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 During his 2-month artist residency in Bangalore, Matthias Einhoff initiated the Award for Everyday Achievement. The award addressed three neighborhoods in Bangalore and asked their citizens to nominate other community members for micro-level achievements in making individual or community life better. On Wednesday the 6th of January at 6.30 p.m., thirty nominators handed over trophies and certificates to thirty nominees and unveiled a range of community-building activity in their neighborhoods. The award was accompanied by a dinner and professional photo shoot. The event gave the participants a chance to find out about each other’s activities. With award ceremonies usually celebrating entertainment, sports and business, this award was intended to honor small-scale acts in an unexpected way. The event was intended exclusively for the neighborhood and considered how art can engage in the public sphere and strengthen community awareness without exploiting or reevaluating existing systems.
Beyond its social implications, the award brought forth an unexpected set of neighborhood stories and proposes a model for documenting the oral history of community life.
‘Award for Everyday Achievements’ was realized during a residence founded by the Goethe Institute at ‘Jaaga Common Space’ in Bangalore, 2010.
Publication for ’Award for Everyday Achievements’. Download here.
  
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