Özlem Altın, Naked eye (landscape), 2023, ink and oil on canvas

Tiemann Prize 2024 goes to Saxony-Anhalt:
The Kunstmuseum Magdeburg receives the purchase budget of 50,000 euros

On 23 October 2024, the foundation Ingeborg und Dr. H. Jürgen Tiemann-Stiftung will award the Tiemann Prize, endowed with 50,000 euros, for the purchase of contemporary painting for the second time. The expert jury has examined all applications in detail and made a decision: The Kunstmuseum Magdeburg is this year's winner and will use the purchase budget to acquire works by the artist Özlem Altın. ‘In future, the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg will present Altın's works in direct dialogue with other works of art, which will be an exciting and enriching addition to the existing collection,’ the jury said in its statement.

The Kunstmuseum Magdeburg had applied for the coveted Tiemann Prize with the proposal to include several works by Özlem Altın in its collection and was able to justify this wish particularly convincingly. The works in question are four paintings and two diptychs by the Berlin-based artist, who combines painting and conceptual photography: the two-panel painting Naked Eye (landscape), 2023, and the two works Hieroglyph (transfer through touch), 2019, and Hieroglyph (mechanism), 2019.

‘We are delighted that the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg has been awarded the Tiemann Prize 2024 and enthusiastically welcome Özlem Altın's works to our collection. Our museum is defined by artistic positions that individually reflect social upheavals and give them an individual artistic expression. Altın's works, which are characterised by their poetic power and their intensive examination of physical and social transformation, will open up exciting new perspectives in Magdeburg. It is great that, thanks to the support of the Tiemann-Stiftung, we can further strengthen and expand a central objective of our museum.’ Benedikt Johannes Seerieder, curator at the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg

The Tiemann Prize was established in 2023 by the founding couple Ingeborg and Dr H. Jürgen Tiemann and is now awarded annually throughout Germany. It is aimed at museums and art institutions with their own contemporary collection. The prize money provided by the foundation is intended for the purchase of one or more paintings by a contemporary artist, duo or collective. The artists should be based in a German-speaking country. The first winner of the new award last year was the Museum Folkwang in Essen, which used the generous purchase budget to acquire a group of works by the artist Armin Boehm.

“There is probably no other purchase price in Germany on the scale we have chosen. As a rule, museums do not have sufficient financial leeway for acquisitions, so our concept is very appropriate. The jury concentrates primarily on works by relatively young artists who are not yet established. In this respect, it is also a special honour for these artists to be exhibited in museums. The reaction of the museums to participate to a considerable extent in the calls for entries shows that we are on the right track with our concept. The conditions for this art prize have been arranged in such a way that it will be awarded in the very long term.’ Dr H. Jürgen Tiemann, founder

On 23 October 2024, an award ceremony will be held at the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg in the presence of the founding couple Ingeborg and Dr. H. Jürgen Tiemann and the artist Özlem Altın will take place. On this day, the museum will receive the acquisition budget. At the same time, the artistic content will be honoured as part of the presentation of the purchased works. The new acquisitions will initially be exhibited at the Kunstmuseum Magdeburg on a representative basis and then displayed permanently if possible.

The public call for entries for the Tiemann Prize 2024 ran from 1 February to 30 April 2024. A jury of experts in contemporary art decided on the awarding of the prize. This year's expert jury consisted of: Christiane Mennicke-Schwarz, Director of the Kunsthaus Dresden, art historian and curator, Prof. Dr Annette Tietenberg, Professor of Art History, Braunschweig University of Art, Prof. Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, cultural scientist and art historian, Leipzig, Moritz Wesseler, Director of the Fridericianum Kassel, art historian and curator, Marcus Woeller, art market editor at Welt/Welt am Sonntag.

The Tiemann Prize

Since 2023, the foundation Ingeborg und Dr H. Jürgen Tiemann-Stiftung has awarded the annual Tiemann Prize, which is endowed with 50,000 euros. Museums and art institutions throughout Germany that have their own collection of contemporary art can apply for the prize. The purchase budget enables the winning institution to expand its collection by acquiring a work or group of works from the field of painting. With the Tiemann Prize, the founding couple would like to support institutions in expanding their collections and at the same time honour artistic content that makes a significant contribution to current art discourse in the field of contemporary painting. Another important aspect is that, thanks to this support, outstanding painterly positions are made permanently accessible to the public. The proposed works should complement the respective collection in a convincing manner. It is also a prerequisite that the artist in question (or the artist duo or collective) has their centre of activity in German-speaking countries. A five-member jury of experts selects a winner each year - without any influence from the founding couple. The Tiemann Prize is an exceptionally highly endowed acquisition prize and is unique in Germany.