LONDON: Saudi artist Ajlan Gharem on Wednesday won the sixth edition of the prestigious Jameel Prize, a leading award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition.
Gharem, who was recognized for his architectural installation “Paradise Has Many Gates,” was awarded the £25,000 ($34,580) prize by Fady Jameel, chairman and founder of Art Jameel.
The Riyadh-based multidisciplinary artist and mathematics teacher explores in his work how Saudi communities understand and articulate their culture and heritage amid ever-growing globalization.
“Paradise Has Many Gates” resembles the design and function of a traditional mosque but is made of the cage-like chicken wire used for border walls and refugee detention centers.
Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum and chair of the jury, said: “We were incredibly impressed with the work of all finalists, selected for their innovative and imaginative projects with strong links between Islamic traditions and contemporary design.
“As this year’s Jameel Prize winner, Gharem’s work speaks to global conditions and the experience of migrants, as well as being particularly resonant in its local context.
“This edition of the Jameel Prize celebrates contemporary design and Gharem’s work is notable for its innovative use of material and ambitious scale, the transparent wire frame references border fencing but has the effect of demystifying the mosque for non-Muslim viewers.
“We also commend the use of the installation as a space for cross-cultural connection and community gathering,” he added.
The Jameel Prize, founded in partnership with Art Jameel, was conceived after the renovation of the London museum’s Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art. Its sixth edition marked a new era by introducing a thematic focus dedicated to contemporary design.
Its eight finalists, who included artists from the UAE and Lebanon, were shortlisted for the prize from more than 400 applications, and their work will be on display in the exhibition “Jameel Prize: Poetry to Politics” at the Victoria and Albert Museum from Sept. 18 to Nov. 21 before touring internationally.
Gharem’s “Paradise Has Many Gates” will be represented in the exhibition through largescale photographic prints, video, and a recreation of the mosque’s dome.
Art Jameel director, Antonia Carver, said: “This year’s finalists have presented works that engage with this theme critically and deeply, all while paying great attention to aesthetic consideration.
“Our partnership with the V and A is an extension of the work Art Jameel does in the region and the world to bring forth critical conversations on the relationship between contemporary practices and historical movements.
“We are incredibly proud of all the finalists’ contributions and thank Jameel curator, Rachel Dedman, for her work daily on a broad, dynamic program across the museum. Lastly, huge congratulations to Ajlan whose work continues to spark conversation and inspiration,” she added.
