£25,000 Jameel Prize Focuses on Digital Media

The £25,000 Jameel Prize, awarded every three years by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London and the UAE and Saudi Arabia-based cultural organisation Art Jameel, this year focused on moving images and digital media.

Ohida (b. 1993, India) was awarded the prize for her film 'Dream Your Museum', a poignant portrayal of her uncle, Khandakar Selim, whose life story unfolds through his collection of ordinary yet deeply meaningful objects and memorabilia. The work critiques the rigid structures of Indian museums, which often exclude alternative narratives, challenging the colonial museum model and encouraging viewers to discover significance in everyday objects.

A curated selection of Selim’s objects, including photos, binoculars, photographs, ceramics, and perfume bottles, is displayed alongside the film. 'The jury commended the subtle strength of Khandakar’s cinematic masterpiece, 'Dream Your Museum'. The film and the accompanying installation of her uncle’s extensive collection resonate with the experiences of Muslim communities in India, questioning the authority of traditional museums,' said Tristram Hunt, V&A Director and chair of the Jameel Prize judging panel.

'The importance of this prize is its ability to spotlight the innovative spirit within practices that draw from the heritage of Islamic art and design,' noted Antonia Carver, Art Jameel Director. 'This year, by concentrating on moving images and digital media, the prize highlights artists redefining visual storytelling, engaging with pressing issues such as ecology, spirituality, and the resilience of community histories.'

The shortlisted artists, ranging from photography to sculpture and installation to VR, include Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, Jawa El Khash, Alia Farid, Zahra Malkani, Khandakar Ohida, Marrim Akashi Sani, and Rami Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian (as a collective). An exhibition featuring the winner and shortlisted artists will be on display at the V&A South Kensington from 30 November 2024 to 16 March 2025.

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