Lawrence Abu Hamdan Audience Prize winner @Toronto Biennial
July 9, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Lawrence Abu Hamdan has been awarded with the first ever Audience Prize by the Toronto Biennial, for his project 45th Parallel at Mercer Union.
The Audience Prize awards $10,000 and recognizes an outstanding artistic contribution to the Biennial exhibition. This also marks the first time that The Toronto Biennial of Art has invited visitors to the Biennial to select an award recipient through a public vote.
In 45th Parallel, Lawrence Abu Hamdan investigates the history and mythology of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a unique municipal site that straddles the border between Canada and the United States. The video installation tells the stories of permeable borders and impermeable laws, reflecting on how free movement, free knowledge, and free space are under threat.
Congratulations Lawrence!