Peterborough artist Rene Matić wins Deutsche Börse photography prize
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- Rene Matić won the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation prize 2026, receiving £30,000, one of Europe's most prestigious art awards.
- Rene Matić was nominated for the prize alongside Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka, and Amak Mahmoodian.
- Rene Matić's Berlin exhibition "As Opposed to the Truth" at CCA, which explored queer love, nationalism, and subcultures, was the work cited for the award.
- Shoair Mavlian, director of the Photographers’ Gallery and chair of the jury, highlighted Matić's fluid, experimental photography and the installation’s dialogue‑creating pairing of images.
- Rene Matić incorporates personal symbolism—such as a “Born British Die British” tattoo inspired by Derek Ridgers’ skinhead photography—using flags as metaphors for power and hegemony.
Why it matters: The £30,000 prize and high‑profile award elevate Matić’s career, opening funding and exhibition opportunities, while spotlighting queer and nationalist narratives that challenge mainstream British identity debates.
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