Simon Denny investigates the changing role of the media and television in an age of rapid technological progress. In his large-scale installation Channel Document, he addresses the restructuring of the media and its social consequences. At the core of his work is the threatened existence of the television channel TVNZ 7, whose objective is to provide non-commercial, digitally broadcast programmes on current affairs. State funding of the channel has been cut off and despite numerous public petitions, the end seems inevitable. The artist has commissioned a documentary on the redesign of New Zealand's passport that marks the last step in the time-line of the channel. The video, which follows the structure and style characteristic of TVNZ 7, is screened on Samsung‘s latest flatscreen monitor.

In addition to the cash prize, Baloise acquires a group of works by the award winners and donates them to two important European museums. Denny's work was presented to the collection of the mumok Wien.

Gallery: Michael Lett, Auckland, New Zealand

Jury members:
Brigitte Kölle, Director, Galerie der Gegenwart, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg; Karola Kraus, Director, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna; Thomas Koerfer, Director and Producer, President Board of Trustees, Fotomuseum Winterthur; Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director, Serpentine Gallery, London; and Martin Schwander, Fine Art Advisor of the Baloise, Chairman of the jury.