Visual artist Aniova Prandy’s “The Sugar Maafa” has won the grand prize of the 29th National Visual Arts Biennial, organized by the Ministry of Culture. The jury presided by artist Leopoldo Maler announced the Visual Arts Biennial winners on 19 August 2021.
Maler said that Prandy’s work contributes to the enrichment of the artistic heritage of the Dominican Republic. “The jury has decided to award this work for the forcefulness of its social discourse and its careful realization. This installation has been conceived with a subtle and insightful approach that denounces the ruthless slavery as the root of sugar production in the Caribbean,” he stated in making the announcement. Other members of the jury were Tomás Rancier and Paula Gómez. The Grand Prize comes with a RD$1 million cash award.
The awards ceremony took place in the esplanade of the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Santo Domingo’s Plaza de la Cultura. Presiding the event were Minister of Culture Carmen Heredia and deputy minister for Cultural Heritage Gamal Michelén. Also the director of the National Gallery of Fine Arts, Marianne de Tolentino; Federico Fondeur, director of the Museum of Modern Art.
Other winning artists:
Carlos Despradel for “Crónica de una historia mal contada”; Juan Carlos Guzmán, “Valle”; Guadalupe Casasnovas for “Escuadra”.
Leonardo Durán for “Yó, Adán,” Dustin Muñoz, “Retrato Alegórico de la injusticia” (Allegorical Portrait of Injustice); and Mari Carmen Orizondo, (María del Carmen Orizondo).
Also “Un mar sin riberas” (Polyptych 19), Juan Grisanty, “Verano caliente”, Elvin Díaz for “Entre túneles y abismos” and “Nathalie Landestoy for “Papel al desnudo”.
The honorable mentions went to Cromcin Domínguez for “Palo E’ lu”; Ricardo Arsenio Toribio’s “Memoria de la semana Mayor”; Ottmar Suero Javier for “La marcha de los perros ángeles”; Genaro Reyes (Cayuco) for “Náufrago de nacimiento” and Johnny Bonnelly for “El buzo que aprendió a volar” (Tony Capellán Inmemoriam).”
Each of the nine winners will receive a RD$300,000 cash award.
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Diario Libre
20 August 2021