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American artist wins Cardiff's Artes Mundi Prize

An installation aiming to challenge "Western-centric" views on marginalised religions has been announced as the winner of the coveted Artes Mundi Prize in Cardiff.

Theaster Gates has funded urban regeneration projects by selling his works Credit: Museum Wales

An installation aiming to challenge "Western-centric" views on marginalised religions has been announced as the winner of the coveted Artes Mundi Prize.

A Complicated Relationship Between Heaven And Earth, or When We Believe (2014) sees its artist, the American Theaster Gates, win £40,000.

Established in 2002, Artes Mundi is an international arts organisation based in the Welsh capital.

Mr Gates' winning work includes a bull-sculpture based inspired by African rituals to deter bad spirits and a stuffed dead goat riding a tricycle around a circular track.

"The installation contemplates how objects have been used as signifiers of power - and perhaps re-opens them, to be real instruments of accessing belief."

– Theaster Gates, Artist

Officials say they the prize aims to support ground breaking international contemporary artists.

Finalists for Artes Mundi 6 will be displayed across three venues in south Wales - Cardiff's The National Museum of Art and Chapter - as well as ffotogallery in Penarth until February 22.

"Theaster's work stood out for its inspiring combination of historical research, visual art, performance and activism...We are pleased to announce him as the winner of Artes Mundi 6."

– JJ Ashworth, Artes Mundi Chair