Rene Matić's Deutsche Börse Win Sparks Debate on Artistic Merit
Rene Matić, at just 29, has become the youngest winner of the prestigious £30,000 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation prize. The artist, who identifies as queer and working-class, was nominated for their solo exhibition As Opposed to the Truth at CCA Berlin. A smaller reconfiguration of that show is currently on display at the Photographers' Gallery in London. Matić was also the youngest artist ever nominated for the Turner prize last year.
While there are aspects of Matić's work that are commendable, such as their challenge to conventional notions of value in life and art, and their exploration of British identity, much of their other output feels prematurely rewarded. Their installation Feelings Wheel, a series of diaristic snapshots, resembles something one might find on a university student's Tumblr page. The images are mediocre, avoiding Instagram censorship but lacking depth, and mounting them in Perspex does little to elevate their interest. The work often seems insular, preaching to the converted rather than building bridges to a broader audience.
Matić's 2022 work Upon This Rock, which explores their father's involvement with the skinhead movement, broke new ground conceptually and materially. However, many other pieces, such as those featuring flags, tattoos, or people kissing at Glastonbury, lack the radical or nuanced edge needed to stand out. Comparisons to photographers like Wolfgang Tillmans or Nan Goldin fall short, as Matić adapts their techniques without advancing them. The vulnerability and compassion in their work can feel performative rather than sincere, leaving the viewer without enough tension or questions to resolve.
The win raises questions about the current state of photography, suggesting that self-marketing may be valued over artistic substance. While the award's recognition of a queer, working-class person of color is a positive statement, based on Matić's contributions to photography, the prize seems premature. Their ideas need more time to mature.
