Unseen histories step into the spotlight

The 40th Turner Prize is all about ignored history: with unique drawings, sculptures and installations, the four nominated artists bring neglected aspects of history to light and contribute to an objective historiography. Pio Abad (*1983) takes artifacts from the British Museum as his starting point, from which he draws connections to lost culture and the colonial history of the Philippines. He was nominated for his exhibition To Those Sitting in Darkness, which was shown at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Claudette Johnson (*1959) creates expressive portraits of Black men and women in which she examines their marginalization in European art history and presents counter-designs. Johnson was nominated for her exhibitions Presence at the Courtauld Gallery in London and Drawn Out at Ortuzar Projects in New York.

Jasleen Kaur's (*1986) installations of gathered and reconstructed everyday objects challenge our notions of traditional daily activities and values. She was nominated for the show Alter Altar, which was shown at Tramway in Glasgow. Immersive environments, including theater costumes and sculptures, by Delaine Le Bas (*1965) present the rich culture and mythology of the Roma. In her exhibition Incipit Vita Nova. Here Begins The New Life/A New Life Is Beginning, shown by the Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession, she focuses primarily on the themes of death, loss and renewal.

The winner is Jasleen Kaur, as announced on December 03, 2024. Kaur won 25,000 GBP, the other three nominees received 10,000 GBP each. The accompanying exhibition for the 40th Turner Prize can be seen at Tate Britain in London until February 16. This year's judging panel consisted of Rosie Cooper, Director of the Wysing Arts Centre; Ekow Eshun, writer and curator; Sam Thorne, Director General and CEO of Japan House London; and Lydia Yee, curator and art historian. The panel was chaired by Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain.