AIDA Nederland

The Freedom to Create Prize

Exhibition Dates: February 18 through March 20, 2010
New York City: The Ana Tzarev Gallery

The Ana Tzarev Gallery is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition of works from the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize, an international award celebrating the courage of artists who use their talents to promote social justice, build the foundations for open societies and inspire the human spirit. The artist Ana Tzarev is a member of the Freedom to Create Prize judging panel which consisted of internationally acclaimed artists, social consciousness awareness makers and human rights leaders. The exhibition features a powerful range of works selected from over 1000 entries from more than 100 countries. The Main Prize winner was Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf for a body of work that promotes social justice and human rights.

The Kumjing Storytellers
Works on display include an installation of giant paper mache dolls, The Kumjing Storytellers, created by women trapped in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border after being forced to flee from Shan State in Burma. The women cannot travel but they find help to transport the dolls around the world to raise awareness of the plight of migrants and refugees. In Chel Dokhtaraan (40 Girls) Afghan artist Sheenkai Alam Stanikzai explores persecution of women through a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Afghan legend in which 40 women threw themselves in a well rather than submit to capture.

Jonathan Torgovnik’s Intended Consequences includes chilling testimonials of women raped during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda with portraits of the women and their children born of the attack. Additional works include paintings by Patrick Kabanga symbolizing the tragic loss of life from the Second Congo War, the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II and Morten Traavik’s exquisite photographs challenging entrenched concepts of beauty in Miss Landmine Cambodia, 2009.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker, was the overall winner of the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize. For years he has been making controversial films both within and outside Iran protesting against social oppression. He was forced to leave Iran in 2004 due to the extreme pressure of censorship and in 2009 became the official spokesman of the Iranian democratic Green movement.

Poimboi Veeyah Koindu (The Orphan Boys of Koindu) were the winners of the Youth Prize. These former child soldiers used dance and drama to both heal themselves and seek reconciliation with their village and families.

Winner of the Imprisoned Artist Prize was Lapiro de Mbanga. His song became the anthem of the mass demonstrations that swept Cameroon last year. In September 2008 he was jailed for three years. Exhibition catalogues are available. Images of the exhibition installation will be provided upon request.

The Ana Tzarev Gallery
The Ana Tzarev Gallery features the work of the artist Ana Tzarev as well as presenting an ongoing schedule of special exhibitions of works by other artists consistent with Ana Tzarev’s commitment to cultural awareness and social consciousness. For more information please visit http://www.anatzarev.com.

600 Guests Attend Freedom to Create Prize Opening Reception
Over 600 guests attended the Opening Reception of the Freedom to Create Prize exhibition, 18th February 2010, which features works by finalists in the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize celebrating the courage of artists who use their talents to build the foundations for open societies and inspire the human spirit. Artists represented include Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf and imprisoned Cameroonian musician Lapiro de Mbanga. This exhibition is on view through 20 March, 2010.

The Prize
The Freedom to Create Prize is the only one of its kind which celebrates the power of art to fight oppression, break down stereotypes and build trust in societies where the social fabric has been ripped apart by conflict, violence and misunderstanding. History shows that prosperous societies are founded upon creativity. Societies that encourage artistic expression build strong foundations for economic, political and cultural development. They will lead tomorrow's world.

Categories
Main Prize: The winners in this category will share a prize pool of US$75,000. The first place prize of US$50,000 will be split equally between the winner of the award, and an organisation nominated by them to further the cause that their work has highlighted. The second place prize of US$15,000 will be similarly divided equally between the winner and their nominated organisation. The US$10,000 third place prize will be shared the same way.

Youth Prize: This prize is open to artists who are under the age of 18. The US$25,000 prize will be divided into two. The winner(s) will receive US$10,000. The remaining US$15,000 will be given to an organisation nominated by them to further the cause that the artwork has highlighted.

Imprisoned Artist Prize: This prize focuses on artists who are imprisoned as a result of their art and the role of their work in highlighting injustice. It differs slightly from the other categories, in that the panel will place less emphasis on the artist’s work and more on the personal risks incurred by them, the message conveyed through their work and its impact. A single prize of US$25,000 will be directed towards securing the artist’s release, advocating on behalf of them and their cause and offering support to their family.

More information:
www.freedomtocreateprize.com
www.anatzarev.com