International
Hundertwasser-Prize
In honor of Friedensreich Hundertwasser – Patron of the WaterFoundation
In 2001, the WaterFoundation established the International Hundertwasser Prize as a tribute to the work of the artist, ecologist and philosopher Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000).
The Prize commemorates Hundertwasser’s lifelong dedication to the protection of nature and to the aim of enabling people to live in dignity and peace.
The International Hundertwasser Prize is awarded to companies, organizations, initiatives or individuals in recognition of outstanding contributions to the sustainable use of water as a natural resource – in the areas of drinking water provision, basic sanitation or reforestation in developing countries.
The prize amounts to 5 000 euros.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
The Viennese-born Friedensreich Hundertwasser is one of the most fascinating artistic personalities of the 20th century. His real name was Friedrich Stowasser. He called himself “Hundertwasser Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt”, in short: Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
He was not only world-famous as an artist and architect, but was also a committed ecologist and philosopher for environmental protection and peace. In reference to the philosopher Heraclitus and his river doctrine “panta rhei”, we find strong references to the metaphor of eternal change, becoming and passing away in Hundertwasser’s work. Nature and water always play an important role here; among other things, he designed posters for the preservation of the Danube floodplains, for the protection of whales or for the preservation of the seas and rainforests.
Just a few weeks before his sudden death on February 19, 2000, the committed artist had taken over the patronage of the WaterFoundation, which is thankfully continued by the Hundertwasser Charitable Foundation.
The previous laureates
2020 Fekadu Aleka / Ethiopia
The 59-year-old German engineer Fekadu Aleka, who has Ethiopian roots, has rendered outstanding services to improving the water supply for numerous people in Ethiopia through his organization Environmentalists Development Association – Ethiopia (EDA-E).
2016 Yacouba Sawadogo / Burkina Faso
Yacouba Sawadogo has been committed to reforestation in his country for many years. It was severely damaged by the devastating drought of the 1980s. In 2018, Sawadogo received one of the Right Livelihood Awards, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, worth 96,000 euros.
2013 MInistry of Agriculture / Eritrea
The Eritrean Ministry of Agriculture was honored for founding the Green Clubs in 1992 and for their subsequent support. 120 solar lamps were purchased with the prize money and given to particularly committed club members as an award.
2008 Karl-Heinz Böhm / Ethiopia
The WaterFoundation awarded Karl-Heinz Böhm the International Hundertwasser Prize in Munich City Hall, in recognition of the work of his foundation “Menschen für Menschen” (People for People). For over 30 years, the foundation has been helping people in Ethiopia to help themselves.
2005 FogQuest / Canada
FogQuest has developed expertise since 1987 in the sustainable combating of water scarcity by collecting water from fog using fog collectors.
2003 Il Tucul / Italien
The non-profit organization Il Tucul, based in the province of Trento in Italy, was awarded the prize for its work in Eritrea. The association, named after the Eritrean round huts Tukul, is known for its unconventional and exemplary commitment to sustainable water supply.
2001 Wolfgang Buchner / South America
Wolfgang Buchner was honored with the Hundertwasser Award for his many years of commitment to improving the drinking water supply for people in rural areas of South America. In the 20 years of his work, more than 10,000 “Buchner wells” have been built there, providing clean drinking water for over 200,000 people.