Jameel Prize

On 7 July 2009 Iranian born Afruz Amighi was awarded the first Jameel Prize for her work 1001 Pages (2008). The Prize, worth £25,000, is an international art prize launched by the V&A to award contemporary artists and designers inspired by the Islamic traditions of craft and design. Afruz Amighi, winner of the Jameel Prize 2009. Courtesy of Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, photo V&A images Afruz Amighi, winner of the Jameel Prize 2009. Courtesy of Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, photo V&A images 1001 Pages is from a series of shadow pieces in which Amighi uses light and shadow to create complex and engaging designs. She employs a stencil burner to hand-cut the design from a thin, porous sheet of plastic - a material used in the construction of refugee tents. The work is suspended, and an overhead projector illuminates the piece, which casts a shadow of the intricate pattern against a wall. The winning work is on display in the new Studio Gallery (8 July - 13 September) alongside work by the 8 other artists shortlisted for The Jameel Prize. * The Jameel Prize 2009 winning work, 1001 Pages by Afruz Amighi. Courtesy of Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, photo V&A images * The Jameel Prize 2009 winning work, 1001 Pages by Afruz Amighi (detail). Courtesy of Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, photo V&A images About the Jameel Prize The Jameel Prize is a new international art prize launched by the V&A and supported by Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel. The Prize will be awarded to a contemporary artist or designer for work inspired by Islamic traditions of craft and design. The competition will be held every two years, with a prize of £25,000. Islamic craft and design are recognised the world over for their rich use of decorative pattern, technical innovation and artistic harmony. The Jameel Prize aims to raise awareness of the thriving interaction between contemporary practice and this rich artistic heritage, and to contribute to a broader debate about Islamic culture. The Jameel Prize is generously funded by Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, who also provided the financial support for the renovation of the V&A's Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art. The Gallery opened to widespread acclaim in July 2006. Jameel Prize 2009 Over 100 nominations for the first Jameel Prize were received in the summer of 2008, and nine artists and designers were short-listed by the panel of judges. The output of the nine artists and designers is very varied, reflecting the richness and diversity of the Islamic traditions that inspired them. The pieces exhibited at the V&A vary in scale, and the media employed ranges from jewellery to photomontage to turned woodwork to screen prints. The works show how dynamic Islamic tradition can be, and how complex and eloquent the art and design inspired by this tradition has become. Patron The Patron of the Jameel Prize is the award-winning architect Zaha Hadid. www.zaha-hadid.com Judges The panel of judges was chaired by Mark Jones , Director of the V&A. The members of the panel were: * Jananne Al-Ani , artist * Khaled Azzam, CEO, The Prince's School of Traditional Arts, London * Ali Yussef Khadra , Editor-in-Chief, Canvas magazine, Dubai * Charles Merewether , independent curator * Venetia Porter, Curator, Middle Eastern Department, British Museum * Parviz Tanavoli , sculptor Shortlisted artists Nine artists were shortlisted for the Prize: * Hamra Abbas Hamra Abbas was born in Kuwait and currently lives between Pakistan and the USA. http://www.hamraabbas.com * Reza Abedini Reza Abedini was born in Iran and lives and works in Iran and the Netherlands. http://www.rezaabedini.com * Afruz Amighi Afruz Amighi was born in Iran and now lives and works in the USA. http://www.nicellebeauchene.com/afruzamighi.html * Sevan Biçakçi Sevan Biçakçi was born in Turkey, where he still lives and works. http:/www.sevanbicakci.com * Hassan Hajjaj Hassan Hajjaj was born in Morocco and now lives and works between Morocco and the UK. http://www.hassan-hajjaj.com * Khosrow Hassanzadeh Khosrow Hassanzadeh was born in and lives in Iran. http://khosrowhassanzadeh.com/index.php * Susan Hefuna Susan Hefuna was born in Germany and lives and works in Egypt and Germany http://www.susanhefuna.com * Seher Shah Seher Shah was born in Pakistan and now lives in the USA. http://www.sehershah.net * Camille Zakharia Zakharia was born in Lebanon and is now living in Bahrain. http://www.camillezakharia.com