Jasleen Kaur, of Indian origin, won the UK's 2024 Turner Award, which is considered as the highest honour in the British art world. Here's everything you need to know about her roots in Punjab.
Jasleen Kaur is the name that is currently trending all over the United Kingdom. From newspapers to social media, she leads all the headlines, as she is the official winner of the 2024 Turner Prize. The award ceremony was held on December 3, 2024, at Tate Britain, where four renowned artists, Claudette Johnson, Delaine Le Bas, Pio Abad, and Jasleen Kaur, were nominated for the ultimate prize. It was a tough competition, but Jasleen Kaur won the Turner Prize for her work, 'Alter Altar', which was first exhibited in Glasgow last year.
The 38-year-old artist, Jasleen Kaur's art piece featuring a vintage red Ford Escort covered in a giant doily in Tate Britain's galleries was a standout piece at the Turner Prize exhibition. Popular Hollywood actor, James Norton was the one, who handed over the prestigious award to Jasleen Kaur. Along with the Turner Award, Jasleen also received a huge prize money of 32,000 USD, which is equivalent to Rs. 27,09,868. Another interesting thing about her artwork in the finale is that Jasleen used sculptures, prints, immersive music and some everyday items.
Talking about Jasleen Kaur's background, Jasleen Kaur was born in Glasgow, Scotland, back in 1986. However, only some are aware that the 2024 Turner Award winner, Jasleen Kaur is a Scottish-Indian artist. In an old interview with the British Council, Jasleen Kaur spoke about her family roots in India. When the ace artist was asked about her background, Jasleen shared that although she was born in Glasgow, her parents gave her a traditional Sikh upbringing.
In the same interview, Jasleen Kaur revealed that during India's partition back in 1947, her great-grandfather decided to move out of the country. Jasleen's ancestors lived in Punjab, but three years after the partition, it was her great-grandfather who decided to leave India for a series of reasons. As per Jasleen, her great-grandfather shifted his base to Glasgow, Scotland, and since then, different generations of her family have been living in the same place. When asked about her identity, Jasleen admitted that she considers herself a Punjabi, Glaswegian, Indian, and British-Asian.
Further, in the interview, Jasleen Kaur also opened up about being exposed to two different cultures. The award-winning artist admitted that she has a blend of traditional Sikh and Western cultures. Sharing more light, Jasleen admitted that her parents always ensured she didn't forget her Sikh roots. Along with that, Jasleen's parents also allowed her to understand and grasp the Western culture of Glasgow, which is one of the biggest reasons she is so good at mixing different things.
In the same interview with the British Council, Jasleen Kaur was asked about the influence of her family history on her work. In response to this, Jasleen shared that her father is quite good at fixing things, and he has helped her so many times in making props. Recalling one incident, Jasleen revealed that she once wanted to prop up a ladder but failed due to a stairwell in the middle. It was when her father entered the scene and used masking tape to stick together a paintbrush, a long plant cane, and an upside-down feather duster.
This isn't the first time Jasleen Kaur has credited her family and their roots for her excellence as an artist. It's fair to say that she is quite humble. Despite being a top artist, she isn't very active on social media. Jasleen Kaur reportedly has a private account on Instagram with 7,424 followers. We hope Jasleen continues to make her mark on the global stage with her work.
What are your thoughts on an Indian-origin artist winning the UK's biggest award in the world of art? Let us know.
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