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Suggested cancellation of the Hugo Ball Prize: artist Hito Steyerl
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd / dpa
The city of Pirmasens has canceled the presentation of the Hugo Ball Prize to the artist Hito Steyerl, which was planned for March 5th.
Instead, at Steyerl's suggestion, there should be an open debate "about anti-Semitic clichés in the time of Hugo Ball and our present," the city announced on Friday.
It is said that experts and the Hugo Ball Society have dealt extensively with problematic passages in Ball's work.
However, this is “not present in the broad public perception”.
Steyerl told the German Press Agency that she had not rejected the prize "because there is no prize this year".
It is positive that we jointly see it as necessary to "speak about anti-Semitic and possibly racist moments in Ball's work".
The decision was supported by the author and performer Olivia Wenzel from Weimar, who was to receive a sponsorship award.
Pirmasens has presented the award, named after Dada co-founder Hugo Ball (1886-1927), every three years since 1990.
Previous winners have included Bov Bjerg, Ann Cotten, Andreas Maier, Max Goldt and Robert Menasse.
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Dadaist and Pirmasenser: Hugo Ball
Photo: akg-images / picture alliance / akg-images
With the award, which is worth 10,000 euros, the city is commemorating Ball's complete works.
Ball had opened the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich with Emmy Hennings in 1916, which rejected conventional art.
Among other things, his experimental sound poems such as »Gadji beri bimba« became well known.
Born in Munich in 1966, Steyerl is regarded as one of the most important international artists of our time.
The Berlin-based art professor experiments with forms of media presentation, among other things, and takes a critical look at artificial intelligence.
Her works are exhibited worldwide.
In July of last year, Hito Steyerl withdrew from the Documenta in protest.
She did not want to support the failure to deal with the anti-Semitic content shown, she said at the time and demanded the immediate dismantling of her works.
feb/dpa
