Susanna Hanna and Elisabeth Oertel deal with central social issues - supported by a state scholarship for fine arts. The Kulturstiftung Thüringen awards the scholarship in co-operation with SV SparkassenVersicherung. It is one of the highest honours for visual arts in the Free State of Thuringia.
Susanna Hanna and Elisabeth Oertel now have twelve months to realise their projects. "This artistic freedom is what makes our state scholarship so special," says Katja Lipfert from the Thuringia Cultural Foundation. "We are looking forward to accompanying the artists on their journey - and especially to the exhibition at the Kunsthalle Erfurt next year."
Susanna Hanna is dedicating her project to the search for historical traces along the former inner-German border. The artist explores how nature has reclaimed the once strictly guarded space and what visible signs of the past remain. To this end, the Erfurt-based artist seeks dialogue with experts and the local population. Her aim is to visualise the connection between history, nature and the culture of remembrance in an artistic reflection. Susanna Hanna graduated with honours from the HGB Leipzig in 2015. Her works have received several awards, including the Expanded Cinema Award at the 37th Stuttgart Film Winter, and are represented in public collections, including the collection of the German Bundestag.
The Free State of Thuringia has been awarding scholarships to outstanding visual artists since 1997. Culture Minister Christian Tischner emphasises the importance of the funding: "The Thuringian state scholarships are more than just financial support - they are a clear commitment to contemporary art in the state. Art addresses social issues, stimulates reflection and enriches the cultural discourse."