Artes Mundi 6 is the UK’s largest contemporary art prize, with the winner receiving the generous sum of £40,000 and is open to artists whose work explores and comments on the human condition.

This year’s prize show takes place across three venues including National Museum Cardiff, Chapter Gallery and Ffotogallery, Penarth.

Highlights include the world premiere of A complicated Relationship between Heaven and Earth or When We Believe (2014) by Theaster Gates (USA), which features a Malinese Boli, and a Masonic unicycling goat.

Malinese Boli, A Masonic unicycling goat

Renzo Martens (Netherlands) presents the first work from The Institute for Human Activities, in the Democratic Republic of Congo; 3D-printed, chocolate self-portraits made by Congolese plantation workers. Carlos Bunga (Portugal) premieres an architecturally-scaled site-specific cardboard installation entitled Exodus (2014).
Omer Fast’s film Continuity (2012) explores reality and idealism in America’s Afghan War.

Sanja Iveković’s (Croatia) images Gen XX and Women’s House (Sunglasses) and her installation The Disobedient (The Revolutionaries) confront fascism and sexism in 20th century Europe.

The UK Premiere of Ragnar Kjartansson’s (Iceland) video installation, The Visitors (2013) looks at the fine line between parody and reality in pop culture.

Sharon Lockhart’s (USA) film Exit (2008) documents labourers at the Bath Iron Works based in Maine, USA. Renata Lucas (Brazil) shows a new installation of her iconic interactive plywood floor Falha (Failure, 2003 ongoing).

Karen Mirza and Brad Butler (UK) are showing The Unreliable Narrator (2014) and You are the Prime Minister (2014), two new installations using neon, video and text to confront the Mumbai bombings and the role of British privilege in middle-east conflict.

Karen Mirza and Brad Butler (UK) You are the Prime Minister (2014)

David Anderson, Director General of National Museum Wales said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Artes Mundi international contemporary art prize and exhibition here at National Museum Cardiff.

“It is one of Europe’s most exciting contemporary visual art shows and I’m pleased to see the exhibition extended to another two venues, Ffotogallery, Penarth and Chapter in Canton who will also be exhibiting the shortlisted artists and putting art on the map across Cardiff this winter.

“I hope that visitors take the opportunity to visit the exhibition and enjoy the powerful stories told by these international artists.”

The winner of Artes Mundi 6 will be announced on 22 January 2015 at an award ceremony in Cardiff.

Artes Mundi 6 Exhibition and Prize Runs until 22 February 2015

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