Mumbai Artist Aqui Thami wins 2023 Hublot Design Prize

Aqui Thami, a Mumbai-based artist, wins the 2023 Hublot Design Prize. The award celebrates her art’s social impact, especially in empowering marginalized communities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Aqui Thami, an artist from Mumbai, wins the prestigious 2023 Hublot Design Prize.

The award highlights Thami's use of art as a tool for social change, focusing on marginalized communities.

Thami's diverse portfolio includes the Sister Library, Dharavi Art Room, and various community upliftment projects.

Aqui Thami Triumphs with 2023 Hublot Design Prize

Mumbai’s own Aqui Thami has brought home the 2023 Hublot Design Prize. This international award, started by Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot, shines a light on young designers making waves in the world. This year, it’s all about Aqui Thami’s special way of using art to speak up for people who often don’t get heard.

The Jury’s Take on Thami’s Win

Hans Ulrich Obrist, who led the jury, said this year was super exciting because of the new wave of designers. These folks aren’t just about making stuff; they’re thinking hard about how to make the world better. The jury itself was a mix of people from different fields like design critics Alice Rawsthorn and London designer Tawanda Chiweshe, among others. They all pitched in to pick a diverse set of finalists.

The other artists and designers who were in the running had some cool ideas too. For example, Deema Assaf from Jordan is working on green city plans. Jibbe Van Schie from the Netherlands is exploring how materials and machines can get along. But what set everyone apart this year was their focus on solving big problems like social fairness and taking care of our planet.

More Than Just an Artist: Aqui Thami’s Community Work

Thami isn’t just about making art; she’s about making change. She started the Sister Library as a place where people can come and read books by women writers. It began as a traveling show of 100 books and has now found a permanent home in Mumbai. The project is all about celebrating women’s voices.

She’s also been busy with the Dharavi Art Room. It’s a place in Mumbai where women and kids can come and use art to say what they feel. That’s not all; she’s also involved in underground publishing with Bombay Underground. Her work shows that art isn’t just for looking at; it’s for making the world a better place.

As Thami often says, “We heal in community, we heal together!” And that’s a message we could all use for a better future.

Aqui Thami is more than just an artist; she’s a force for good. With her win, she shows us that art can indeed change the world, one brushstroke at a time.