ars viva 2025. Where will we land?

We continue our commitment to support a new generation of artists and present this year’s prize-winners in the exhibition “ars viva 2025. Where will we land?” by Wisrah C. V. da R. Celestino (b. 1989, Buritizeiro, Brazil), Vincent Scheers (b. 1990, Duffel, Belgium), and Helena Uambembe (b. 1994, Pomfret, South Africa).

In their works, many of which were newly developed for the exhibition, the three artists delve into the central concerns of their artistic practice, while exploring new techniques. Conceptually drawing on biographical material, Wisrah C. V. da R. Celestino deals with cultural value systems and political power relations, employing research-based, conceptual aesthetics. Their works aim at questioning the power of institutions and highlighting the agency of the individual. Vincent Scheers, in turn, often uses found and industrially fabricated objects as well as organic material to create his sculptures. His works give rise to poetic images that seem to playfully defy the laws of physics and speak to the process of transformation and ephemerality. Helena Uambembe’s haunting installations draw upon the history of her family, which is marked by the conflicts in Angola and those between Namibia and South Africa. By combining her personal memories with an investigation into collective memory through stories, images, and sound, she aims to open the potential for empathy, healing, and belonging.

This prestigious prize for young artists is awarded annually by the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft and is being presented at Haus der Kunst for the second time. The exhibition is a cooperation with Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft.

Curated by Jana Baumann and Anna Schneider.