In April 2021 it was announced that the artist Dominic Michel (*1987) will receive the Manor Art Prize Aarau 2022. From January 29 to April 24, 2022, the Aargauer Kunsthaus will now host the exhibition Dominic Michel. Manor Kunstpreis 2022, which will provide exciting insights into the work of the award winner and show his latest works in the form of objects, videos and installations. Born in Klingnau in 1987, Michel completed a Bachelor of Visual Communication (graphic design) and followed it up with a Master of Fine Arts. An in-depth observer of everyday life, he is primarily concerned with the cultural significance of objects and their dependence on contexts. He uses the artistic means of alienation of purpose by tearing various objects out of their classical frame of reference, transposing them into foreign ones and thus helping them to acquire new levels of meaning. In doing so, he uses the media of installation, film, and photography, among others. In addition to his artistic activities, Dominic Michel is also active in various curatorial collectives.
The Manor Kunstpreis is awarded every two years and is considered one of the most relevant promotional prizes for contemporary art in Switzerland. It was founded in 1982 by Philippe Nordmann with the aim of providing a platform for young and as yet unknown artists. Since then, the prize has been awarded in rotation in twelve different cities, including Aarau, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne and St. Gallen. The award is accompanied by a solo exhibition at the Aargauer Kunsthaus, as well as 15,000 Swiss francs in prize money.
