Magdalena Sawicka, a 25-year-old illustrator from Lublin and graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, received the Grand Prix – an award for the best young artists given at the Biennale Jeune Création Européenne (Biennial of the Young European Art) held in Montrouge near Paris.
Two other awards were given to Klāvs Loris from Latvia and Willem Boel from Belgium (representing France at the biennial).
An international jury including: Alexia Fabre (the head of the jury and head curator at the MAC/VAL contemporary art museum); Marie Cécile Burnichon (responsible for visual arts at the Institut Français); Etienne Comar (a scriptwriter and producer); artists from the None Futbol Club; Pia Viewing (the curator at the Jeu de Paume); Angelika Markul (a Polish artist based in Paris); Vittoria Matarrese (responsible for the cultural programme at the Palais de Tokyo); Christophe Rioux (a writer and journalist) and Matthieu Lelievre (from the Taddaeus Ropac gallery in Paris) explained their choice:
It’s because the peculiarity and power of her works are reflections of everyday life. The youngest selected artist, Magdalena Sawicka's work centres on intimacy and sexuality. While looking at others and herself, the artist creates a certain code, an image of the present.
The series of drawings and illustrations by Sawicka are recordings of her personal experiences. They present people and animals, body parts, and studies of fur or hair. They are intimate, full of eroticism and subtle humour, showing things familiar to all people yet left in the area of intimacy.
Sawicka will represent Poland together with Miłosz Flis, Michał Frydrych, Marcelina Groń, Kornel Janczy, Berenika Kowalska, Izabela Łęska and Tomasz Poznysz.
The Biennial of Young European Art - Jeune Création Européenne has been held since 2000 across Europe in the form of a travelling exhibition. Its main aim is to foster artistic exchange between European countries.
The exhibition travels over two years (2015-2017) presenting works by 56 young artists that represent current trends in the upstart art of young people in particular countries. The exhibition is on view at the Le Beffroi in Montrouge near Paris until 3rd November. Then it will move through Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
In Poland, the biennial will be held in Wrocław as a part of the European Capital of Culture 2016 celebrations. Organised by Galeria Miejska, it will be on view in the Wrocław Congress Centre at the renovated Centennial Hall. The opening exhibition will be accompanied by an installation created by Julia Curyło and Liza Sherzai located in the city centre. The curator of the exposition is Ewa Sułek.
Biennial JCE 2015/2017 schedule
2015
- Le Beffroi de Montrouge – Centre culturel et de congrès aux portes de Paris, Paris-Montrouge, France: 14th October to 3rd November 2015
2016
- Kunstbygningen i Vrå, Hjørring, Denmark: April & May 2016
- Wrocław Congress Centre / Centennial Hall, Wrocław, Poland: 30th June to 31st July 2016
2017
- Bruzi Complex (Old Brewery), Cesis, Lithuania
- Villa Olmo, Como, Italy
- Museo Emporda, Figueres, Spain
- Museu Amadeo de Souza Cardoso, Amarante, Portugal
Sources: galeriamiejska.pl, jceforum.eu, msawicka.blogspot.com, edited by AS, 12 Oct 2015, translated by ND