Sunday, February 3, 2013


Škoda Prize for Indian Contemporary Unveils the 2012 winners at the finale at the Embassy of the Czech Republic
          - Unveiling of the 2012 winner of the ŠKODA Prize                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Unveiling of the 2012 winner of the Art India Breakthrough Artist Award at the ŠKODA Prize
 2nd February 2013, New Delhi- The Škoda Prize, one of the most prestigious awards on the Indian visual arts scene, unveiled the 2012 winners of the Škoda Prize and the Art India Breakthrough Artist Award at the Škoda Prize. The chief guest William Kentridge presented the trophy to L.N. Tallur who was named the 2012 winner of the Škoda Prize and won the coveted cash prize of INR 10,00,000. Sangita Jindal named Rohini Devasher the 2012 winner of the Art India Breakthrough Artist Award at the Škoda Prize who won the cash prize of INR 2,00,000.
The chief guest William Kentridge (South African artist of international acclaim) joined as the 5th member of this year’s jury panel of the Škoda Prize alongside Anupam Poddar (co‐founder of the pioneering Devi Art Foundation), Sheela Gowda (leading Indian artist) Mirjam Varadinis (art historian, curator and writer based in Zürich, Switzerland). The panel was chaired by Geeta Kapur (eminent Indian art historian and critic). This esteemed panel chose the winner of this year’s Škoda Prize.
The runners-up of the 2012 Škoda Prize were invited to participate in international residencies supported by Prohelvetia, the Swiss Arts Council.
 The eminent panel of jurors who decided the winner of the 2012 Art India Breakthrough Award at the Škoda Prize included Geeta Kapur (eminent Indian art historian and critic), Sangita Jindal (Owner, Art India Magazine), Abhay Sardesai (Editor, Art India) and Girish Shahane (Director - Art of the Škoda Prize).
H.E. Mr. Miloslav Stasek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, hosted the Škoda Prize Finale, a private awards ceremony at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi on February 1st, 2013. The evening consisted of a welcome note and a short address from Martin Da Costa (CEO, Seventy EMG), Sudhir Rao (MD, Škoda Auto India), Geeta Kapur (art historian) and Sangita Jindal (Jury member, Art India Breakthrough Artist Award at the Škoda Prize) and Chief Guest, William Kentridge. The Škoda Prize finale also featured music by the band Furbar Getto and also a special screening of the Škoda Prize film- a documentary on the shortlisted Top-4 artists of the Škoda Prize and their art practice.
The Škoda Prize finale was well attended by art enthusiasts, collectors, artists, gallerists, curators, writers, photographers, people from the art fraternity which included names like Tasneem Mehta, Ram Rahman, Mithu Sen, Jiten Thukral, Suchitra Pillai, Neha Kirpal, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, Jitish Kallat, Robin Mallick, Yamini Mehta, Deepak Ananth, Sumant Jayakrishnan, Priyanka and Prateek Raja, Anupam Poddar, Bose Krishnamachari, Abhay Maskara, Jeebesh Bagchi, Sheba Chhachhi, Pablo Bartholomew, Vivan Sundaram, Peter Nagy amongst others.
The Škoda Prize show will be open to the public till 28th February 2013 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi


ABOUT THE ŠKODA PRIZE:
The Škoda Prize, one the most prestigious awards on the Indian visual arts scene, offers an unparalleled opportunity for mid-career artists across India to showcase their work amongst the country’s leading artists, to a discerning art audience both within India and internationally. It recognises cutting-edge work demonstrating vision, innovation, and a mature understanding of material and form. The Prize brings to public notice exciting trends in contemporary art, highlighting the output of established mid-career artists as well as new voices. It is backed by jurors of impeccable credentials, renowned patron institutions, a dedicated group of advisors, and a management team of proven capability. Nominees need to be below the age of 45, and should have had a solo show in the country over the last 12 months. The winner takes away the prestigious ‘The ŠKODA Prize Winner’ title and also receives a prize money of INR 10,00,000. Runners-up are invited to participate in international residencies supported by Prohelvetia, the Swiss Arts Council. Visited by thousands every year, The ŠKODA Prize Show (which takes place alongside the India Art Fair in New Delhi) showcases country's most promising contemporary artists.
Juried by a panel of notable personalities and supported by museums and cultural institutions of international repute. In the past, renowned artists Marc Quinn, and Turner Prize winner Anish Kapoor have presented awards to past winners Mithu Sen (2010) and Navin Thomas (2011). The ŠKODA Prize is a Seventy EMG Arts Initiative.

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