The cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden have been awarding work grants to visual artists since 2014. In 2019, the 10,000 CHF prize goes to Sitara Abuzar Ghaznawi, who has been studying with us in the Bachelor Fine Arts since 2016.
"Abuzar Ghaznawi will realize her project "From Surface to Space" with the work grant. She creates space-filling installations with everyday materials such as plastic, adhesive tape or nail polish. With this approach, the artist consciously takes a critical distance from the established forms of art: "I choose materials that originate from my world of experience and are not oriented towards the homogeneous and elitist aesthetics of Western European art history". The techniques Abuzar Ghaznawi uses in her work, some of which she develops herself, range from collage to firing and embroidery.
The most recent work by Sitara Abuzar Ghaznawi can currently be seen in the group exhibition "A Home is not a House" at the Kunsthalle Fribourg. The artist from Obwalden will receive a special honour next year: she will be showing a series of her works at the legendary Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, where they will be juxtaposed with the works of Emmy Henning, co-founder of Dadaism." (Press release)
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