an accompanying publication is particularly impressive. This documents the dedicated work in a comprehensible way. We see Shirin Kara as a promising position that will help shape our future in terms of sustainable processes, materials and resources, and we are very much looking forward to her further work for the upcoming final exhibition.
The sponsorship award of 4,000 euros goes to Shirin Kara for her work Loops of Optimism.
Special Mention for Yifan Zhou, Egglets – Die langen 10 Tage
The crisis simulation is set on the lovingly detailed planet Eggon, which is suddenly hit by a crisis that becomes increasingly complicated. As community managers, players are faced with the challenge of balancing information control, community spirit and intellectual challenges for the inhabitants. Every interaction influences the behavior and well-being of the individual Egglets and the outcome of the story.
The complexity of the story and its transferability to our interaction with systems - but above all with each other - convinced the jury.
Examen 25 - a script, a sketch, a show
The graduates of the Kunsthochschule Kassel (KhK) will present their final works in the documenta-Halle Kassel from December 10 to 17, 2025. The exhibition combines graduation and kick-off. "Examen 25 - a script, a sketch, a show" presents around 59 works by graduates of the KhK as a polyphonic choir of positions and perspectives that combine to form a temporary ensemble. The exhibition was curated by Lizzy Ellbrück and Johanna Schäfer.
Further information about the exhibition here.