Cologne-based Photographer Secures Käthe Kollwitz Prize 2024
Photographer Candida Höfer has bagged the Käthe Kollwitz Prize of the Academy of Arts for 2024. Scheduled for a September ceremony, the 12,000 euro award and accompanying exhibition are set to celebrate Höfer's five decades of work.
Embracing the contemporary photographic avant-garde, her large-format photographs display a profound essence in prominent libraries, museums, and opera houses. The spaces appear spiritually significant due to Hocher's impeccable framing and vivid details, which resonates with the invisible occupants, as stated by Karin Sander, the jury member.
Höfer, born in Eberswalde (Brandenburg) in 1944, showcased her works at the documenta world art exhibition in 2002 and represented Germany in the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003. You can find her artworks in numerous collections worldwide, including the Museum of Photography in Berlin.
Since 1960, the annual Käthe Kollwitz Prize honors visual artists with recent winners like Sandra Vásquez de la Horra (2023), Nan Goldin (2022), Maria Eichhorn (2021), and Timm Ulrichs (2020).
Höfer's devotion to photographing public and semi-public spaces continues to land her accolades. Her works are a captivating blend of precision, details, and a distinctive aesthetic, thus cementing her status as a pioneer in contemporary photographic avant-garde.
Insights
The renowned photographer excels in capturing the essence of built spaces such as libraries, museums, theaters, and restaurants. Her photographs serve as a dialogue with older photographic works from collections, further emphasizing her unique approach to architectural and documentary photography.
Candida's images are revered for their precise composition and exploration of deeper layers of significance associated with the spaces. She not only documents architecture but delves into its cultural and historical context. Recognized with prestigious awards like the Käthe Kollwitz Prize, Höfer's place in the photography world further solidifies her position as a leading figure in contemporary photography.
The captivating Käthe Kollwitz Prize winner, Candida Höfer, invites viewers to marvel at the vibrant interaction between spaces, people, and history through her extraordinary photographic works.
