Aanmoedigingsprijs 2021

Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit, Ayitey Hammond, Kelsey Corby

Each year the Stroom Aanmoedigingsprijs (Encouragement Award) is given to selected student(s) as a special incentive upon their graduation from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (KABK). The prize has existed since 1991 and is not only appreciated for the prize money, but above all for the recognition and stimulus it provides in the further development of the artists' careers.

This year the special jury (see below) has given the Stroom Encouragement Award of € 3.000,- to: Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit (BA Fine Art). In addition there are nominations for Ayitey Hammond (BA Photography) and Kelsey Corby (BA Fine Art). For the first time in the history of the award the nominees will each receive € 500,-.


Jury report Stroom Encouragement Award 2021

The jury found the overall quality of the works and presentations to be high. They especially noticed that much of the work was centered around autobiographical themes, such as family relationships, childhood memories and domestic life. Also notable was the attention paid to issues like gender identity, safety and violence, and emancipation.

Winner: Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit
(BA Fine Art)

We proudly present Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit (BA Fine Art) as the winner of the Encouragement Award 2021. The work is convincing because of its sensitivity and craftsmanship, and because of the joy of making that radiates from her entire installation. The multi-layeredness and versatility of the work ensure that there is always something new to discover. Yiu Kwan Kit works with the concept of scale in a playful, humorous way and she produces a lot of work, demonstrating a pleasant kind of obsession and a wide range of skills and interests. In particular, the extremely precise and well-thought-out miniatures stand out for their tender, singular, sculptural quality. Yiu Kwan Kit has an extremely tactile approach to her subjects, which makes her were very enjoyable to watch. A very generous, well conceived and mature presentation."

Nominee: Ayitey Hammond
(BA Photography)
The jury is enthusiastic about his personal view of the interaction between decolonization, West African heritage and pop culture. With his open and inquisitive approach, he delineates his own space and translates his observations into a unique visual language. Hammond's curiosity is infectious and draws the audience into his work. His video work is an exciting mix of surprising cultural references. The jury looks forward to the next step in Hammond's artistic practice.

Nominee: Kelsey Corby
(BA Fine Art)
The jury was captivated by the authentic, stimulating energy in her work. In her installation Corby brings together a wide variety of disciplines, forms and materials. At its center are her performances in which she assumes a broad spectrum of roles. The work has chaotic, penetrating, but also vulnerable quality. The jury sees great potential in the further development of her performance practice, and is particularly interested in Corby's role as a storyteller.

The presentations of the winner and the two nominees are very different in tone, form and approach, but overlap in their layering and the apparent, investigative energy and vigor with which the works have been developed.

Jury Encouragement Award 2021
Yasmijn Jarram (curator KM21, The Hague), Tirza Kater (artistic director Hotel Maria Kapel, Hoorn; co-founder project space Marwan, Amsterdam), en Marius Lut (Hague artist; co-founder and director Billytown, The Hague).

KABK Graduation Show 2021
From 8 to 11 July 2021 the art and design students present their graduation projects in the building of the KABK, Prinsessegracht 4 in The Hague.
>> view the works on the online platform: https://graduation2021.kabk.nl

Survey Stroom Encouragement Awards 1991-present
click here


Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit + Alexandra Landré
photo: Emma Grima, courtesy KABK
Ayitey Hammond + Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit + Alexandra Landré
photo: Emma Grima, courtesy KABK
Kelsey Corby + Ayitey Hammond
photo: Emma Grima, courtesy KABK
work Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit
photo: Eric de Vries, courtesy KABK
work Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit
photo: Connie van Driel, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
work Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit
photo: Eric de Vries, courtesy KABK
work Ellen Yiu Kwan Kit
photo: Connie van Driel, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
work Kelsey Corby
photo: Eric de Vries, courtesy KABK
work Kelsey Corby
photo: Connie van Driel, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
work Kelsey Corby
photo: Connie van Driel, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
work Ayitey Hammond
photo: Connie van Driel, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
work Ayitey Hammond
photo: Charlotte Brand, courtesy KABK
work Ayitey Hammond
photo: Charlotte Brand, courtesy KABK