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Sculptor Anish Kapoor wins $1 million Jewish award
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Anish Kapoor—according to the prize committee—remains, “one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation". (www.facebook.com/MichaelDouglasOfficial//File)
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n Monday, renowned Indian-British sculptor Anish Kapoor was awarded the generous US$1 million Genesis Prize by way of his devotion to Israel and Judaism.
The award is given to individuals “whose actions and achievements express a commitment to Jewish values and its community as well as the State of Israel”, according to AFP.
The 62-year-old art star was declared the recipient of the 2017’ Genesis Prize by the Israeli government, the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency and the Genesis Prize Foundation as he spoke boldly “against abhorrent government policies towards refugees”, according to the Economic Times India.
Read also: Violinist Perlman wins 'Jewish Nobel'
Previous personalities who have won the award include Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and US actor and director Michael Douglas.
Kapoor—according to the prize committee—remains “one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation".
The artist said that the proceeds he receives from the award will be contributed to relieve the refugee crisis and spread awareness among the Jewish community regarding Syrian refugees and how to help them.
Prior to this achievement, he won the Turner Prize in 1991 and was knighted in 2013.
Congratulations to 2017 Genesis Prize Laureate, Anish Kapoor, whose works include “Turning the World Upside Down,” “Cloud Gate,” & “Orbit.” pic.twitter.com/Is4l8e7Ioe
— The Genesis Prize (@TheGenesisPrize) February 6, 2017
"As inheritors and carriers of Jewish values it is unseemly for us to ignore the plight of people who are persecuted, who have lost everything and had to flee as refugees in mortal danger. To lose one's home, one's land, one's sense of belonging, is bewildering. All that is left is one's body," Kapoor said.
Chairman and co-founder of the Genesis Prize Foundation, Stan Polovets, praised Kapoor’s social activism, saying,“We particularly admire how, in an age frequently characterized by cynicism and indifference, Anish continually advocates for the world's disadvantaged - challenging all of us to do more to help wherever and whenever we can." (nik/kes)
