The winners of the 12th annual Maľba are known

The winners of the 12th annual the prestigious competition Maľba (Painting) – VUB Foundation Award for Painting for Young Artists are Žofia Dubová, Marta Kissová a Hana Garová.

The international jury of the 12th year of Maľba competition led by a chairwoman Jane Neal, a British curator of contemporary art, had a very important and difficult task. Similarly to every year the members of the jury had to agree in consensus and select 3 winners out of 20 finalists shortlisted in the first round of evaluation out of 118 registered artists. 

1st place
The winner of the 12th Maľba (Painting) Competition is 26-year-old artist Žofia Dubová. Together with the prestigious prize and recognition, she was also awarded EUR 10,000. According to the judgement of the jury, the winning work entitled “Over the mountain” differs on first sight from all the other final works. It is a very appealing and innovative work, and in a rather interesting way it deals with painting history and, on the other hand, also brings an innovative approach to this classical medium. It interprets the contrast between Eastern and Western civilization and brings together the European sophistication and painting tradition with the Asian visual way as demonstrated by the theme of nature and mountains. The work represents the new direction and new wave of the 21st century. The jury also appreciated the use of the new techniques and painting methods.

2nd place
Second place was awarded by jury to the artist Marta Kissová, who received the award of EUR 6,500 for her future career. The power of her work entitled “Je na čase ísť spat” is the authenticity that is reflected in the painting theme. The work depicts in an interesting way the struggle between reality and something imaginary. The painting is defined by the confident dynamics and is balanced in colour and theme. The author nicely uses the painting method, theme and its realisation. Kissová does not illustrate pseudo rurality, but rather the reality she knows - contemporary and imaginary.

3rd place
Third place and EUR 3,500 was awarded to Hana Garová for her work entitled “Útek zo zajatia” (Escape from Captivity). The jury defined this work as very consistent yet free, illustrating an interesting dialogue between the lines and abstraction. The jury appreciated Garová’s work with colours and specific handling of abstraction.