Award of the Frank Schirrmacher Prize for 2019 to Ai Weiwei. With a laudatory speech by former Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey.
Wednesday, 30. October 2019, 18:30 – 20:00 h
At the University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zurich
Ai Weiwei is one of the most interesting personalities of our age. Not only is he a stimulating artist and provocateur, but also a chronicler of our times and a critic of regimes, one whose messages shake people up and provide constant inspiration to ponder over.
On this evening he will receive the Frank Schirrmacher Prize 2019 in Zurich.
The laudation will be given by former federal councillor, Micheline Calmy-Rey. The event will be rounded off with a round-table discussion between Ai Weiwei, Micheline Calmy-Rey and Uli Sigg.
Ai Weiwei, born in 1957, is a Chinese concept artist, sculptor, contemporary chronicler and curator. He deals with diverse forms of artistic expression, including images, books, films, houses, installations, photography and sculpture.
Micheline Calmy-Rey studied political science at the University of Geneva. She was a member of the Cantonal Parliament of the Canton of Geneva (1981-1997), President of the Cantonal Parliament of the Canton of Geneva and of the SPS of the Canton of Geneva (1986-1990, 1993-1997), as well as a Member of the Government Council of the Canton of Geneva (1997-2002), most recently as President for two years. From 2003-2011, Calmy-Rey served as a Federal Councillor, including as President of the Swiss Confederation in 2007 and 2011. In 2010, she was President of the European Council. Since 2012, she has been a professor at the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva.
Photo: CH Media/Alex Spichale