PARIS.- Dorchester Collection's Le Meurice in Paris, located on rue de Rivoli and across the Tuileries Garden, named Bordeaux-born artist Alexandre Singh as the winner of the iconic hotel's 5th Annual Prize for Contemporary Art. Represented by Galerie Art: Concept in Paris, Singh was selected among eight finalists and received 20,000€ to share with his gallery for his sculptural series, The Humans.

As a performance and sculptural piece, The Humans project displays six different screens and takes place inside a room lined with synthetic lawn. Set during Genesis, the opposing Apollonian and Dionysian characters try to prevent the creation of the universe. However, their attempts are disastrous and ultimately fail, resulting in the world we know today. The action comes to a head when the two characters "accidentally give life" to the chorus, which are Humans.

Le Meurice is currently featuring an exhibition of the eight finalists' work for the Prize for Contemporary Art at the hotel until October 21, 2013. In addition, Galerie Art: Concept will exhibit The Humans over the coming year. The work will also be shown at Witte de With contemporary art center in Rotterdam, Sprüth Magers gallery in Berlin, and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from November 11-17, 2012. The project may also be shown at the Avignon Festival in 2014.

The winner of the 5th annual Le Meurice Prize for Contemporary Art was chosen by an acclaimed group of arts professionals led by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Ambassador for the award; Henri Loyrette, President and Director of the Louvre Museum; Marta Gili, Director of Jeu de Paume; Jennifer Flay, FIAC Director; Colette Barbier, Director of Fondation d'Entreprise Ricard; Jean de Loisy, President of the Palais de Tokyo; Montse Aguer, Director of the Centre for Dalinian Studies; Philippe Dagen, Writer and Professor at University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne; Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, Artist and Winner of the Prize for Contemporary Art 2011/2012; Maryvonne Pinault, Collector; and Franka Holtmann, General Manager of Le Meurice.

Previous winners include Mathieu Kleyebe Abonnenc, represented by Marcelle Alix Gallery in 2011/2012, Eric Baudart represented by Chez Valentin Gallery in 2010/2011, Renaud Auguste-Dormeuil, represented by In Situ Gallery in 2009/2010, and Zoulikha Bouabdellah, represented by La B.A.N.K Gallery in 2008/2009.

The Prize for Contemporary Art is a non-profit competition designed, launched and funded by Le Meurice who embrace the "French Genius for the Art of Living" and elevate the next generation of French artists to compete on the international stage.

Art has always been a focus at Le Meurice, which opened in 1835 in the heart of Paris and quickly became a magnet for artists and celebrities - most notably surrealist painter Salvador Dali, who checked in for at least one month each year throughout the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. More recently in 2007, General Manager Holtmann tapped renowned French designer Phillipe Starck to lead an "invisible transformation" of Le Meurice, securing the hotel's prominence with artful renovations of all public spaces. Most recently, award-winning designer Charles Jouffre is conducting an ongoing redesign of the hotel's luxurious guestrooms and suites.