The six artists shortlisted for the 2025 Artes Mundi 11 prize present works addressing displacement, colonial trauma, and migration amid divisive global politics. The exhibition, held at the National Museum Cardiff and other Welsh venues, features Sancintya Mohini Simpson’s subversive Indian miniature-style paintings depicting the horrors of indentured labor, alongside works by Jumana Emil Abboud, Anawana Haloba, and Sawangwongse Yawnghwe. The prize, the UK’s largest cash award for an exhibition at £40,000, continues its evolution by offering solo presentations across multiple venues.
Artes Mundi matters because it amplifies international artists tackling urgent social and environmental crises, often with limited financial support. Past winners like Theaster Gates and John Akomfrah have achieved global recognition, underscoring the prize’s role in elevating underrepresented voices. The 11th edition’s focus on migration and colonial narratives reflects the prize’s mission to expand awareness of art that engages with pressing contemporary issues, while its decentralized exhibition model strengthens Wales’ regional art ecosystem.