Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory wins Sobey Art Award 2021, the prestigious 100k award for emerging artists in Canada
OTTAWA, ON, November 6, 2021 / CNW / – The winner of the Sobey Prize for the Arts 2021, one of the world’s most treasured awards for emerging Canadian visual artists, was announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery of Canada. Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory won the $ 100,000 Canadian Award, with each of the four shortlisted artists — Lorna Bauer, Rémi Belliveau, Gabi Dao, and Rajni Perera — receive $ 25,000. The award is generously supported by the Sobey Art Foundation.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Sobey Art Foundation, I would like to personally congratulate this year’s winner, the inspiring Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, as well as the 25 longlisted artists who participated in the Sobey Art process. Award 2021 ”, said Rob sobey, President, Sobey Foundation for the Arts. “The past two years have been an unprecedented period of restrictions around human interactions, impacting the practices of contemporary artists through Canada and all over the world. Our Foundation salutes the commitment and resilience of all practicing artists through Canada throughout this period. On our collective behalf, I would like to express our gratitude to the record number of artists from across the country who have been nominated by their peers for Sobey 2021, their work is a testament to the power and importance of art. We are honored to be able to see and celebrate the work, careers and creativity of such an incredible group of artists. “
“We are very proud to announce that Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory is the recipient of the 2021 Sobey Prize for the Arts,” said Dr. Sasha Suda, Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada, and president of the jury of the Sobey Prize for the arts 2021. “The National Gallery of Canada We could not be more grateful to all who make the Sobey Art Prize possible. Special thanks are due to the Sobey Art Foundation, this year’s dedicated panel of jurors and all of the nominated artists. “
“Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory provocatively transforms the frame of reference of contemporary art. Williamson Bathory the practice of performance courageously challenges preconceived notions through an embodied lived experience. His works invite us to share a world rich in possibilities imbued with the interconnections of land, family, community and cultural knowledge, ”said the 2021 Sobey Art Prize Jury.
“At a time when we recognize that this Canadian soil bears the small bodies of several thousand Indigenous children, at a time when we are working through colonial institutions to keep our families safe during the pandemic and at a time when the arctic city in which i live no drinking water at the taps, i am proud to be recognized by telling you the story of a memorable experience that my family had on earth. As an Inuk, artist, mother and family member, I can only tell you my story and it is joy and celebration, fear and difficulty, beauty and destruction at the same time. Qujannamiik, thank you for this incredible award, ”said the artist Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory.
Representing the Prairie and Northern region, Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, winner of the 2021 Sobey Prize for the Arts, was chosen by a jury of experienced Canadian curators from coast to coast alongside two international jurors, who selected 25 artists for the long list, among a record number of nominations submitted — five from each nominated region of Canada. Then, an artist from each region was selected for the shortlist, ensuring that the range of contemporary practices from across the country was represented.
The works of the five shortlisted artists for the 2021 Sobey Art Prize, including the winner, are currently on display in a vibrant exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada up to February 20, 2022.
About the winner
Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory is a Kalaaleq (Greenlandic Inuk) performance artist, poet, actor, storyteller and writer based in Iqaluit, Nunavut. She is known for her uaajeerneq, a Greenlandic masked dance that involves storytelling centered on three elements: fear, humor and sexuality. Laakkuluk describes uaajeerneq both as a political and cultural act and as an idiosyncratic art form. Artist website
About the Sobey Prize for the Arts
Recognized globally as one of the world’s most generous private awards for contemporary visual artists, the Sobey Prize for the Arts celebrates the careers of emerging Canadian artists of all ages through financial support, an exhibition highlighting the practices of the five shortlisted artists, as well as international recognition.
Presented annually, the Sobey Prize for the Arts provides significant financial recognition and professional support to some of the from Canada most exciting emerging artists. The $ 400,000 The cash prizes are distributed among the 25 nominated artists: $ 100,000 for the winner, $ 25,000 for the four shortlisted finalists, and $ 10,000 each for long list artists.
About the National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada houses the largest collection of contemporary Indigenous art in the world, as well as the largest collection of historical and contemporary Canadian and European art on the 14the to 21st centuries. Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for over a century. One of its main missions is to increase access to art for all Canadians. To learn more about the Gallery’s programming and activities, visit gallery.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
About the Sobey Foundation for the Arts
The Sobey Foundation for the Arts was established in 1981 with a mandate to continue the work of an entrepreneur and business leader, the late Frank H. Sobey, who was a dedicated collector of investment grade Canadian art. The Sobey Foundation for the Arts continues the work initiated by Frank sobey, preserving representative examples of 19th and 20th century Canadian art. The Sobey Art Award, launched by the Foundation, was awarded in 2002, 2004, 2006 before becoming annual in 2007.
SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/06/c0140.html