Erste Bank ExtraVALUE Art Award 2020

For the fifth time, Erste Bank is awarding the ExtraVALUE Art Award to an artist who has participated in the program of das weisse haus / studio das weisse haus. The prize includes a solo exhibition in das weisse haus (April 22 – June 06, 2020) and a one month stay in New York City in July 2020 as a source of inspiration, as well as to establish new contacts and expand his network.

Carried out in the two stage competition, the jury has decided in favor of Fabian Erik Patzak and his exhibition concept „Direct Transit“. Following a first round, which assessed the artistic quality on the basis of the submitted portfolios, eleven candidates were invited to develop a concept for the presentation in das weisse haus. Presented by the artists, these  proposals were then judged in a second round.

Jury Statement
Among the eleven finalists, the best proposals straddled a line between exhibition and installation, being legible as a cohesive body of work but also as an immersive experience. They were considerate of the physical space of das weisse haus and its broader context in Vienna, as well as this particular moment in time. They approached contemporary issues with subtlety, exploring specific places and personal histories rife with broader resonances. In terms of that complexity—the work of Fabian Erik Patzak provided just excellent relevance. He proposed an intimate storytelling but with extreme capacity to absorb and motivate considerations of much wider personal, societal and even planetary questioning. The jury considered his contribution as the one which brings the most accurate irritation.