Cork-based Irish-Iraqi artist wins inaugural Crawford Gallery Gibson award 

The Crawford Art Gallery in Cork has announced visual artist Basil Al-Rawi as the recipient of the inaugural Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award.

The award, every three years, supports professional visual artists at a crucial stage in their careers and will grant €25,000 to the recipient to aid in their creative process.

Mr Al-Rawi will become the first Gibson Travelling Fellow, following a highly competitive, open-call selection process, which sought to identify a clear vein of innovation, experimentation, and impact.

Explores

His practice explores the landscapes of personal and cultural memory, hybrid identity, and the digital mediation of reality.

He will use the award to support an extended period of self-determined enquiry across Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and France.

The Cork-based Irish-Iraqi artist was selected from a shortlist by a panel of experts, which included artist and educator Dragana Jurišić; the director and curator of Galway Arts Centre, Megs Morley; the curator of Lismore Castle Arts, Paul McAree; and the director of Crawford Art Gallery, Mary McCarthy.

Impressed

The panel said that they were impressed by all of the applicants, but ultimately determined that Mr Al-Rawi’s proposal most closely articulated the spirit and scope of the award.

Ms McCarthy said that Mr Al-Rawi is a “very deserving inaugural winner” of the Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award.

“Basil Al-Rawi’s clear proposal and considered approach articulated an openness and opportunity to enrich his own practice,” said Ms McCarthy.

“Addressing contested histories, memory, and the politics of visibility, the proposed professional travel could not be more timely or relevant and will allow the artist to expand his horizons.

“We believe he is a very deserving inaugural winner and we look forward to being a support institution to his practice through this fellowship.

“We were very impressed by the quality and high calibre of artists who applied for this award.”