Prix Marcel Duchamp 2017 Joana Hadjithomas et Khalil Joreige – Centre Pompidou, 2017, Audrey Laurans
Once again the time has come to disclose the winner of the prestigious French award, the “ Prix Marcel Duchamp ” given by the ADIAF. This year’s edition has been bestowed to the Lebanese duo Joanna Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. Both from an Arabic background, the pair collaborates producing documentaries and visual artworks conveying a “humanitarian message”, according to the director of the ADIAF Gilles Fuchs. This is the reason why the pair was awarded the prize, as their body of work is politically engaged; furthermore it depicts the blending of two cultures the French and the Lebanese.
The Prix Marcel Duchamp, created in 2000 was created to grant artists who chose to work in France international notoriety in order to position them in the contemporary art globalized world. Since its genesis, it has awarded artists such as Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Mircea Cantor, Kader Attia, Thomas Hirschhorn and more.
For the first time, alongside the financial aid (35 000 euros), the ADIAF gave the artists a sculpture made by Fabrice Hyber with “eau de Paris” symbolizing the playful spirit of Marcel Duchamp.