Lubaina Himid awarded Britain's Turner Prize

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Lubaina Himid, a key figure of the Black Arts Movement, was named as the winner of this year's Turner Prize for art on Tuesday evening at a ceremony in the northern English city of Hull.

Tanzanian-born Himid beat other short-listed artists including British painter Hurvin Anderson, German painter Andrea Büttner and British filmmaker Rosalind Nashashibi.

The jury praised the four nominated artists for their socially-engaged and visually-imaginative work. They then awarded the prize to Lubaina Himid for a trio of outstanding shows in Oxford, Bristol and Nottingham.

Alex Farquharson, director of organizers Tate Britain, said in a statement that the judges praised Himid for her “uncompromising tackling of issues, including colonial history and how racism persists today."

Artist Lubaina Himid (C) with DJ Goldie (L) and Tate Director Maria Balshaw after winning the Turner Prize in Hull, Britain, December 5, 2017. /Reuters Photo

In the past, the prize was viewed as a vehicle for younger artists, but a change in the rules has moved the award in a new direction this year, with two nominees over 40 and the other two short-listed artists in their 50s and 60s.

The organizers have now scrapped a rule introduced in 1991 that required nominated artists to be under the age of 50.

The annual award for contemporary art was presented to Himid by electronic music star Goldie, in a televised ceremony held in Hull Minster church in the northeastern city of Hull.

The Turner Prize award money is 40,000 pounds (54,000 US dollars), with 25,000 pounds going to the winner and 5,000 pounds each for the other short-listed artists.

A painting by Lubaina Himid at the press preview for the 2017 Turner Prize at Ferens Art Gallery in Hull, Britain, September 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Founded in 1984 and named after English 19th century landscape painter J.M.W. Turner, the prize is the UK’s most high-profile visual arts award. During the 1990s, it helped to launch the careers of some of the stars of the Young British Artists movement such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

An exhibition in Hull’s Ferens Gallery showcasing the nominees work, which organizers said has drawn over 90,000 visitors since its opening in September, runs until January 7.

（With input from Xinhua News Agency.）

Source(s): Reuters