Ethno Contemporary Ballet wins State of the ART(ist) prize for ‘Fertility’

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We are thrilled to share that AR-alumni Nina Bulgakova, Anastasiia Mostova and Kateryna Zhuravlova from Ethno Contemporary Ballet have won the State of the ART(ist) prize for their Fertility performance. The Ars Electronica award honours artists who bravely face threats from repression, political persecution, unjust regimes, environmental disasters, and exploitation. The members of Ethno Contemporary Ballet were in AR-SHH residence in 2022 organized by Artists at Risk (AR) and TINFO.

Fertility is an exploration of the interplay between the essence of femininity and the eternal Earth. Each dancer carries her own stone, symbolizing the unique, evolving relationships and the weight of the past. The performance is a powerful prayer, rich with symbolism – grains of wheat, sieves, and stones  – reflecting the sacred connection between life, fertility, and the Earth.

Ethno Contemporary Ballet shares this honour with AR-alumnus Said Ahmed Mohamed Alhassan who won the prize for his project Haawriya. Additionally, we are delighted to share that Saddam Jumaily, another AR alumnus, has been awarded an honorary mention by Ars Electronica for his series Poisonous Meadow. Big congratulations to them as well!

The 2024 State of the ART(ist) Exhibition runs from 4 to 8 September 2024 in Linz, Austria.

Photos: Leo Ollikainen