Kapwani Kiwanga wins Zurich Art Prize

French-Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga has been awarded the 15th Zurich Art Prize for her work that depicts social topics, such as the route to independence for African countries. “The Zurich Art Prize jury was particularly enthusiastic about Kapwani Kiwanga's ability to translate her research on socially relevant topics into appealing visual statements,” read a statement on Monday from Museum Haus Konstruktiv and the Zurich Insurance Group. “Kiwanga's works offer different readings through which the viewer can approach them, be it from a material, phenomenological or art and cultural-historical perspective.” Before Kiwanga devoted herself to art, she studied anthropology and comparative religion in Canada, where she lives. Her artistic practice, which she began in the mid-2000s, is rooted in research in the humanities and social sciences. Her work is presented as sculptures, performances, videos and installation settings. This includes the project Flowers for Africa, which has...