On the announcement of the award, the foundation said of McQueen and his work: “In a world characterised by violence, fanaticism and greed, Steve McQueen’s artistic practice offers a shining compass in the dark. Exceptionally consistent, sharp and precise, he activates the onlooker’s position when faced with the work of art, while insisting on the capacity of the moving image to give body, voice and presence to those who have been banished to the margins. The “realism” he presents is equally a denouement of privilege, power and oppression, and an earnest communication of moments of serene joy and euphoria; an upholding of humanitarian values.”

 

The Rolf Schock Prize rewards achievements in the fields of science, art, and music, with the recipients selected through a unique collaboration between three Swedish royal academies: the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of Music.