Glasgow-based artist Jasleen Kaur wins this year’s Turner Prize for her exhibition ‘Alter Altar,’ which celebrates the Scottish Sikh community through a thought-provoking combination of material and objects. The win has been met with messages from people in the local Sikh community, highlighting the significance of her work.
The Turner Prize, a prestigious award in British art, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Named after the British painter JMW Turner, the prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art.
Previous winners of the Turner Prize include notable artists such as Anish Kapoor, Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing, Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Jeremy Deller, Helen Marten, and Veronica Ryan. These artists have made significant contributions to the world of contemporary art.
This year, four shortlisted artworks are being showcased at the Tate Britain until 16 February 2025. The exhibition is a part of the Turner Prize celebrations, which every other year travels to a non-Tate venue to widen access to contemporary art. Next year’s event will be held in Bradford as part of the 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations.
Jasleen Kaur, a 38-year-old artist from Glasgow, has won this year’s Turner Prize for her exhibition “Alter Altar” at Tramway, a contemporary arts venue in Glasgow. The judges praised Kaur’s work for its thoughtful and playful combinations of material that gather different voices.
Kaur grew up in Glasgow without being aware of the Turner Prize while growing up due to lack of cultural access. Her exhibition celebrates the Scottish Sikh community, showcasing family photos, an Axminster carpet, a vintage car covered in a giant doily, and kinetic handbells. The judges noted that Kaur’s work explores how cultural memory is layered in objects and rituals.
In her interview, Kaur said, “Something like this that is so visible means a lot to a lot of different people.” She also mentioned, “It means something to different groups and I’m up of representing all of them.”
The win has been met with messages from people in the local Sikh community and those Kaur grew up with, indicating the significance of her work.
The Turner Prize aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art.
Kaur’s work explores how cultural memory is layered in the objects and rituals surrounding us.
The judges praised Kaur’s “considered way in which she weaves together the personal, political, and spiritual in her exhibition.”
The win has been met with messages from people in the local Sikh community and those Kaur grew up with, indicating the significance of her work.
