Jean-Ulrick Désert receives first Wi Di Mimba Wi Prize for artists of color in Germany

Berlin-based artist Jean-Ulrick Désert, originally from Haiti, has become the first recipient of the Wi Di Mimba Wi Prize. Established by AKB Stiftung and SAVVY Contemporary, this annual award offers €30,000 in working funds to artists of color residing in Germany, along with additional support for new artwork creation. The jury, comprising Bassam El Baroni, Karina Griffith, Otobong Nkanga, Mirjami Schuppert, and Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, selected Désert from a shortlist that included Karimah Ashadu, Ana Paula Oliveira Martins dos Santos, and Lerato Shadi. Jurors praised Désert's ability to provoke emotional reactions to Black European experiences through his performances. Désert described the prize as arriving at a pivotal moment for his practice and society, referencing advice from the late Okwui Enwezor to create relevant work. He emphasized art's critical social function during crises like the current pandemic.