The Erich Maria Remark Peace Prize can be compared to the Olympics. However, every two years, the jury of the competition named after the German writer names the best not among athletes and chooses the most successful artists, journalists, researchers, and writers. In 2023, the competition's final will be held in Osnabryuk (Germany), and the organisers want to see the Ukrainian artist Serhii Maidukov. On June 22, at the awards ceremony, the jury wants to award a special prize dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Erich Maria Remark.
Serhii Maidukov is known for his illustrations all over the world. His clients were The Washington Post, The Architectural Review, Vogue Ukraine, Brussels Airlines, and Mcdonald's. Works of the Ukrainian artist repeatedly published in Zeit, The Guardian, The New Yorker.
However, the Ukrainian illustrator refused to attend the award ceremony in Germany. The reason for this was the Russian writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya, who was also nominated for the award. According to the competition organisers, they are out of politics and war – only literature and art, the hope of friendship among people. However, not everyone agrees with this.
"Taking care of my psyche and avoiding offensive words, I will note that I have enough Russian presence in my life so far," said Serhii Maidukov.
The famous artist made the final decision on the trip to the award. The money, which will be a grant from The Erich Maria Remark Peace Prize, will transfer to the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces – the purchase of a car.
