Maximilian Graf and Lea Rist receive the Examen Sponsors Award 2024
Kunsthochschule Kassel graduates Maximilian Graf and Lea Rist have received awards for their outstanding final projects at the opening of the Examen exhibition on December 11, 2024 at the documenta Halle.
On Wednesday evening, the Sponsors Award from the cdw Foundation and the Kunsthochschule Kassel was presented as part of EXAMEN 24 – The Plant through the Asphalt, curated by Philipp Lange. Kunsthochschule Kassel graduates Maximilian Graf (Visual Arts, Class Schmidt) and Lea Rist (Class for Intermedial Photography, Prof. Peggy Buth) are this year’s award winners. Each award is endowed with a prize of 4,000 Euro.
The jury viewed a total of 60 projects by graduates and master students at the Kunsthochscule Kassel, all of which can be seen at the documenta Halle from December 11-15. The jury consisted of: Louise Knafla (Scientific Trainee at the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt), Paula Kommoss (Director of the Overbeck Society in Lübeck), Moritz Micalef (Referent Kultur at the cdw Foundation in Kassel), Olaf Val (Director of the student workshop ::digipool, Kunsthochschule Kassel).
Jury statement:
Maximilian Graf – Final Project: “Rossmann”
With his final project “Rossmann” Maximilian Graf deconstructs the Nazi sculptures of Rossebändiger [horse tamer] statues in front of the Federal Social Court in Kassel. Loyal comrades and fighting machines become hobby horses – defying the Nazi steeds on banners in public space.
In the exhibition space of the documenta Hall, Graf transfers this into a jumping course that leads ad absurdum. Centaurs with horse heads and human bodies swing the hammer – tearing down fascist constructs. Markers in the form of small advertising columns tell us more about propaganda in the context of constructing the Federal Social Court – a building that was used to glorify nationalist craftsmanship to the media.
In “Rossmann” Maximilian knocks the horses off their pedestals and gives them back to us as hobbyhorses.
Lea Rist – Final Project: “Erntefrisch”
In her final project “Erntefrisch” [“Harvest Fresh”] Lea Rist takes a stand. Found field stones manifest the site and the basis of agricultural work. She marks the resources from which produce is obtained each season. Washed and packed, the produce waits for us at the supermarket. But who salvaged these goods?
Bodies bent over, usually seasonal workers from Romania. The physical hardship of their work is reflected in their posture. Lea Rist translates this into steel objects that seem almost to be falling over.
Rist’s work was carried out alongside intensive research. Eight fictional narratives open up individual perspectives and at the same time emphasize a repetitive exclusion and exploitation, the use and consumption of labor forces.
Examen Sponsors Award
For the last ten years, the cdw Foundation has been sponsoring the Examen exhibition and joins the Kunsthochschule as a founder of the sponsors award, which is presented annually as part of the exhibition to two graduates of the Kunsthochschule Kassel. The prize is endowed with a total of 8,000 euros. The sponsors awards provides the winners with the opportunity to continue their artistic and creative work after graduation and to present the results of their work at the next Examen exhibition.
EXAMEN 24 – The Plant through the Asphalt (December 11-15)
This year’s graduate exhibition, curated by Philipp Lange, bears the title EXAMEN 24 – The Plant through the Asphalt. 60 graduates and master students at the Kunsthochschule Kassel show their works in the documenta Halle as part of a graduate exhibition, a unique event in Germany. The exhibition gathers final projects from the areas of Visual Arts, Visual Communication, Product Design, and Art History and Aesthetics. The works encompass a broad conceptual and creative spectrum, ranging from painting, sculpture, film, and performance to innovative products and multimedia installations.
Further Information on the exhibition at:
kunsthochschulekassel.de