EKP Excellence in Research Award 2022 winner

Visual artist Michaela Davidova (Czech Republic, 1988) was announced as the EKP Excellence in Research Award Winner 2022 at yesterday’s opening ceremony of St. Joost’s Graduation Show in Den Bosch. The EKP Excellence in Research Award is an annual award of 2,500 EUR for the best graduate research at master level, kindly sponsored by SDK Vastgoed. The award acknowledges a graduation project that shows the visionary power of art and its ability to forge new concepts and ways of thinking, to envision another future capable of transforming the world we live in.

Michaela Davidova is an Ecology Futures graduate from the programme Master of Arts in Fine Art and Design of the Master Institute of Visual Cultures. Her award-winning graduation project entitled Constructed Wetlands & Deconstructed Borders is research on ecological thinking within the alternative photographic practice and the application of constructed wetlands. She explores methods of attunement, care, trans-corporeality and establishing relationships with the more-than-human in the photographic darkroom.

“I’m very excited and grateful for this award and looking forward to what might come next. I would like my research to grow into something positive, like a seed.” —Michaela Davidova

The winner was selected from three nominees of the interdisciplinary master pathways Ecology Futures, Visual Arts & Post Contemporary Practice and Situated Design. Nominees included Pauline Berger (Visual Arts Post Contemporary Practice) and Elena Lupoiu (Situated Design).

The jury comprised of Anne Marie Piscaer, Olga Mink and Yanxian Zhao (winner 2020). They highly commended the work of all nominees. On the winning graduation project, they stated in their jury report that Michaela demonstrated excellence in research as she was able to articulate complex eco-centric layers, placing it within a context that was both poetic and exceptionally well researched, which allows the work to open to its transformative potential.

The winning work is on view as part of the Graduation Show, which is open to the public until Sunday July 3 and can be viewed online.

About the EKP Excellence in Research Award.
The EKP Excellence in Research Award is an annual award of 2,500 EUR for the best graduate research at master level, sponsored by SDK Vastgoed. SDK Vastgoed is the area developer of the EKP site, which currently houses St. Joost School of Art & Design. In the coming years this will be transformed into the lively EKP district with more than 800 new homes, restaurants, workspaces, and educational facilities that includes the art school. The district will provide spaces for experimentation and give young and creative talent the chance to develop further. For this reason, SDK Vastgoed is supporting various creative initiatives such as the EKP Excellence in Research Award. The award also contributes to the visibility and importance of art and culture in society. More information about the project can be found on the website.