An 11-person collective from Belfast that aims to transcend Northern Ireland's political and religious divides has won the UK's prestigious Turner Prize for art.
The Array Collective on Wednesday took the Stg 25,000 ($A47,000) prize for The Druithaib's Ball, a recreation of a traditional Irish shebeen, or speakeasy, that is full of references to 100 years of Northern Ireland history.
Prize organisers said the collective's work tackles "urgent social and political issues affecting Northern Ireland with humour, seriousness and beauty."
Collective member Laura O'Connor said the group would put the prize money toward finding a permanent base in Belfast, where redevelopment is making space less affordable for artists.
Named for 19th-century landscape painter JMW Turner, the award was founded in 1984 and helped make stars of potter Grayson Perry, shark-pickling artist Damien Hirst and filmmaker Steve McQueen.
But it has also been criticised for rewarding impenetrable conceptual work and often sparks debate about the value of modern art.
In 2019, all four finalists were declared winners after they refused to compete against one another.
Last year's prize was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, all five finalists were collectives rather than individual artists.
Australian Associated Press
