Jasleen Kaur wins 2024 Turner Prize for poignant show evoking the power of community

16 hours ago

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Jasleen Kaur - Figure 1 — Photo The Independent

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur has been announced as the winner of the 2024 award for her solo show titled Alter Altar.

The exhibition showcases a variety of installations that delve into themes of religious identity, politics, and history. It incorporates a rich tapestry of sounds, including bells, Sufi Islamic music, Indian harmonium melodies, and contemporary pop songs, all woven throughout the experience.

A striking feature of the exhibition is a red Ford Escort, which pays homage to her father's first car in the UK as well as the Indian community that moved here to work in textile mills.

James Norton, the actor from Happy Valley, revealed Kaur as the winner during a ceremony at Tate Britain on Tuesday night, where she received a £25,000 prize.

The five jury members commended Kaur for her talent in bringing together various perspectives through surprising and creative mixes of materials, such as Irn-Bru, family photos, and a classic Ford Escort. They noted how she was able to highlight themes of strength and potential in her work.

Kaur, originally from Glasgow but now residing and working in London, dedicated her speech to supporting the people of Palestine.

Jasleen Kaur - Figure 2 — Photo The Independent

The 38-year-old expressed her desire to "reflect the messages of the demonstrators outside," who came together following an open letter that called on the Tate to sever connections with "organizations involved in what the UN and ICJ are nearing a consensus on defining as a genocide of the Palestinian people."

Kaur stated from the stage, "This request is not extreme."

"This shouldn't endanger an artist's career or well-being. We're working towards a shared understanding that affiliations with these organizations are morally wrong, similar to what artists accomplished with the Sackler family," she explained, referring to the family associated with the opioid crisis.

I've been thinking about why artists are expected to envision freedom in their work, yet when those visions confront reality, we often face resistance.

"I hope to see the gap between artistic expressions of politics in galleries and the actual practice of politics in our everyday lives start to diminish."

"I hope the organization realizes that if they want us to be part of their community, they must pay attention to our voices beyond their walls."

Kaur wrapped up her remarks by urging a halt to the fighting, stating: "Liberate Palestine."

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the arts prize named after the British artist JMW Turner, which grants £25,000 to the winner.

Founded in 1984, the award is given annually to a British artist in recognition of an exceptional exhibition or other showcase of their artwork.

Past award winners include sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, who received the honor in 1991, artist Damien Hirst in 1995, and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen in 1999.

In 2025, the award will be awarded at Cartwright Hall art gallery in Bradford, celebrating the 250th birthday of Turner.

The exhibition featuring the four artists selected for the shortlist – Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Delaine Le Bas, and Kaur – will be on display at Tate Britain until February 16, 2025.

Further contributions by PA.