Scottish Artist Jasleen Kaur Clinches 40th Turner Prize

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur wins the Turner Prize on its 40th anniversary. The award is the UK’s most coveted prize for contemporary artists. She won for her solo exhibition ‘Alter Altar’, a rather striking installation of a Ford Escort car adorned with a giant doily.

Kaur was announced the winner at a ceremony held at Tate Britain in the central part of London. The 38-year-old outsmarted other nominees, among them Philippines-born Pio Abad, Manchester-born Claudette Johnson, and English artist Delaine Le Bas. Kaur took home a £25,000 ($32,000) cash prize, while the other shortlisted artists shared the same sum with £10,000 each.

The five-person jury chose Kaur for her ability “to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material.” In her acceptance speech, she called for a ceasefire in Gaza and shouted, “Free Palestine.”

The Turner Prize, launched in 1984, recognizes the best exhibitions or displays of a British artist’s work. It has been awarded to the best of the best, including Gilbert & George, Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, Antony Gormley, Chris Ofili, Steve McQueen, and Damien Hirst, among others. Last year’s winner was British artist Jesse Darling, who received the prize for sculptures and installations which reflected societal breakdown.

Although the prize is meant to promote discussion of new developments in contemporary art, it has frequently caused controversy. In 1998, Ofili won with paintings using elephant dung; in 1995, Hirst was awarded for works including a rotting cow’s head. Tracey Emin’s 1999 entry, ‘My Bed’, an unmade bed littered with soiled underwear and other items, also generated much publicity.