Sombre graphite drawings form the core of Hannes Dünnebier’s artistic work, which he expands into room-filling installations. The artist uses the medium of drawing to create his own worlds, which he understands as counter-models to the existing one and within which he works through the challenges of human existence. His artistic work arises from a feeling of »subjective unease«, which leads Dünnebier to engage with a social mix of norms and supposed necessities, conformity and refusal, belief and superstition, and the conflict between ideal imagination and self-experienced reality in his work.

An expert jury was responsible for selecting a winner from the group of five nominees; this year, the jury included Jan-Philipp Frühsorge (curator and art critic, Berlin), Claudia Hill (artist, Berlin) and Nils Emmerichs (curator, Berlin).

»Hannes Dünnebier succeeds in freeing himself from social and political repression through the inalienable experience in the medium of one’s very own body to strengthen the individual / the subject,« the jurors said in their statement. »The body serves as a site of manipulation here, but at the same time also of self-discovery and self-expression. In his sensitive, subtle presentation, he returns to a motif that is highly relevant in sculpture/drawing and adapts the human body as a parameter for spatial relations. It is not only about life itself, but about the human body and proves to be something factual that in the last instance – namely in the state of its existential dissolution – allows the social discourses, narratives and attributions that shape it to become fragile.«

In the »Intrawelten« exhibition, Dünnebier is showcasing parts of his Diplom exhibition, which was previously presented in Weimar in the exhibition »BYE!«. A multi-part graphite drawing quoting a song lyric by Nelly Furtado follows on from previous drawings and is dedicated to the question of »The End« on both small and large scales. Two different pairs of shoes made of Styrodur, a self-portrait as a dead potted plant and a textile wall piece entitled »None of us will survive!« also form part of the exhibition.

»Dünnebier’s art derives from human woes,« the jury continues. »His works of art are the product of a confrontation with »the Real«, as Lacan calls it, so with that which one cannot come to terms with. This is precisely why art is neither idealistic nor realistic in the simple sense of the word. It oscillates beyond these false alternatives. By confronting the real with all its mysteriousness. That is one great lesson in his work, for a tremendous interest in the old familiar becomes visible there in the seemingly new, image after image. The past resurfaces time and again in new guises. Everything remains, just in a modified form, because the old inevitably repeats itself in the new, which then immediately vanishes again.«

Dr Sebastian Händschke, who is the co-founder and co-chairman of the Lyonel e. V. together with Tabea Marx, had good news to announce in his speech during the award ceremony: »First of all, congratulations to Hannes Dünnebier. We’re delighted that the award has been so well received and that we’ve been able to expand the circle of supporters this year in terms of the people and the region, including as far as Berlin, to allow us as a non-profit organisation to support such great artists and their work. We also congratulate the shortlisted nominees and will enable them permanent visibility through our website.« His fellow co-founder was unfortunately unable to attend the event due to COVID-19.

The work of all shortlisted candidates will be presented in the »INTRAWELTEN« group exhibition organised by the »Marke.6« student initiative at Berkaer Straße 11 until 6 pm on Sunday 17 July 2022. Denise Blickhan, Hannes Dünnebier, Eduardo José Rubio Parra, Sarah Spitzer and Khashayar Zandyavari.

»INTRAWELTEN« exhibition
Venue:
»Freie Kunst« exhibition rooms
Berkaer Straße 11
99425 Weimar

Opening times:
Saturday 16 July, 12–8 pm
Sunday 17 July, 12–6 pm

Vita – Hannes Dünnebier:
Hannes Dünnebier (*1997) has been studying fine art within the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar since 2016. In 2022 he completed his Diplom with Prof. Jana Gunstheimer. In 2020, he was an exchange student at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. In 2022, he was awarded a DAAD scholarship to complete a master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp.

About Lyonel e. V. and the Lyonel Art Prize:
Lyonel e. V. is a non-profit association that promotes cultural and artistic purposes in particular. It was initiated by Tabea Marx and Dr Sebastian Händschke together with regional entrepreneurs. Further sponsors in this year include Sealable Solutions GmbH, Waltershausen; Grundwerte GmbH, Berlin; VR Bank Weimar eG; Feuerköpfe ® – Henryk Balkow, Erfurt; Wiegand Manufactur Weimar – Matthias Wiegand. For more information on the Lyonel Art Prize, the nominated artists and the prize supporters, see www.lyonel-kunstpreis.de.

In case of questions, please contact Romy Weinhold, Press and Public Relations Officer for the Faculty of Art and Design, via telephone (+49 (0) 36 43 / 58 11 86) or email (romy.weinhold[at]uni-weimar.de). Please contact Tabea Marx and Dr Sebastian Händschke via email (info[at]lyonel-kunstpreis.de) in case of questions about Lyonel e. V.