Renowned Indian-origin British sculptor Anish Kapoor was honored with the prestigious $1 million 2017 Genesis Prize on February 6, 2017 by Israel for his utmost contribution for Jewish community.
- However, the money received by the innovative artist would be contributed by him to help the Syrian refugees and expand Jewish engagement in the global effort to reduce the refugee crisis.
- The 62-year-old Anish was chosen by the prize committee headed by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.
About Anish Kapoor
Anish Kapoor was born on March 12, 1954 in Mumbai to an Iraqi-origin Jewish mother and Indian father. At the age of 16, he moved to Israel and has been based in the United Kingdom since the 1970s.
- He has made a wide contribution towards the arts of the Jewish community and is regarded as the most influential and innovative artists of his generation.
- Some of his well-known work includes, ‘Turning the World Upside Down’ at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, ‘Cloud Gate’ in Chicago’s Millennium Park and the ‘Orbit’ in London.
- Kapoor also created the Holocaust Memorial for the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London and the 70 candles for Holocaust Memorial Day in Britain in 2015 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
- Besides this, Kapoor also won the Turner Prize in 1991 and received a knighthood in 2013.
- Apart from arts, Kapoor has made great commitments to social justice for Jewish community. He had served as a public advocate for many years for the cause of refugees. He even visited Syrian refugees in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan in 2014 as part of UNICEF’s art therapy program.
About Genesis Prize
The Genesis Prize was founded in 2012 with a prize of USD$1 million. It is given annually to an exceptional human being who has attained outstanding excellence in his or her chosen field, is a role model in the community and who can inspire the next generation of Jews worldwide.
- The prize was founded with the objective of inspiring and developing a sense of pride and belonging among young unaffiliated Jews throughout the world.
- The prize is awarded by the Genesis Prize Foundation, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister and the Jewish Agency for Israel
- It has become a tradition for the Genesis Prize Laureates to direct the $1 million award to meaningful causes ranging from support of social entrepreneurship based on Jewish values, inclusiveness of intermarried families in Jewish life, and improving the lives of individuals with special needs.
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