Swiss museum suspends Elysée Prize to protest Lacoste’s exclusion of
Palestinian artist Larissa Sansour
Submitted by Ali Abunimah on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 19:40
The Musée de L’Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland has suspended the 2011
Lacoste Elysée Prize, a presitigious international photography
contest, over the sponsor’s decision to expel Palestinian artist
Larissa Sansour. The following press release was issued by the museum.
Lausanne, 21 December 2011 - The Musée de l’Elysée has decided to
suspend the organisation of the Lacoste Elysée Prize 2011. Introduced
in 2010 to sustain young photographers, the prize is worth 25 000
euros.
In the context of the 2011 edition of the prize, eight nominees were
selected to take part in the contest. They were asked to produce three
photographs on the theme la joie de vivre. With the help of a
individual grant of 4 000 euros, each nominee had carte blanche to
interpret the theme in which ever way they favoured, in a direct or
indirect manner, with authenticity or irony, based upon their existing
or as an entirely new creation. An expert jury should have met at the
end of January 2012 to select the winner of the Lacoste Elysée Prize
2011.
The Musée de l’Elysée has based its decision on the private partner’s
wish to exclude Larissa Sansour, one of the prize nominees. We
reaffirm our support to Larissa Sansour for the artistic quality of
her work and her dedication. The Musée de l’Elysée has already
proposed to her to present at the museum the series of photographs
“Nation Estate”, which she submitted in the framework of the contest.
For 25 years, the Musée de l’Elysée has defended with strength
artists, their work, freedom of the arts and of speech. With the
decision it has taken today, the Musée de l’Elysée repeats its
commitment to its fundamental values.
http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/swiss-museum-suspends-elysee-prize-protest-lacostes-exclusion-palestinian-artist
