Mairead McClean Wins £20k MAC International Art Prize 2014

MAC International Art Prize 2014

The winner of the MAC International Art Prize  has gone to the London-based artist, Mairéad McClean, who wins the £20,000 prize at the Mac gallery in Belfast. Ms McClean, originally from Northern Ireland. ‘No More’ incorporates images and sounds from the 1970s, which are re-heard and re-viewed through computer generated tele-visual transmission signals.is the MAC’s first ever open arts prize, which offered professional artists worldwide the opportunity to exhibit in the MAC. This is the largest art prize in Ireland and one of the few major prizes in the UK. Hugh Mulholland, curator at the MAC, and the third judge, said: “From the first moment the judges saw McClean’s work during the adjudication stage ‘we were enthralled’. “The 13 minute long piece while located in the politics of Northern Ireland could be viewed and understood right across the world. The underlying themes of containment and expression of freedom could apply to anywhere.”

The panel of judges included Judith Nesbitt, head of national and international partnerships, TATE London and Francesco Bonami, artistic director of Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin. The exhibition, which runs across all three MAC galleries, offers you the very best in contemporary visual art across all art forms including sculpture, painting, photography, film, installation and performance. MAC International has built on the innovative visual art practice developed by the MAC and offers a similar experience to the Turner Prize in Derry-Londonderry as part of 2013’s City of Culture. A jury of respected international curators whittled down over 1,000 entries to the final shortlist of exhibiting artists.

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