|
 Joseph Halligan, 27, one of 18 members of Assemble, said he
hoped the publicity for the prize would draw people worldwide to
buy products from a workshop selling replicas of housing
fixtures to help support the project.
"I think the idea that art is something that can only be created
by someone that declares themselves an artist is maybe not the
best thing," the Birmingham native, who trained as an architect,
told Reuters.
"I believe that anyone can create art and art should be for
everyone and anyone can be an artist."
The Turner Prize, established in 1984 and run in partnership
with the Tate museums, comes with 25,000 pounds ($37,660) in
cash.
In the past, it has gone mostly to visual and conceptual artists
such as Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Damien Hirst.
Many houses in the Liverpool neighborhood had suffered severe
damage in 1981 riots and been earmarked for demolition until
residents banded together, sold produce to support renewal
efforts and invited London-based Assemble to help out.
"The jury has awarded the prize to Assemble, who work in tandem
with communities to realize a ground-up approach to
regeneration, city planning and development in opposition to
corporate gentrification," the jury said in Glasgow. It was the
first time the event had been held in Scotland.
[to top of second column] |
"They draw on long traditions of artistic and collective initiatives
that experiment in art, design and architecture," the jury said,
citing the collective's project of renewing the Granby Four Streets
neighborhood.
Assemble says its work aims “to address the disconnection between
the public and the process by which places are made”.
The collective not only undertakes housing renovation with low-cost
materials, but also creates a means to sustain the redevelopment by
manufacturing and selling objects based on the designs found in
social housing, including everything from fireplaces to tiles to
ceramic door handles.
The collective publishes an online catalog of its offerings at
www.granbyworkshop.co.uk and says the proceeds "will support a
program engaging young people aged 13 to 18 in creative, practical
projects".
(Reporting by Michael Roddy; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
