The award ceremony took place in an atmospheric atmosphere in the Ballhaus Wedding, the oldest ballroom in Berlin. The prize, worth 5,000 euros, recognizes the cartoonist’s exceptional artistic work and her commitment to social issues.n.
Welcome and honor
BRAK Vice President and jury member, lawyer and notary Dr. Thomas Remmers, welcomed the illustrious crowd of guests together with lawyer Stephanie Beyrich, managing director and press spokesperson for BRAK. Both emphasized BRAK’s long-standing tradition of promoting and rewarding artistic engagement with legal and social issues through this award. Dr. Remmers emphasized that the legal profession and artists are closely linked through their commitment.
“We lawyers have more in common with the award-winning artists than it might seem at first glance. We are all equally committed to more justice, we are the voice of the weak and disadvantaged and an indispensable part of our democracy. The only thing that sets us apart is the choice of means. While lawyers usually write or plead, artists fight – depending on the case – with a pen, brush or pencil. In the end, we are basically something like professional colleagues.”
Benjamin Strasser, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice, emphasized in his welcoming speech that the awarding of the German Bar Association’s Caricature Prize is not only an honor for artistic talent, but also a symbol of the defense of freedom of expression and freedom of art. “This prize reminds us how important it is to listen to the voices of artists and to promote dialogue on social issues – even if this sometimes happens through provocative and challenging depictions.”
The laudation was given by Andreas Platthaus, arts editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and member of the jury. For Catherine Meurisse, beauty is clearly not divisible between nature and art. But ugliness is. It is human, and therefore artificial, and the law is one of the ways to master it, to push back ugliness. The art form of caricature has become one of the last areas in which the little people can feel superior to the big people: through laughter, the harshest court on earth. That is the only form of vigilantism that he wants to see.
The winner: Catherine Meurisse
Catherine Meurisse is known for her sensitive and profound works, in which she often refers to literary and philosophical themes. She studied French and literature as well as illustration at the école nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris. Meurisse was the first female cartoonist on the editorial staff of “Charlie Hebdo” and has since made significant contributions to the art and culture scene, including being the first female comic artist at the Centre Pompidou.
A dramatic experience in Meurisse’s life was the terrorist attack on “Charlie Hebdo” in 2015, which she only escaped by chance. She processed this traumatic event in her graphic novel “The Lightness”, which also received great international attention. Her works are characterized by a deep engagement with the beauty of nature, literature and art, as well as a tireless commitment to a better world.
Neues Werk: „The Rights of Nature”
At the award ceremony, Meurisse presented her new work “The Rights of Nature”, a colored ink and pastel drawing on paper. This work is an example of her commitment to environmental and nature conservation. It is offered in a limited edition of 100 copies, hand-signed and numbered.
The cartoon shows how the court system may react too late to environmental problems. While the judges or lawyers are wading through a flooded street, symbolizing the real and urgent consequences of environmental degradation, they are preparing to negotiate the “rights of the rivers.” The scene suggests that nature is already showing catastrophic effects, while the court is only now beginning to address them. The text “Our chances are pretty good” underlines the irony and criticism in the cartoon. It shows that despite the obvious and already occurring environmental disaster, the judges or lawyers are surprised but remain optimistic or they believe that they still have the situation under control. This can be interpreted as a criticism of the self-deception and late action of the system, which underestimates or ignores the urgency and severity of the environmental problems.
Dr. Eva Jandl-Jörg, expert from the Museum Wilhelm Busch – German Museum for Caricature and Drawing in Hanover and jury member, emphasizes that Meurisse’s works are convincing not only because of their artistic quality, but also because of their profound messages. Her art literally plants new thoughts and hopes in the world. With her oeuvre, Catherine Meurisse proves that the beauty of nature and the power of art can change the world.
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Catherine Meurisse: A Trailblazing Cartoonist Dedicated to Social Issues
On September 11, 2024, the German Bar Association (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer, BRAK) honored French cartoonist Catherine Meurisse with the 14th Caricature Prize, recognizing her exceptional artistic work and commitment to social issues [[3]]. The award ceremony took place at the atmospheric Ballhaus Wedding, the oldest ballroom in Berlin, and was attended by a distinguished crowd of guests.
Welcome and Honor
BRAK Vice President and jury member, lawyer and notary Dr. Thomas Remmers, welcomed the guests alongside lawyer Stephanie Beyrich, managing director and press spokesperson for BRAK. They highlighted BRAK’s long-standing tradition of promoting and rewarding artistic engagement with legal and social issues through this award. Dr. Remmers emphasized the connection between the legal profession and artists, stating that they share a common commitment to justice and are equally dedicated to promoting the voices of the weak and disadvantaged [[3]].
Benjamin Strasser, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice, emphasized the importance of the Caricature Prize in defending freedom of expression and art. He noted that the prize serves as a symbol of the significance of listening to artists’ voices and promoting dialogue on social issues, even when they challenge the status quo [[3]].
The Winner: Catherine Meurisse
Catherine Meurisse is a renowned French cartoonist and illustrator who has made significant contributions to the art and culture scene. She was the first female cartoonist on the editorial staff of “Charlie Hebdo” and has been a pioneer for women in the comic book industry [[1]]. Meurisse studied French and literature as well as illustration at the école nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris and has since become known for her sensitive and profound works that often refer to literary and philosophical themes [[2]].
In 2015, Meurisse experienced a dramatic encounter with terrorism when she narrowly escaped the attack on “Charlie Hebdo” by arriving late for the weekly editorial meeting [[1]]. She later processed this traumatic event in her graphic novel “The Lightness”, which received great international attention.
Meurisse’s works are characterized by a deep engagement with the beauty of nature, literature, and art, as well as a tireless commitment to promoting a better world. Her dedication to social issues and her exceptional artistic talent make her a worthy recipient of the Caricature Prize.
New Work: “The Rights of Nature”
At the award ceremony, Meurisse presented her new work “The Rights of Nature”, a colored ink and pastel drawing on paper. This piece is an example of her commitment to environmental and nature conservation and is offered in a limited edition of 100 copies, hand-signed and numbered.
The cartoon depicts the court system reacting too late to environmental problems, with judges or lawyers wading through a flooded street, symbolizing the urgent consequences of environmental degradation. The scene suggests that nature is already showing catastrophic effects, while the court is only now beginning to address them. The text ”Our chances are pretty good” underlines the irony and criticism in the cartoon, highlighting the optimism or naivety of the judges or lawyers in the face of ongoing environmental disaster.
Meurisse’s ”The Rights of Nature” is a powerful commentary on the importance of addressing environmental issues and the need for urgent action. Her work serves as a reminder of the crucial role that artists play in promoting dialogue on social issues and inspiring change.
Conclusion
Catherine Meurisse’s receipt of the Caricature Prize is a testament to her dedication to social issues and her exceptional artistic talent. Her work continues to inspire and challenge, promoting a better understanding of the world we live in and encouraging us to take action. As we celebrate Meurisse’s achievement, we are reminded of the importance of promoting freedom of expression and art, and the significance of listening to the voices of artists like Meurisse who dare to challenge the status quo.
The Drawing Now Award: A Celebration of Artistic Excellence and Social Commitment
The Drawing Now Award, a prestigious prize supported by the Drawing Society, recognizes outstanding artistic work and commitment to social issues. This year, the award ceremony took place in the atmospheric Ballhaus Wedding, the oldest ballroom in Berlin, and honored French cartoonist Catherine Meurisse with a prize worth 5,000 euros [[1]].
Welcome and Honor
The ceremony began with a warm welcome from BRAK Vice President and jury member, lawyer and notary Dr. Thomas Remmers, accompanied by lawyer Stephanie Beyrich, managing director and press spokesperson for BRAK. Both emphasized BRAK’s long-standing tradition of promoting and rewarding artistic engagement with legal and social issues through this award. Dr. Remmers highlighted the close link between the legal profession and artists, stating that they share a commitment to justice and are voices for the weak and disadvantaged.
The Importance of Artistic Expression
Benjamin Strasser, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice, emphasized the significance of the Caricature Prize in promoting freedom of expression and art. He reminded the audience that artists play a crucial role in sparking dialogue on social issues, even if their work can be provocative and challenging at times.
The Winner: Catherine Meurisse
Catherine Meurisse, a renowned French cartoonist and comics artist, was awarded the prize for her exceptional artistic work and commitment to social issues. Meurisse is known for her sensitive and profound works, which often reference literary and philosophical themes. She has made significant contributions to the art and culture scene, including being the first female cartoonist on the editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo and the first female comic artist at the Centre Pompidou [[2]].
Meurisse’s Commitment to Social Issues
Meurisse’s works are characterized by her engagement with the beauty of nature, literature, and art, as well as her tireless commitment to creating a better world. Her graphic novel “The Lightness” received international attention, as it processed the traumatic experience of the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo in 2015, which she only escaped by chance [[3]].
“The Rights of Nature” – A New Work
At the award ceremony, Meurisse presented her new work “The Rights of Nature”, a colored ink and pastel drawing on paper that exemplifies her commitment to environmental and nature conservation. The cartoon depicts the court system’s delayed response to environmental problems, highlighting the irony and criticism of the situation. This work is available in a limited edition of 100 copies, hand-signed and numbered.
Conclusion
The Drawing Now Award ceremony was a celebration of artistic excellence and social commitment, recognizing Catherine Meurisse’s outstanding work and dedication to creating a better world. The prize serves as a reminder of the importance of promoting artistic expression and dialogue on social issues, and we look forward to seeing more exceptional works from Meurisse and other talented artists in the future.
