South Korean artist Shin Min, represented by P21 (Seoul), was named the winner of the inaugural “MGM Discoveries Art Prize”, which was created by integrated resort operator MGM and Art Basel Hong Kong.
Receiving US$50,000 (400,614 patacas) to be shared with her representing gallery P21 (Seoul) and having a chance to be invited by MGM for a Macau exhibition, Shin, according to a Thursday MGM statement, won the prize with her installation “Ew! There is hair in the food!!”, which uses “potent symbolism and personal experiences to confront societal norms and systemic injustices”.
Through the work, the statement said, the artist hopes for it to be “a powerful tool to raise societal awareness and ultimately improve working conditions for the public”.
The statement quoted President and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited Kenneth Feng Xiaofeng as saying: “The joint establishment of the ‘MGM Discoveries Art Prize’ is a commitment to discovering emerging artists and celebrating their originality and creativity, offering a platform to thrive their potential and grow”.
Moreover, Art Basel Hong Kong Director Angelle Siyang-Le was quoted as saying: “Our esteemed international jury selected Shin Min from a remarkable pool of artists showcased in the Discoveries Sector, which highlights emerging artists and galleries through solo presentations of recent projects”.
This undated handout photo provided by MGM on Thursday shows South Korean artist Shin Min’s installation “Ew! There is hair in the food!!” at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025.
