In the presence of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a former advisor to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Chairman of UAE Unlimited, an art collector, and a patron of the Centre Pompidou, the British Museum and Sharjah Art Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Richard Mille have named Nicène Kossentini as the winner of the fourth edition of the Richard Mille Art Prize. Kossentini was one of five shortlisted artists to showcase her work, Landscapes, in the Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024 exhibition. The artist accepted her award and prize of US$60,000 at the award ceremony that took place at Louvre Abu Dhabi on 11 December 2024.
Nicène Kossentini, a Tunisian artist known for her interdisciplinary approach, uses her work to challenge how we perceive the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of the world around us. In her submission, Landscapes, Kossentini explores the theme of disappearance through five evocative video pieces, each depicting desolate landscapes from central and southern Tunisia.
As the images unfold, they gradually freeze and fade beneath a layer of wax, symbolising the gradual erasure of these places. This striking work reflects on the impermanence of both physical and emotional spaces, inviting viewers to engage more deeply with their surroundings and prompting a shift from passive observation to active contemplation of the fragility of time and existence.
Kossentini was selected by a distinguished five-member jury, led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. Joining him were Dr Guilhem André, Director of Scientific Curatorial and Collection Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Simon Njami, Art Here 2024 exhibition guest curator, Nujoom Alghanem, a renowned Emirati poet, artist and multi-award-winning film director, and Maya Allison, the founding director of the Art Gallery and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi.
Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “With each edition of Art Here, we witness the growth and evolution of contemporary art in the region, and this fourth edition has achieved an exceptional level of maturity and dynamism. This year’s theme, Awakenings, has inspired artists to create works of profound depth and innovation, making the jury’s decision an especially difficult one. We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Richard Mille allowing us to bring together esteemed experts and provide a platform for exceptional artists from the region to present their creations at Louvre Abu Dhabi, fostering the growth of contemporary art and inspiring audiences from around the globe.”
Simon Njami, Curator of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024, said: “It was not an easy decision, given the exceptional quality of the proposals from the five shortlisted artists. However, after much deliberation, we concluded that Nicène Kossentini’s work best responded to the multitude of questions posed by the theme and its various interpretations. Horizon, Awakening, and Ouverture were explored in a manner that was both subtle and poetic, yet profoundly impactful, earning the unanimous approval of the jury. I extend my gratitude to all the artists for their remarkable dedication, which elevates this award to an international standard of excellence.”
For its fourth edition, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024 invited artists to propose artworks addressing this year’s theme of Awakenings, exploring three key concepts reflected in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s three official languages: awakenings (in English), ouvertures (openings in French) and آفاق (horizons in Arabic). Presented beneath the museum’s dome, the exhibition features a mix of sculpture, multimedia and installation art, reflecting the region’s evolving dialogue with heritage, environment, and culture. The theme encourages artists to explore ideas of openness and new beginnings, challenging them to translate these abstract concepts into tangible forms across various mediums.
Artworks featured in the fourth edition of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024 included: Tilling the Soil by Férielle Doulain-Zouari; Debutante Ball by Lamya Gargash; The Brides of the Sky by Moataz Nasr; Landscapes by Nicène Kossentini; and Shared Motion by Sarah Almehairi.
Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024, featuring contemporary works from emerging and established GCC and North African artists, will be on display until 15 December 2024. The theme and call for proposal for the highly anticipated 2025 fifth edition of the Richard Mille Art Prize and Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here exhibition will be announced in 2025.
