Catherine Meurisse receives the 14th German Lawyers Caricature Award

The award ceremony took place in an atmospheric setting at the Ballhaus Wedding, Berlin’s oldest ballroom. The prize, worth 5,000 euros, honors the cartoonist’s extraordinary artwork and commitment to social issuesn.

Welcome and respect

BRAK Vice President and jury member, lawyer and notary Dr. Tómas Remmers welcomed the distinguished group of guests together with attorney Stephanie Beyrich, managing director and BRAK spokesperson. Both emphasized BRAK’s long-standing tradition of encouraging and rewarding artistic collaboration with legal and social issues through this award. Dr. Remmers emphasized that advocacy and artists are closely linked through their commitment.

“Our lawyers have more in common with the award-winning artists than might appear at first glance. We are all equally committed to greater justice, we are the voice of the weak and disadvantaged and we are an integral part of our democracy. The choice of methods only separates us from each other. While lawyers usually write or argue, artists fight with a pen, brush or pen, depending on the case. Basically, we are professional colleagues at the end of the day. “

Benjamin Strasser, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice, confirmed in his welcoming speech that the awarding of the German Lawyers Caricature Award was not only an honor to artistic talent, but also a symbol of the protection of freedom of expression and artistry. freedom “This award reminds us how important it is to hear artists’ voices and encourage dialogue about social issues – even if this sometimes happens through provocative and challenging productions.”

The commendation speech was given by Andreas Platthaus, editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and jury member. Beauty to be for Catriona Meuris obviously not separated between nature and art. But ugliness. It is human, i.e. artificial, and the justice system is one of the ways to master it, to push the hate back. The art form of caricature has become one of the last areas in which the little people can feel better than the big ones: through laughter, the harshest judgment on earth. That’s the only kind of surveillance he wants to see.

The winner: Catriona Meuris

Catriona Meuris known for her sensitive and profound works, in which she often refers to literary and philosophical themes. She studied French and literature as well as painting at the école Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. die She was the first female photographer on the editorial team “Charles Hebdo” and since then has made significant contributions to the world of art and culture, including being the world’s first female comic artist Center Pompidou.

Deep knowledge death’ life was the terrorist attack on “Charles Hebdo” in 2015, she only escaped by chance. She processes this traumatic event in her mind A graphic book “The Lightness”, which also received great international attention.

New job: “Rights of Nature“

Presented during the awards ceremony die her new job”Rights of Nature“, color drawing and pastel on paper. This work is an example of her commitment to the conservation of the environment and nature. It is offered in a limited edition of 100 copies, hand signed and numbered.

The cartoon shows how the court system could be late in responding to environmental problems. As the judges or lawyers go through a flooded street symbolizing the real and urgent consequences of environmental destruction, they prepare to negotiate the “rights of the rivers” to deal with these.Our chances are pretty good” highlights the irony and criticism in the cartoon. It shows that despite the obvious environmental disaster that has already happened, the judges or lawyers are still in awe , but still optimistic or that they believe that the situation is still under control. This can be seen as a criticism of the system’s self-deception and delay in action, which underestimates or avoids so quickly and so the severity of environmental problems.

Dr. Eva Jandl-Jörg, an expert from the Wilhelm Busch Museum – German Museum for Caricature and Drawing in Hanover and a member of the jury, confirms that death’ The work affects not only the quality of the art, but also with their deep messages. Her art literally sends new thoughts and hopes into the world. Catriona Meuris proving with her night that the beauty of nature and the power of art can change the world.