For Art Statements Haegue Yang created a group of sculptures based on lighting collected from a number of different countries. Suspended on simple I.V. poles, the objects are both pragmatic and eloquently allusive. Every figure has a character of its own, which is playfully underscored by the artist's choice of title. As a Korean living in German, Haegue Yang is interested in the cultural distinctions that she observes in everyday life; she collects items that testify to the existence of the global nomad. For the series of photographs, Gymnastics of the Foldables, also on view in Basel, Haegue Yang explored the cultural and graphic potential of a clothes rack, turning this familiar household object into a dancing figure. Objects of everyday use are not only indicative of different origins; the artist also translates them into a new reality -- the reality of her subjective gaze.

In addition to the cash prize, Baloise acquires a group of works by the award winners and donates them to two important European museums. The work of Haegue Yang was presented to the collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

Galerie Barbara Wien, Berlin

Jury members:
Inge C. de Bruin-Heijn, Collection de Bruin-Heijn, Netherlands; Christoph Heinrich, Director of the Galerie der Gegenwart, Hamburger Kunsthalle; Edelbert Koeb, Director, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig; Marc-Olivier Wahler, Director, Palais de Tokyo, Site de Création Contemporain, Paris and Martin Schwander, Fine Art Advisor of Baloise, Chairman of the jury.