Theaster Gates – Winner of Artes Mundi 6 Prize

Theaster Gates has been awarded the Artes Mundi 6 Prize, for his presentation ‘A Complicated Relationship between Heaven and Earth, or, When We Believe’ (2014).

The artist said of the announcement:
‘A Complicated Relationship between Heaven and Earth, or, When We Believe’ contemplates how objects have been used as signifiers of power and perhaps re-opens them to be real instruments for accessing belief. I am grateful to Artes Mundi for the global platform to expand the context for this work.

You can watch our film, in which Gates discusses the exhibition here.

The judges selected a shortlist of nine artists from over 800 nominations, from 70 countries, looking for those whose work explores and comments on the human condition and lived experience. Karen Mackinnon, Artes Mundi’s Director & Curator described the artists nominated as ‘engag[ing] with the core of Artes Mundi’s vision: that art is transformational on a personal and cultural level.’

This year's shortlist included a diverse group of international artists spanning different generations and cultures. Others shortlisted were Carlos Bunga, Omer Fast, Sanja Iveković, Ragnar Kjartansson, Sharon Lockhart, Renata Lucas, Renzo Martens, Karen Mirza and Brad Butler.

An exhibition of Gates’ presentation, along with the other shortlisted artists' works is on view at National Museum Cardiff, Chapter, Cardiff and ffotogallery, Penarth until 22 February 2015.