Maximilian Graf and Lea Rist receive the 2024 exam sponsorship award

The jury viewed a total of 60 works by graduates and master students of the School of Art and Design, which can be seen in the documenta hall from December 11 to 15. The jury consisted of: Louise Knafla (Scientific Volunteer at the Museum für Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt), Paula Kommoss (Director of the Overbeck Society in Lübeck), Moritz Micalef (Adviser for Culture at the cdw Foundation in Kassel) and Olaf Val (Head of the Study Workshop ::digipool, School of Art and Design Kassel). The curator of EXAMEN 24 is Philipp Lange.

Jury statements:

Maximilian Graf - final thesis "Rossmann"
With his final thesis "Rossmann", Maximilian Graf deconstructs the Nazi sculptures of the Rossebändiger statues in front of the Federal Social Court in Kassel. Loyal comrades and fighting machines become hobbyhorses - defying the Nazi steeds on banners in public spaces. In the exhibition space of the documenta hall, Graf transforms this into a show jumping course that leads ad absurdum. Centaurs with horse heads and human bodies swing the hammer here - to tear down the fascist construct. Turning marks in the form of small-format advertising pillars tell us more about propaganda in the context of the construction of the Federal Social Court - a building that was used to glorify nationalist craftsmanship in the media. In "Rossmann", Maximilian Graf takes the horses off their pedestals and gives us hobbyhorses.

Lea Rist - final thesis: "Erntefrisch"
In her final thesis "Erntefrisch", Lea Rist makes a statement. Found field stones manifest the place and the basis of agricultural work. It marks the resource from which produce is obtained each season. Washed and packaged, the produce awaits us in the supermarket. But who salvaged these goods? Stooped bodies, mostly of seasonal workers from Romania. The physical hardship of their work is reflected in their posture. Lea Rist translates this into steel objects that almost seem to fall forward. Rist's work was accompanied by intensive research. Eight fictional narratives open up individual perspectives and equally emphasize a repetitive exclusion and exploitation, the use and consumption of workers.

Exam sponsorship award
The cdw Foundation has been sponsoring the exam exhibition for over ten years and, together with the School of Art and Design, sponsors the sponsorship award, which is presented annually to two graduates of the School of Art and Design as part of the exhibition. The cdw Foundation's sponsorship award is endowed with a total of 8000 euros. The prize gives the winners the opportunity to continue their artistic and creative work after graduation and to present the results of their work at the next graduation exhibition.

EXAMEN 24 - The plant through the asphalt (December 11-15)
This year's graduation exhibition, curated by Philipp Lange, is entitled EXAMEN 24 - The plant through the asphalt. 60 graduates and master students from the School of Art and Design Kassel will be showing their work in the documenta hall as part of the graduation exhibition, which is unique in Germany. The exhibition brings together graduation works from the fields of fine arts, visual communication, product design and art studies. They cover a broad conceptual and creative spectrum, ranging from painting, sculpture, film and performance to innovative products and multimedia installations.

Contact:
Çiğdem Özdemir
Press Officer, Public Relations Officer
Tel.: 0561 804 5366
Mail: presse[at]kunsthochschule-kassel.de