Caricature Museum Krems honored outstanding artistic achievements with the province of Lower Austria and patron Annemarie Sokol.
Krems (OTS) – As part of a celebratory gala on Friday, March 10th, the SOKOL prizes were awarded on the art mile in Krems. Gerald Scarfe, Florian Satzinger, Liz Montague, Ghita Ait Bensalah and EtchingRoom1 emerged as the winners in 2023.
With the Erich Sokol Prize, the state of Lower Austria, under the patronage of Annemarie Sokol, Erich Sokol’s widow and administrator, and in cooperation with the Krems Caricature Museum, honors special achievements in digital caricature, critical drawing and satire. The SOKOL Prize reflects the great achievements of the internationally renowned artist Erich Sokol (1933 – 2003) and points to his modern working method, which is heavily intertwined with media. Since 2018, the prize has been awarded to national and international artists every five years in four categories and with a total sum of over €30,000.
Winners 2023
A top-class jury under patron Annemarie Sokol selected the SOKOL prize winners 2023 from over 400 artists from countries such as Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Ukraine, Austria and Morocco.
It was already known that Gerald Scarfe the SOKOL award for lifetime achievement (€ 11,000) receives. Provincial Councilor Martin Eichtinger presented the award to Jane Asher on behalf of Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. The well-known actress accepted the award on behalf of her ill husband. British cartoonist Scarfe is best known as the illustrator for Pink Floyd’s The Wall project and his character designs for Disney’s Hercules.
Gerald Scarfe is an outstanding artist and a restless, critical spirit who takes a stand on our social present with a sharp eye and subtle humor. The SOKOL Lifetime Achievement Award is a sign of our appreciation for his contribution to a cosmopolitan society.
– Martin Eichtinger, Provincial Councilor of Lower Austria
The SOKOL main prize for digital caricature (€ 11,000) received the Grazer Florian Satzinger. The internationally renowned character designer has already worked for Disney and Warner Bros. He is currently developing a completely new “Donald Duck” comic album with Disney author Denis-Pierre Filippi. Liz Montague was with the SOKOL Promotional Prize (€ 4,000) honored. The American is one of the first People of Color whose work in the New Yorker were published. Montague is the creator of the popular cartoon series Liz at Large.
Die AIR – ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Lower Austria grants went to the Moroccan illustrator Ghita Ait Bensalah and the Ukrainian artist duo EtchingRoom1 consisting of Anna Khodkova and Kristina Yarosh. The grants include a two-month studio residency on the Kunstmeile Krems and a monthly financial subsidy.
With the presentation of the SOKOL prizes, we honor special artistic achievements on an international level. The name Gerald Scarfe speaks for itself. The designs by Florian Satzinger from Graz are in demand at major studios worldwide. American Liz Montague is a strong female and original voice in the cartoon. With Ghita Ait Bensalah and the artists Anna Khodkova and Kristina Yarosh from EtchingRoom1, we honor exciting positions from Morocco and Ukraine.
– Gottfried Gusenbauer, chairman of the jury and artistic director of the Caricature Museum Krems
award ceremony
The State of Lower Austria, patron Annemarie Sokol and the Caricature Museum Krems invited to the award ceremony on March 10th in the State Gallery of Lower Austria. Provincial Councilor Martin Eichtinger spoke on stage on behalf of Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Heinz Fischer, former Federal President. D., Jutta M. Pichler, curator, Gottfried Gusenbauer, director of the Caricature Museum Krems, Sebastian Krüger, SOKOL award winner for special achievements in 2018, and the winners of 2023. The evening was hosted by ORF presenter Mari Lang, who, due to illness, was temporarily absent from Manuel Rubey stepped in. Musically accompanied Die Strottern.
The mayor of the city of Krems Reinhard Resch, star chef Toni Mörwald, Stefan Jauk, CEO of Niederösterreichische Versicherung, Walter Rothensteiner, former general director of the Raiffeisen Central Bank Austria, Meisi and Helmut Grill, art collectors, Thomas Seywald, estate administrator had announced themselves for the gala by Paul Flora, Cornélia Schmidmayr, managing director of the ArtEast Gallery Berlin Kyiv, numerous artists such as Bruno Haberzettl, toxic fries, Thomas Wizany, Margit Krammer, Michael Pammesberger or Gernot Budweiser, Gerda Ridler, artistic director of the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich, Armin Laussegger, department head of the State Collections of Lower Austria, Hermann Dikowitsch, Head of the Department of Art and Culture of the State of Lower Austria, Paul Gessl and Albrecht Grossberger, Managing Directors of the Lower Austrian Cultural Industry, and Julia Flunger-Schulz, Managing Director of the Kunstmeile Krems. Afterwards, the SOKOL award winners were toasted at Poldi Fitzka. The highlight was the signature cocktail “Der Sokol”.
Exhibition on SOKOL award winners
As part of the SOKOL award ceremony, State Councilor Martin Eichtinger, on behalf of State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, officially opened the new exhibitions at the Krems Caricature Museum. From 11.03. the SOKOL prizewinners from 2023 will be together with the winners from 2018 in “The Award Goes To …” presents. You can see Gerald Scarfes large format artworks related to Pink Floyd, Liz Montagues Comments on racism in everyday life and Florian Satzingers ducky designs. The illustrations inspired by family photos are very personal Ghita Ait Bensalah. The etching of a bomb by the Ukrainian artist duo bears witness to a new topicality EtchingRoom1.
The exhibited winners from 2018 are Sebastian Krüger, Thomas Fluharty, Nadia Khiari, Ramize Erer and Frank Hoppmann.
Other exhibitions of the Sokol focus are “The immortal Austrian” with classic Austrian caricatures and the supplementary digression with videos by the local social media star toxic fries.
Eric Sokol
In satire and caricature, Erich Sokol is regarded as the pioneer of a new Austrian school. Even as a young man he was a visionary and a role model for younger generations. He published, among other things, in the Arbeiter-Zeitungto the Punchthe Süddeutsche Zeitungthe stage, The press or in Playboy. His front pages for the Crown newspaper, trend and profile are characterized by complexity and profound humor. The artist designed numerous record covers, for example for “Der Herr Karl” by Carl Merz and Helmut Qualtinger. As Art Director of the ORF, he was largely responsible for the station’s design. Sokol was awarded the Golden Camera (1971), the State Prize for archyde news ( 1972), the Golden Medal of Honor of the City of Vienna (1982), the Johann Nestroy Ring (1986) and the Olaf Gulbransson Prize (2001).On the occasion of Erich Sokol’s 90th birthday, the Caricature Museum Krems is devoting a major focus to the artist.
Pressemappe with detailed information on Erich Sokol Prize, the SOKOL award winners and the exhibitions “SOKOL. Covers” as well as “The Award Goes To …”:
karikaturmuseum.at/presse
Statement and Acknowledgments by Gerald Scarfe:
Curriculum vitae of Erich Sokol:
Press photos the SOKOL award ceremony from March 11:
Press photos to the exhibition “The Award Goes To … SOKOL Prize Winners”
Questions & contact:
Caricature Museum Krems
Daniela Bernhard
+43 664 60499 187
daniela.bernhard@kunstmeile.at
