Created in 2016 at the initiative of the Journées Nationales du Livre et du Vin and the Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary art, the François Morellet Prize pays tribute to François Morellet, the most exposed French artist in the world.
Before his death in 2016, François Morellet agreed to sponsor this prize, which rewards each year writings on Art, whether monographic, theoretical or historical. The 2018 prize will be awarded on 17 June in Saumur as part of the National Book and Wine Days.
François Morellet Prize 2017
The François Morellet 2017 Prize was awarded on May 14 to 2017 to Michel Onfray for his writings on Contemporary Art. French philosopher and essayist, Michel Onfray founded the Université populaire de Caen in 2002. His media coverage is strengthened by regular interventions in TV or radio where he expresses himself on political and social debates. Michel Onfray has written more than eighty books. His thinking is mainly influenced by philosophers such as Nietzsche and Epicure, the cynical school, French materialism and Provedhonian anarchism.
In his lecture « Is it necessary to burn contemporary art? « Michel Onfray » offers us a rare opportunity to question the foundations of what constitutes the artistic production of our time, to understand, judge and appreciate it.
With his usual clarity, he delivers the keys to a world too often closed to the general public, absent from our education and abandoned by thinkers. By returning to the history and causes of the construction of a movement, to the meaning of the works in the face of the questions of our society, Michel Onfray arouses curiosity and interest: he finally opens the doors of museums and contemporary art collections to us. » (Lola Caul-Futy Frémeaux).
François Morellet Prize 2016
The first François Morellet prize was awarded on April 10, 2016 to Catherine Millet for her entire critical work.
Catherine Millet pointed out that she had chosen a photo of François Morellet’s famous neon light for the cover of the first edition of her book Contemporary Art in France. She also drew a parallel between the works of the Art&Language collective exhibited at the Château de Montsoreau and the work of François Morellet: « There is a continuity between this very geometric and rigorous art form practiced (with a lot of humour) by François Morellet and Art&Language composed of a group of very theoretical and very funny artists ».
Trophy of the François Morellet Prize
The trophy for the François Morellet Prize was designed by Pascal Morabito. After his studies in architecture, he opened on May 3, 1968, in the family workshops, the first department of artists’ jewellery entitled « the centre for the study and creation of contemporary jewellery or micro-architecture ». Pascal Morabito works in the luxury sector. Passionate about archaeology, he creates his products as the archaeologist gives light to the dark millennia through his discoveries.