Presentation Piket Art Awards 2024

After the four B-boys have been cheered, this evening’s presenter, Hizir Cengiz, addresses the house with a warm word of welcome. Hizir is a journalist (writing, amongst others, for De Correspondent and De Groene Amsterdammer) and best known in The Hague for his monthly interview programme Xizir in Zaal 3. As tonight’s talkshow host, he will receive the nominees and surprise them with questions that go rather further than ‘how do you feel now?’ and ‘what do you think?’.

He first gives the floor to Taco Hovius (chairman of the Board of the F.H. Piket Foundation) and Marie Jeanne de Rooij (managing director Piket Art Prizes). Speaking of the origin and aims of the Foundation, Hovius reminds us that, since 2023, the award presented to all nominees and winners has a permanent character: the annual Hammer, designed and made by the artist Joep van Lieshout. “This year’s Hammer rather resembles an axe,” he says. “An axe to defend the arts.” No-one would want to dispute the fact that, these days, the arts do need defending, so Hizir turns to Marie Jeanne de Rooij to ask her what else the arts might need. De Rooij: “Places where makers can find space to reflect on their work before moving on.” She is convinced that the Piket Art Prizes can make a genuine contribution here.

Dance Category

When the Dance Category nominees have found a place at Hizir’s table, it’s time to watch the first video, which presents Demi Bawon, dancer with NDT 1. In her video Demi speaks of the stage as ‘a protective layer’, ‘a safety net.’ Hizir wants to know what kind of a dancer one becomes when there is such a safety net? Demi explains that she is referring to those sides of yourself which, in daily life, you tend to conceal, even from the people who are your nearest and dearest. The context of the performance enables you to go beyond this. “When I’m on stage, people see one hundred percent of me. Thanks to this safety net.”

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dancers Vladyslav Detiuchenko and Veronika Rakitina fled to the Netherlands. In their video they mention that the Hague theatre Korzo has become a second home for them. “What makes Korzo a home?” Hizir enquires. Veronika: “It’s a nice and safe place. I think that a home is also very much about the people around you and how you’re together.” Vladyslav adds that this idea of a second home has been really important for their development: “How we move depends on how we feel.”

Hizir asks Kenji van Nieuwenhuizen (Conny Janssen Danst) whether there’s something like a ‘typical Kenji step’. “No specific step,” says Kenji, “but of course I’ve my own body with its talents and limitations. Within a company you remain yourself by taking the time for this source, and exploring and developing from there.”

So now, who’s the winner? Erik Kaiel and Mitchell-lee van Rooij, the Dance jury, stress that “in our eyes, all of the nominees are winners.” But they do have a name: Demi Bawon. Demi is dumbfounded; she hadn’t expected this at all. She is incredibly happy with the recognition which, she says, is especially important for young people. She feels that even a festive evening like tonight’s ceremony, is quite valuable: “It’s so good to bring all these young artists together here. Thanks to this evening, I’ve met such beautiful people.”

Painting Category

Artist Adam Centko cannot be present at Hizir’s table tonight. He is on a residency in Shanghai and has asked friend Marlot Meyer to represent him. But Shani Leseman and Ellen Yiu are here to watch the videos with Hizir and answer his questions. In his video, Adam makes it clear that, despite all the technology, his art is mostly inspired by nature. Nature also plays an important role in Shani Leseman’s work and, she explains in her video, so does magic. “Have you experienced something magical today?” Hizir asks. Shani: “Yes, a friend just gave me a piece of mugwort.” Mugwort? “Mugwort is a medicinal plant and also a talisman.” Speaking about the role of nature and magic in her work, she says: “Ultimately, it’s about energy, which is everywhere. It’s important to listen to your surroundings and to what the work wants to be.”

Hizir would like Ellen to tell him about the paper napkins she collects and lovingly gathers in fine bound booklets. Ellen immediately admits that it’s a bit weird to devote so much effort to something that’s only used once and then thrown away. But for her it’s a very personal thing, which has to do with vulnerability and honesty. “The most personal work is also the most honest and vulnerable.” Ellen’s plea for honesty elicits the question whether she really never lies in her work. “That’s for the viewer to judge,” Ellen says. “It’s not about truth, but about perspective and storytelling.”

“We were so much intrigued by you all,” jury member Pietertje van Splunter says. “The Hague has an amazing art scene,” her colleague Johan Gustavsson adds. “There are so many talented artists here.” Their winner is Ellen Yiu. Ellen: “I’m a little speechless. This recognition means a lot to me. I have much more possibilities now.”

Jury Prize 2024

The next item on the programme is supposed to be an ‘intermezzo’ with jury president Majel Blonden as spokesperson. The truth, however, is quickly revealed. “Yes, there is a jury prize, although we did not communicate it.” And there was a good reason for the secrecy; the jury wants to honour Jane Huldman. Jane was for many years involved in art centre STROOM. Now, having retired, she is still very much part of the Hague art scene as a member of the boards of ‘breeding ground’ DCR, Billytown and, yes, the Piket Art Prizes. The latter was the reason the jury prize had to remain a surprise: the honoured board member in question had to be kept in the dark. The jury prize is not a monetary prize, but Huldman does receive a Hammer and a jury report, which praises her as “the fairy godmother of Hague contemporary art and culture.” After Blonden has read the jury report, Huldman declares that it’s “really exaggerating things.” But she is clearly touched and surprised. Any advice from Huldman for young artists? Definitely: “Go for it! Don’t give up!”

Chamber Piece

We now have a genuine intermezzo in the form of a fragment from Chamber Pieces, a project of Finn Borath and Boris de Klerk, who won the Piket Art Prize in the Dramatic Arts category in 2023. The fragment, intriguing musical theatre performed by flickering and popping fluorescent lamps, gives a good impression of Borath and De Klerk’s exploration of the expressive possibilities of familiar ambient technology.

Dramatic Arts Category

Kim Karssen is performing tonight and cannot be present; her father is here to represent her. On being asked, the two other nominees, Koen ter Braak and Patsy Kroonenberg, explain that they don’t personally know Kim well, but like her performances very much.

In his video Koen stresses his intuitive approach. “Is it also possible that such an approach doesn’t work?” Hizir asks. Well, yes, perhaps not always and not with everybody, but, says Koen, “I think intuition is really valuable. When I find something beautiful, others probably will, too.” Koen, who attracted the jury’s attention with his film Odysseus: Odysseus, mentions that he always found mythology very exciting. “I liked the imaginativeness. I think it’s interesting to imagine another world.” Unlike other nominees, he doesn’t see the stage as a refuge. “It’s just my job. I like making beautiful things.”

In her video we see Patsy emerging from the head of one of Tom Otterness’s well-known fairy-tale sculptures on Scheveningen Boulevard. Hizir: “Did you ever wish you could crawl out of your own head?” Patsy admits that she has “a great many preconceived ideas” about herself and others: “All over the place, really.” No, she’s never won a prize. “It’s my father’s fault,” she declares. “He’s a psychotherapist.”

According to jury member John de Weerd, the ideal Parade performance is one that starts lightly and happily, but in the end grabs you by the throat and makes you think. “That’s something Kim does very well,” he says. John en and his fellow jury member Ellen Goemans were “moved to tears” by Koen’s Odysseus: Odysseus and encourage him to continue along this path. The winner of the Dramatic Arts jury is Patsy Kroonenberg. “What really touches the jury,” says Goemans, “is everything Patsy takes from her own life. Small jewels, sharp, very funny, recognisable, moving.” Patsy: “I know it’s a cliché, but I truly hadn’t expected this. Thank you very much, it’s really super cool. I think my father will agree.”

Hizir invites winners, nominees, board, and director on stage for a final round of applause. Marie Jeanne de Rooij extends her thanks to everyone who contributed to this festive evening: the four Heavy Hitters; Boris and Finn; the members of Team Piket; Csaba Bogàdi, who made the videos and also provided technical support tonight; photographer Dana LaMonda, and assistants Janneke, Pien, and Anas, who made sure all received their Hammer and jury report. The three of them are waiting now to present everyone with a bag of colourful flower seedballs. De Rooij: “Cut flowers have become a bit of a no-go, but sowing and growing perfectly matches this prize.” And then it’s time to raise glasses, drink and chat.

Photo: Dana LaMonda