The work of Peter Piller is based on an extensive archive of photographs culled from local German newspapers. Piller systematically collects and classifies his images according to aspects that may be poetic but may also underscore the utter absurdity of everyday life. People, things and locations are combined into the short stories that are written by life. At Art Basel, Piller has chosen to pres

ent his “single pictures” for the first time. These are the photographs that resist confinement to one of his 80 categories, even after years of seeking and sorting. The installation, unsolved cases, brings together 39 pictures in a compact structure that sets the stage for an open dialogue and constantly spurs the viewer to explore the potential of new connections. It is an encyclopaedia of contemporary life, full of astute observations, gravity, wit, irony and profound significance.

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 Peter Piller was presented to the collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

Frehrking Wiesehöfer Gallery, Cologne

Jury members:
Patricia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Chairwoman of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Torino; Charles Esche, Director of the Van Abbemueseum, Eindhoven; Christoph Heinrich, Director of the Galerie der Gegenwart,  Hamburger Kunsthalle; Edelbert Koeb, Director, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig; and Martin Schwander, Fine Art Advisor of Baloise, Chairman of the jury.