Samsung showcase young artists in digital competition
Samsung Electronics have announced the launch of the UK’s first media art competition – the Samsung Art+ prize. It will showcase the works of technologically-forward contemporary artists and is designed to increase the awareness of new media art in the UK. The panel will elect a winner, awarding them a £10,000 prize-and name a second prize-winner who will take £5000, with a third prize being chosen by public vote on-line in the new year.
The Samsung Art+ exhibition will be hosted at the BFI Southbank between 18th and 29th January 2012, featuring works from the 10 shortlisted artists. The eventual winner will be announced on 25th January and will be chosen by a select panel of judges. Leading Directors and curators from the UK, including Louise Shannon from the V&A, David Bailey from the International Curators Forum and Lina Dzuverovic from Curator 22. The prize will be awarded following a two week exhibition in January 2012, with the eventual winner chosen by a select panel of judges including Jan Dalley, Arts Editor at the Financial Times, Dr. Peter Weibel, Chairman and CEO of the ZKM Centre for Art and Media, and New York based media artist, Sooja Kim
“We are delighted to be working with curatorial agency SUUM for the very first Samsung Art+ project,” says David Song, Managing Director Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland. “The UK has a thriving contemporary art scene comprised of aspiring and established media artists and we are pleased to have the opportunity to help drive this new contemporary art genre and inspire future generations of artists. Developing innovative technologies and nurturing young talent are very important to Samsung as a company.”
Gary Thomas, Director of Animate Projects London, said, “Artists have always exploited technological innovation and the new materials it offers them to make work with. And in our digital age, as media pervades our culture with its messages, it is all the more vital that they do so. The Samsung Art+ Prize is an essential recognition of the challenging, inspiring and diverse ways in which contemporary artists are interrogating and reflecting on our understanding of the ‘world’.
The Samsung Art+ exhibition will be hosted at London’s BFI Southbank between 18th and 29th January 2012, featuring works from the 10 shortlisted artists and with the winner announced on 25th January. For more information about the Samsung Art+ prize
The ten shortlisted artists are:
Neil Cummings
Aura Satz
Doug Fishbone
Hiraki Sawa
Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard
Semiconductor
Torsten Lauschmann
Erika Tan
Lucky PDF
Thomson and Craighead
Exhibition dates: January 18th – January 29th 2012 Venue: Project Space BFI Southbank London SE1 Underground: Waterloo