Piket Art Awards 2019 ceremony

54 Nominees 

There is, of course, applause for Louise de Blécourt and Taco Hovius, respectively, the director and chairman of the Mr. F.H. Piket Foundation, who also welcome everyone present. De Blécourt points out the portraits projected on the backdrop: all the nominees since 2014. “We now have 54! We’re making good progress.” She emphasizes the importance of the Mr. F.H. Piket Foundation continuing to follow the nominees and keep them in the public eye. In this context, Hovius talks about the collaborative projects between former nominees that the Foundation encourages. Mattia Papp (nominated for painting in 2017) is working with Claire Hermans (nominated for dance in 2017) on a production, and Beaudil Elzenga (nominated for theater in 2016) and Rutkay Özpinar (nominated for dance in 2014) have teamed up. Both productions are expected to be showcased in 2020.

Delightfully Stubborn 

The floor is then handed over to Peter Zwaan, the Hague-based artist who created this year’s Piket trophy. Four large and six smaller silver-colored hands are ready on stage to represent the winners and nominees. Zwaan explains that his own hand served as the base for the trophy. “Hands are the tools of visual artists, but they are also an expression of course. And I find the hand very symbolic; as an artist, you try to grab something, to seize something with your work.” He explains that he made a few molds by dipping his hand in alginate, a powder that can be mixed with water and hardens into a rubbery substance. “It’s the same stuff used to make dentures.” The final cast is made from a plastic material mixed with metal powder, which gives the 2019 trophy its festive shine. When asked if he has any advice for the nominees, Zwaan doesn’t hesitate: “Mainly, keep making the things that come to your mind, even if they seem a bit stubborn.”

2019 WINNERS

Painting: Jordan Herregraven

 “We were in a lucky position,” says jury member Suzanne Swartz (Museum Voorlinden). “There was so much talent this year. Our longlist was incredibly long.” For her colleague Maarten Demmink (Demiak), it was his final year as a jury member. “Being in the jury for a longer time teaches you to give things more time, to give yourself the time to look around more.” His successor is already known, but Maarten keeps it quiet for now. He has no advice for the new jury member: “He has his eyes open and is right in the middle of the art world. I wish him lots of fun!” The award in the painting category goes to Jordan Herregraven, who seems completely overwhelmed: “It’s quite an honor.” The jury report describes Jordan as someone who builds his own universe, where everything falls into place, and calls his work “a discovery.”

Dance: Sara de Greef 

“We were quickly in agreement about the shortlist,” says jury member Stacz Wilhelm (Korzo). “But then comes the next decision.”
“You love them all, you really do,” adds his colleague Isabelle Chaffaud (Meyer-Chaffaud). “And then it’s more about who needs that extra push.”
“This means so much to me,” says winner Sara de Greef. “The award comes at a time of transition between school and the professional world, especially now when I have no work and no concrete plans. Dance gives me a sense of purpose. I hope to be involved in dance and choreography for as long as possible, and to share it with as many people as possible.”
In the jury report, Sara is called “a natural-born creator.” The award is meant to encourage her to further develop as a choreographer.

Theater: Naomi van der Linden 

Jury member Antoinette Jelgersma (Het Nationale Theater) explains that the theater jury had a long list too: “And they’re all good and strong.”
For Jelgersma’s colleague David Geysen (Dégradé), it was also his last year. “What I’ll miss most? My fellow jury members!” he says. “I really enjoyed being part of the jury.” David’s successor is “still under investigation,” but he already has a tip: “Look broadly, because it’s a time when boxes are disappearing, and disciplines are blending. It’s also a time of ‘don’t do it,’ when parents are advising their children not to go into the arts. An award like the Piket Art Prize gives young people courage and the daring to step into the arts.”
Winner Naomi van der Linden is glowing. “I’m so happy. It’s a celebration!” The jury report states that her activities as a theater maker deserve attention, challenge, and encouragement. And that’s perfect, as Van der Linden “wants to tell so many more stories.”

Jury Prize 2019: Tim Terpstra 

It seems to be a Piket tradition: the jury prize winner is lured to the theater under false pretenses, sits unsuspectingly in the audience, and is utterly speechless when suddenly their name is called. This time it’s Tim Terpstra: “I’m flabbergasted…”
Terpstra receives the jury prize for his work with organizations such as TodaysArt, We Are Public, and The Grey Space in the Middle, where, according to the jury report, he has strongly advocated for “the more edgy and daring art forms.”
The jury report is read aloud by jury chair Marjolein de Jong (former cultural alderman). De Jong shares that she found the chairmanship truly interesting. “The jury consists of people with a lot of knowledge and experience. I was very impressed. It’s special to see how people make their decisions. Being nominated means you stand out. But your story also matters, that you think about what you’re doing.”

Piket Tradition 

Another Piket tradition is that the award ceremony is enlivened by former winners and nominees. Tonight, those are Lennart Lahuis (winner of painting in 2015) and Youri Jongenelen (nominee for dance in 2015), who form Pop-up Dance with Julia Zuurbier.
Lennart shares how things have been going for him since 2015, about time and the twilight zone between appearing and disappearing, and where art and science can meet.
Pop-up Dance presents a portion of Assepoes, a “living room version” of the grand fairy tale ballet, where the entire story is told on 16 square meters with the help of a kind of magic cabinet...

Photo: Janneke van Beek