Nicène Kossentini’s disappearing desert landscapes win Richard Mille Art Prize 2024

In partnership with Richard Mille

Landscapes by Tunisian artist Nicène Kossentini has been announced as the winner of the Richard Mille Art Prize 2024. Showcased as part of the accompanying ‘Art Here 2024’ exhibition at the Louvre Abu Dhabi – alongside the works of four other shortlisted artists – the five-channel video installation features Tunisian desert scenes, referencing the effects of human presence. The work invites viewers to contemplate the subtle, often invisible transformations of life and environment, reflecting on the fragility and impact of human actions with a sense of ‘gentle violence’. Kossentini describes Landscapes as ‘an ode to disappearance’.

The five-member Richard Mille Art Prize jury, led by HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, was particularly impressed by the way that Kossentini’s exhibit invites viewers to engage with spaces, both close and uncertain, using contrasts and semi-visibility to create contemplative environments.

Under the expert curation of writer and lecturer Simon Njami, this fourth edition of the Richard Mille Prize marks a significant evolution in both depth and maturity. The prize and exhibition offer a platform for a remarkable selection of both emerging and established contemporary artists from the GCC and North Africa, underscoring the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s dedication to cultural dialogue and innovation via a showcase of the area’s rich creative scene.

This year, artists were invited to explore the theme of ‘awakenings’ for their submissions, with each shortlisted artist’s site-specific installation offering a unique interpretation of this concept, their works creating a tangible experience that invites viewers to explore the intricate layers of awareness, openness and vision within the artistic narrative. Meanwhile, the museum’s silvery dome, designed by Jean Nouvel, creates a dynamic backdrop of shadows, reflections and permeating light, turning the space into a captivating artistic experience.

Alongside Kossentini’s winning entry, the shortlisted works encompass Emirati artist Lamya Gargash’s Debutante Ball, which transforms desert sand into a 2m-high beachball sculpture, exploring Arab identity and addressing human stereotypes; Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr’s Brides of the Sky installation, which looks at themes of bravery and resilience, reflecting on the strength of women while connecting the physical and transcendent worlds; Emirati artist Sarah Al Mehairi’s Shared Motion, which presents the word ‘wind’ in Arabic, Farsi, Hindi and Urdu, reflecting on the linguistic landscape of the region surrounding the Arabian Sea; and Franco-Tunisian artist Férielle Doulain-Zouari’s Tilling the Soil, a multi-dimensional piece that captures sensory details and the interplay between natural and artificial realms, revealing how personal and environmental elements intersect and evolve over time.

‘This exhibition marks a new beginning for the Richard Mille Art Prize,’ says Njami. ‘My career has been dedicated to unveiling new voices in contemporary art, and by widening the scope of applicants, we have expanded the possibilities for aesthetic confrontations, dialogues and challenges. The exhibition aims to reflect the evolution of contemporary art practices in the region and beyond.’

artprize.richardmille.com. ‘Art Here 2024’ is on show until

15 December 2024 at Louvre Abu Dhabi, UAE, louvreabudhabi.ae