Peter Mertes Stipendium 2016: Israel Aten, Katharina Monka 7 July - 3 September Israel Aten will present a series of ‘paintings’ on Japanese Tatami Judo mats alongside recent works on canvas. By changing the natural lighting conditions of the space the artist aims to create an environment that ‘reflects on the struggle for power between light and darkness’. Katharina Monka’s installation will engage with the Kunstverein’s architecture, building a new structure within the exhibition hall. Accompanying photographs will include an image of a male subject reenacting the pose from Wilhelm Lehmbruck’s sculpture ‘Große Sinnende’ (1913) that depicts a nude female figure. Established in 1985, the Peter Mertes Stipendium is one of the most renowned opportunities for young artists in North Rhine-Westphalia region. Previous recipients include Carsten Höller (1995), Gregor Schneider (1996), Monika Baer (1998), Matti Braun (1999), Thea Djordjadze, Friedrich Kunath (both 2001), Gert and Uwe Tobias (2004) and Gerda Scheepers (2005). The current recipients, Sarah Kürten (b. 1983, Cologne) and Tobias Hohn (b. 1991, Prüm) and Stanton Taylor (b. 1990, Port of Spain, Trinidad und Tobago) will have exhibitions at the Kunstverein in July 2018. Israel Aten and Katharina Monka were selected by a Jury comprising Prof. Anne-Marie Bonnet (University of Bonn and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bonner Kunstverein), Michelle Cotton (Director, Bonner Kunstverein), Kristina Scepanski (Director Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster) and Christoph Westermeier (artist, Düsseldorf, Peter Mertes Stipendiat 2010), from a shortlist of 28 nominations. The two artists each received a total of €6,000 over the course of one year. The Peter Mertes Stipendium, and this exhibition is funded by the Peter Mertes Wine Company. Katharina Monka’s exhibition received additional support from Kunststiftung NRW. Bonner Kunstverein is supported by Stadt Bonn and RheinEnergie Stiftung Kultur.

Please note that the exhibition contains nudity.

Israel Aten (b. 1986, Detroit, USA) studied at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, USA and at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. His work has been exhibited at Westfälischer Kunstverein Münster and Contemporary Fine Arts, Berlin. Aten lives and works in Düsseldorf. Katharina Monka (b. 1986, Wunstorf) studied at Kunstakademie Münster with Maik und Dirk Löbbert and at Kunsthochschule für Medien in Cologne. Monka’s work has been exhibited at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf and at Kunsthalle Münster. She has held solo-exhibitions at Galerie Cité des Arts, Paris and Simultanhalle Cologne. She lives and works in Düsseldorf.

Artist talks

Israel Aten: Saturday, 15 July, 3pm (English language) Katharina Monka: Saturday, 29 July, 3pm (German language)