With “Kadenz”, Catugier presents an innovative concept in which the artists’ book is understood as a three-dimensional, actively experiencable space. Traditional reading sequences and textual hierarchies are intended to be suspended in order to create an open, performative experience. Within this format, the book develops its own “architecture”: it links archival images, on-site photographs, and meditative sound compositions into an architectural portrait of the Herzog August Bibliothek. In “Kadenz”, Catugier not only seeks to explore the library’s architecture but also reflects on the role and value of libraries in society:

"My work is intended to raise awareness of the library’s architectural heritage while also honoring libraries in general as indispensable spaces for preserving knowledge. In a society that promotes dematerialization, this project allows a return to physical and human reference points." („Mein Werk soll das Bewusstsein für das architektonische Erbe der Bibliothek schärfen und gleichzeitig Bibliotheken im Allgemeinen als unverzichtbare Orte des Wissensschutzes würdigen. In einer Gesellschaft, die die Entmaterialisierung fördert, ermöglicht dieses Projekt eine Rückbesinnung auf physische und menschliche Bezugspunkte.“)

The Artists’ Book Prize has been awarded since 2018 jointly by the Herzog August Bibliothek and the Curt Mast Jägermeister Foundation.

In addition to the €6,000 award, Laure Catugier now has the opportunity to work at the library for up to a month and create a work inspired by the HAB’s holdings, which will then be presented to the public at an award presentation. The artist (1982, Toulouse) lives and works in Berlin. She studied architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Toulouse and art and design at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Toulouse, combining these two fields in her work. Catugier works interdisciplinarily across photography, video, installation, sound, and object art. Since 2013, her projects have been exhibited internationally, including in Berlin, Paris, London, Seoul, and Dallas, as well as at various biennales and art festivals. She has received, among others, the Celeste Prize and participated in the Goldrausch Artist Project in Berlin. Her work questions perception, space, and the role of modern architecture in societal contexts.

The jury recognized “Kadenz” as an experimental yet publicly engaging project that consistently expands the possibilities of the artists’ book. Particularly convincing was the combination of the book object, performative practice, and sound art, which makes the artists’ book experientially accessible in an innovative and sensory way.

For the 2026 Artists’ Book Prize, 26 project proposals were submitted, including entries from Germany as well as international applicants from the USA, the Caribbean, North Africa, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Photo: Laure Catugier. © Pier2 AIR