ARTIST NNENA KALU WINS THE TURNER PRIZE DESPITE HER LEARNING DISABILITY
One of the most prestigious art prizes in the world, the Turner Prize recognises contemporary advancements in British art across all media. Artist Nnenna Kalu made history this year by becoming the first person with a learning disability to receive the Turner Prize. She received a cash award of £25,000 (about $33,460) for her sculptural and drawing work.
Kalu, an autistic artist with poor verbal communication skills, has become well-known in the art world for her enormous sculptures composed of VHS tape and found cloth twisted into vibrant, huge knots. Her drawings, which are recognised for their subtle yet captivating quality that captivates onlookers, also feature twisting patterns.
According to Alex Farquharson, chair of the jury and director of Tate Britain, which bestows the Turner Prize, "Nnena's work was very much selected for its quality, but given her neurodiverse artist, given her verbal communication is limited, she's someone who historically would have been on the outside." He saw Kalu's victory as a turning point for the global art community.
Farquharson continued, "[Her victory] starts to obliterate the line between the neurotypical and neurodiverse artist." "All of a sudden, you realise that there has been a border surrounding both our past and modern art. However, that line is eroding.
Inspired by a fan's remarks at a workshop, the artist wore a rosette with the words "Idol, Legend, Winner, Whatever" to the gala, making a succinct but impactful statement. Due to her disabilities, the winner's speech was given by Charlotte Hollinshead, Kalu's artistic facilitator and studio manager. "Hopefully, this prize helps to shatter the prejudice away because Nnena has endured an amazing amount of discrimination, which continues to this day."
Kalu, who was born in Scotland in 1966 to Nigerian parents, currently resides in London, which has been her starting point for becoming one of the most fascinating artists in Europe. Her studio is located in ActionSpace, a nonprofit organisation that supports and elevates artists with disabilities.