As the international art exhibition Artes Mundi returns to Cardiff, Sophie Shepherd takes a look at the shortlisted artists for this year’s prize.
The National Museum in Cardiff will play host to the work of five of the most celebrated and internationally recognised artists this month as the biennial Artes Mundi Prize returns. Although the organisation is rooted in Wales, it focuses on presenting an international programme that enriches Welsh education and culture. Artes Mundi is Latin for “arts of the world”, reflecting the international focus of the charity that was founded in 2002. Artes Mundi supports and recognises contemporary artists who explore the human condition, social reality and lived experience in their work.
Every two years, director Karen MacKinnon and her team present an exhibition celebrating five to seven internationally successful artists and after four months a judging panel decides who will be awarded the impressive grand prize of £40,000. This significant prize is designed to give the artists the freedom to develop new work, or time to reflect on their practice and move it forward.
The process of the award begins with an open call for nominations from across the world. To be considered for the prize, artists must have already achieved recognition for the quality of their work in their own country or sphere.
This year, over 450 nominations were received, spanning 86 countries. The selectors for Artes Mundi 8 included Nick Aikens, curator at the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; Alia Swastika, a Jakarta-based curator and writer; and Daniela Pérez, an independent curator based in Mexico City. The selectors had the difficult job of narrowing down the vast amount of nominations to a shortlist of five artists.
The exhibition takes place at the National Museum Cardiff alongside an extensive programme of activities and learning projects. The unique use of LiveGuides, a group of education professionals who will have extensive training, will allow visitors to get first-hand knowledge about the exhibition, contextualising the work as they go along.
With previous winners including artist and director, John Akomfrah, and sculpture artist Theaster Gates (who decided to split his £40,000 win amongst the other artists), this year’s shortlist lives up to the variety and talent from previous years. The work in the exhibition spans four continents and uses a range of practices – from filmmakers to sculptors, and video installation artists. The shortlisted artists for this year are Anna Boghiguian, Bouchra Khalili, Otobong Nkanga, Trevor Paglen, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
The winner of the £40,000 prize will be announced on Thurs 24 Jan, after a group of independent judges have considered not only the artist’s work in the exhibition, but their work over the past five to eight years. Judging this year’s shortlist is curator Laura Raicovich, Mori Art Museum curator Katoaka Mami and Anthony Shapland, creative director of Cardiff’s g39 gallery. The judges will look for the artist who has consistently made thought-provoking and exceptional work to a high standard throughout their career. All five shortlisted artists have made significant contributions and have been highly awarded in their spheres, making the judges’ decision a tough one. The anticipated exhibition will be available to view at Cardiff National Museum giving everyone the chance to view the impressive work of these highly-acclaimed international artists.
Artist Bios
Anna Boghiguian is an installation artist from Egypt. Her work includes text, images, photographs, drawings, and other documentary material that is closely woven to portray her distant, outsider perspective of the world. The politically charged aspect of her work has attracted attention and acclaim, but also stirred political debate and controversy in her native Egypt. Her dense compositions and use of intense colours alongside spontaneous drawings visualises and records her experience of constantly moving around the globe. Her recent work includes Castello di Rivoli (2017), The Restless Earth (2017) and Triennale di Milano (2017).
Nigerian-Belgian Otobong Nkanga creates drawings, installations and sculptures that examine ideas associated with land and value and their connection to natural resources. Her work dwells on memory, environment, and postcolonial histories. Whilst she uses a variety of mediums, they are all thematically connected through architecture and landscape. Uniquely, her own body and voice are used in live performances and videos in order to become the protagonist in her own work. Recent shows and performances include: To Dig a Hole That Collapses Again at MCA Chicago (2018) and The Tanks at Tate Modern in London (2017).
Multi-talented American Trevor Paglen’s set of skills cover image-making, sculpture, investigative journalism, writing, and engineering. His work is often concerned with how to view the historical moment we live in and how to develop the means to imagine alternative futures. In 2014, he received the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award for his work as a “groundbreaking investigative artist.” He launched an artwork into distant orbit around Earth in collaboration with Creative Time and MIT and is the author of five books. Paglen’s current project investigates global state surveillance and the ethics of drone warfare.
Moroccan-French artist Bouchra Khalili works with film, video, installation, photography, and prints that explore language, subjectivity, and geographical explorations. Her work tends to elaborate on narratives of individuals who are often members of political minorities. Alongside her work as an artist, she is also a Professor of Contemporary Art at The Oslo National Art Academy. In the past couple of years she has had her own solo exhibitions: documenta 14 (2017) and The Mapping Journey Project at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York (2016).
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, from Thailand, completes the shortlist. His work deals with memory, personal politics, and social issues. He is actively involved in promoting experimental and independent filmmaking through his company, Kick The Machine. With numerous festival prizes under his belt, including three prizes from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Weerasethakul’s work often reflects themes such as dreams, nature, and sexuality, alongside Western perceptions of Asia. His award-winning films throughout the years include Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), which won the Palme d’Or, Cemetery of Splendour (2015), and Tropical Malady (2004).
Artes Mundi 8, National Museum Cardiff, Fri 26 Oct-Sun 24 Feb. Admission: free. Info: www.artesmundi.org