Prize from the state capital and the Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin Foundation. Jury Prize. And the audience award. Three caricatures won the Schwerin Caricature Prize. Here are the results.
AmOn Saturday, the three winners were honored at a festive gala event in the historic customer hall of the Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
- The 3,000 euro prize from the state capital and the Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin Foundation went to the Berlin cartoonist Mathias Hühn for the caricature “The Homeland is Safe” (2019).
- The jury’s prize, worth 2,500 euros, was awarded to the Hamburg cartoonist Til Mette for the cartoon “Future” (2008).
- Uli Döring from Cologne was pleased to receive the audience award for his caricature “What was left of the day” (2024). The funding is 1,645 euros. 1,645 – that’s how many audience votes were cast for the audience award during the duration of the exhibition in the Kulturforum.
The exhibition “What a People” and the Schwerin Caricature Prize took place on the occasion of the celebrations for the 34th anniversary of reunification and were initiated by the state capital and the Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin. During the community festival from October 2nd to 4th alone, 5,500 guests saw the exhibition. In total there were more than 9,700.
Cartoonists from all over Germany were invited to apply with their best work from 34 years of reunification history. 79 artists submitted up to 6 caricatures. The exhibition in the Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus showed 170 of the 430 submitted works.
Two juries then voted on the winning caricatures – one made up of socially active people from Schwerin who were interested in culture, and the other made up of experts from culture, politics, art and journalism. The audience award was chosen by visitors who were allowed to vote for their favorite caricature in the exhibition.
“The exhibition and the Schwerin Caricature Prize 2024 are a success story, and for good reason,” said Silvio Horn, head of Schwerin’s cultural department. “With sharp pens, the artists on display demonstrated their ability to get to the heart of complex topics such as reunification in an entertaining way.”
* **How does the Schwerin Caricature Prize, with its focus on social and political commentary, contribute to the public’s understanding and engagement with important issues in Germany, particularly in light of the 34th anniversary of reunification?**
## Interview: The Schwerin Caricature Prize 2024
**Guests:**
* **Mathias Hühn,** Winner of the State Capital and Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin Foundation Prize
* **Uli Döring,** Winner of the Audience Award
**Host:** Welcome to today’s discussion. We’re here to delve into the fascinating world of caricature, particularly the recently awarded Schwerin Caricature Prize.
Let’s start with a broad look at the event itself.
**Section 1: The Power of Caricature & the Exhibition’s Impact**
**Host:** Gentlemen, congratulations on your wins. The theme of this year’s exhibition – “What a People” – focusing on 34 years of German reunification, is incredibly poignant.
* **Mathias:** How do you feel caricature, as a medium, allows for an exploration of complex historical themes like reunification in a way that other art forms might not?
* **Uli:** The exhibition saw remarkable attendance (over 9,700 visitors). What does this say about the public’s appetite for satirical commentary on history and current affairs delivered through caricature?
**Section 2: The Artistic Process & the Winning Entries**
**Host:** Both your winning caricatures, “The Homeland is Safe” and “What was Left of the Day”, offer striking visual commentary.
* **Mathias:** Can you walk us through the creative process behind “The Homeland is Safe”? What prompted you to choose this particular theme and approach?
* **Uli:** You engaged the audience by prompting them to vote for their favorite caricature. “What **was** Left of the Day” clearly resonated. What message were you hoping to convey through this piece, and how does audience feedback influence your work?
**Section 3: Awards & Recognition**
**Host:** Winning a prestigious prize like the Schwerin Caricature Prize is a significant achievement.
* **Mathias:** How do you see this award impacting your career and your work as a cartoonist? Does recognition from institutions like the Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin Foundation hold particular significance for you?
* **Uli:** The audience award adds a unique dimension, reflecting the direct response of viewers. Can you describe the feeling of knowing your work connected so strongly with the public, exceeding even the expert juries’ choice?
**Section 4: Looking Forward**
**Host:** The success of the Schwerin Caricature Prize signals a bright future for this art form.
* **Mathias:** What are your hopes for the future of caricature in Germany and internationally? How can platforms like the Schwerin prize contribute to its growth and relevance?
* **Uli:** What advice would you give to aspiring cartoonists who are looking to make their mark in this field?
**Host:** Thank you both for sharing your insights and experiences. The Schwerin Caricature Prize serves as a testament to the enduring power of satire and its role in sparking important conversations.
