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This year’s Turner Prize has no age limit

— by Alyson Walsh

Lubaina Himid’s cut-out work representing African slaves 

The Turner Prize has gone ageless. I’m a bit late to this snippet of news but I have been in Book Editing Hell for the last week. Nearly there… As creativity is not limited to the young and artists often make a breakthrough later in life, removing the age limit makes perfect sense. My money is on Lubaina Himid, 62, a professor of Contemporary Art at the University of Lancashire – just down the road from my home town, whoop. Born in Zanzibar and raised in London, Himid was a pioneer of the Black Art movement in the 1980s, and her focus has always been on identity, ‘themes of belonging and how black people contribute to the cultural landscape in Great Britain.’ As well as the Turner Prize nomination Professor Himid has had three exhibitions already this year, and it’s only May.

Freedom and Change, 1984.

Drowned Orchard: Secret Boatyard

The Turner prize award ceremony is being held in Hull, this year’s City of Culture and I’m hoping to get up there in summer to check out what’s on and visit friends.

Lubaina Himid photo via FT

There’s an interview with Lubaina Himid in the FT and another one with further examples of the artist’s work HERE.

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The Turner Prize has gone ageless. I’m a bit late to this snippet of news but I have been in Book Editing Hell for the last week.