Artist Susan Hiller, chief curator of El Museo del Barrio Chus Martinez, Jury President Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev,
artist Renata Lucas, Writer Coco Fusco, Vadim Grigorian, director of Tensta Konsthall Maria Lind, and Kunsthalle Zürich's Beatrix Ruf
by Noah Becker, photos by Michael Anderson
Stockholm Sweden was abuzz for the 2013 Absolut Art Awards and Whitehot Magazine was in attendance for the festivities. This year's programme featured the artist award with an added art writing award. The award for art writers further highlights Absolut Vodka's dedication to the art world since Andy Warhol created the first Absolut artist bottle in the 1980s. Art institutions such as Tensta Konsthall, Bonniers Konsthall, Magasin 3, the Moderna Museet and Absolut's own Spiritmuseum were partners in the weekend. The Lapsis residences featured private studio visits with artists such as Whitney Biennial favourite Wu Tsang. Commercial galleries such as Andréhn-Schiptjenko and Galerie Nordenhake also partnered with the Absolut Art Bureau under the direction of Saskia Neuman.
Coco Fusco won the art writing award of 20,000 Euros, with an additional budget of up to 25,000 Euros for the publication and distribution of a new book with a major publisher. Renata Lucas won the artist award of 20,000 Euros and a budget of up to 100,000 Euros to develop a new art work for donation to an Absolut partner art institution.
A gala dinner was held at Stockholm's Butterfly Museum with an international guest list such as Kunsthalle Zurich director Beatrix Ruf and a host of art journalists from magazines like UK based FAD also Artforum, Sleek and Interview Magazine were in attendance. The dinner presented Absolut's exceptional new vodka called Elyx. WM
Absolut Art Awards gala dinner at the buttlerfly museum, Stockholm
Absolut Edit Editor-in-Chief Karl-Johan Bogefors
Director Kunsthalle Zurich and Absolut jury member Beatrix Ruf
Absolut jury president Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev and Absolut's Vadim Grigorian
Absolut jury president Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev art category winner
Renata Lucas and Absolut's Vadim Grigorian
Absolut principal advisor Andras Szanto
Absolut Art Bureau's Saskia Neuman
Absolut's Vadim Grigorian and director Kunsthalle Zurich Beatrix Ruf at the Absolut awards
Nominated writer Hamza Walker
Winner in the writing category Coco Fusco and curator author Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
discuss Fusco winning writing proposal
Absolut Art Award winning writer Coco Fusco
Tensta Konsthall presentation by director Maria Lind
Tensta Konsthall
Stockholm
View of Stockholm
Sleek magazine's Hili Perlson
Whitehot Magazine publisher/artist Noah Becker
Mr. Smith's agency Kristoffer Holfve
Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall curators Tessa Praun and
Richard Julin discuss the current exhibition "On the Tip of My Tongue"
Journalist Marcus Woeller
ICA London programming director Katharine Stout
FAD magazine editor Mark Westall
Writers, artists and curators tour Stockholm
Artist writer and Absolut writing nominee Luis Camnitzer
Bonniers Konsthall curator Theodor Ringborg with
Gallerie Nordenhake Artist Meriç Algün Ringborg
Absolut writing nominee Lars Bang Larsen
Artist nominee Theaster Gates
Artistic director Documenta (13) and Absolut Art Award Jury President Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev,
artist Susan Hiller and Tensta Konsthall director Maria Lind at the Absolut Art Nominations
Artist nominee Anna Boghiguian
Sutton PR's Richenda Devereux
Absolut Vodka PR manager Andrew Rozas
Absolut Vodka global project leader Vadim Grigorian and
director Kunsthalle Zurich Beatrix Ruf at the Absolute Art Awards Nominations
Press conference for the 2013 Absolut Art Awards