Jameel Prize Won

Here's another example of a rich twerp willing to fork out £25,000 for inartistic tripe: the Jameel Prize. The V&A museum in London has announced the winner as Algerian-born Rachid Koraichi for his series of embroidered banners inscribed with Arabic symbols and ciphers, a tribute to 14 mystic personalities from the Islamic world: Les Maitres Invisibles (The Invisible Masters). Martin Roth, chairman of the judging panel and director of the V&A stupidly claims "Rachid's work stood out because his banners have a universal appeal" (title link). Universal appeal? If you read Arabic and know nothing about art!