Erasmus prize
This is the Dutch prize for an extraordinary contribution to European culture. The prize reflects the way of thinking of Erasmus: tolerant, non-dogmatic and critical.The prize consists of a concertina-folded fabric band weighted at either end with titanium plates. It forms a book when folded.
The object turns the awarding of the prize into a ceremony: when the recipient has the band hung about his neck, he is received into the company of Erasmus Prize winners. The band bears a hand-written text by Erasmus:
‘variae sunt ingeniorum dotes multae seculorum varietates sunt.
quod
quisque potest in medium proferat nec alteri quisquam invideat qui pro
sua virili suoque modo conatur publicis studiis utilitatis aliquid
adiungere’
‘diverse are the gifts of men of genius and many are the different kinds of ages.
let each one reveal the scope of his competence and let no one be
envious of another who in keeping with his own ability and style tries
to make a useful contribution to the education of all.’
Produced by Studio Ninaber.
Publications
NRC, Erasmusprijs voor internationaal recht (newspaper), November 2009
NRC, Erasmusprijs uitgereikt (newspaper), November 2003
Volkskrant, Bernhard reikt Erasmusprijs uit (newspaper), September 2002
Modern art medals, a retrospective (book), 1998