Rene Matić Wins Prestigious Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize
Rene Matić has been honored with the esteemed Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, a testament to their compelling work. Their winning exhibition, "AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH," showcased a unique blend of personal photography, cinematic elements, audio, and curated objects, delving into profound human experiences. This recognition underscores Matić's innovative approach to contemporary photography and their ability to connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level. The prize also celebrated the remarkable achievements of other finalists, each contributing significantly to the evolving landscape of photographic art.
Rene Matić's Award-Winning Vision
Rene Matić has secured the prestigious £30,000 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, distinguishing themselves from a strong field of contenders that included Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka, and Amak Mahmoodian. Matić was acknowledged for their exhibition "AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH," presented at CCA Berlin. This powerful display featured candid images of their circle and chosen family, meticulously encased in glass, alongside film, sound installations, and evocative objects such as a collection of black dolls sourced from second-hand markets. Matić articulated their artistic intent, stating, "I am interested in the line between blessing and burden. How to bring things to light and dark all at once." Their work is a profound exploration of identity, community, and the nuanced aspects of human connection.
Born in Peterborough in 1997, Matić's artistic practice is characterized by diaristic, snapshot-style photographs that they integrate with film and sculpture to investigate what they term "rude(ness)" — a concept that highlights and honors transitional or ambiguous states. Matić's innovative approach has not only earned them the Deutsche Börse prize but also a nomination for the 2025 Turner Prize. The jury, comprising prominent figures like Anne-Marie Beckmann of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, Newsha Tavakolian, Elisa Medde from Foto Colectania Foundation, and Dr. Mark Sealy of Autograph Gallery, with Shoair Mavlian from The Photographers' Gallery chairing, recognized Matić's exceptional contribution to the photographic arts, commending the intimacy and honesty of their portrayal of contemporary British life to an international audience.
Celebrating Diverse Photographic Narratives
While Rene Matić claimed the top honor, the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize also recognized the outstanding contributions of the other shortlisted artists: Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka, and Amak Mahmoodian, each receiving £5000 for their impactful work. Jane Evelyn Atwood, a New York-born artist from 1947, was nominated for her publication "Too Much Time / Trop de Peines." This revised, bilingual edition updated her original works from 2000, documenting a decade of experiences in women's prisons across nine countries during the 1990s. Her powerful images shed light on the harsh realities faced by female inmates, including inadequate gynecological and mental healthcare, and limited access to basic hygiene facilities, providing a critical look at the justice system.
Weronika Gęsicka, born in Włocławek, Poland, in 1984, was nominated for her book "Encyclopaedia," published by BLOW UP PRESS. Her work ingeniously employs manipulated stock photographs and AI-generated images to explore themes of authenticity and belief, featuring fabricated entries initially used to detect copyright infringements in reference materials. Amak Mahmoodian, born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1980, was recognized for her exhibition "One Hundred and Twenty Minutes," which was displayed at the Bristol Photo Festival. This installation, set within a former domestic space, integrated photography, poetry, text, and drawing to delve into the emotional and psychological complexities of exile. Collaborating with 16 individuals from 14 different countries, Mahmoodian explored the universal experiences of recurring dreams, memory, and identity, commenting on the human ability to transcend physical borders through imagination and perspective.