Rachel Ara wins Aesthetica Art Prize in York with This Much I'm Worth..but how much is it worth now?

"I am so surprised," said the London artist with the Jersey roots and a background in computer system design, clutching her certificate at Wednesday's awards ceremony and exhibition launch.

Flippantly, you might say This Much I'm Worth must be worth more now, given that the piece is a "self-evaluating artwork that continually displays its own sale value", but the artist's statement strikes a grave tone that dissuades you from such a thought.

Rachel Ara with her prize-winning work, This Much I'm Worth. Picture: Jim Poyner Photography

"Conspiracies of silence, hidden agendas and their repercussions, particularly the inequalities faced by women in our culture, are the driving forces behind my work. In a world where disinformation has become normalised, I feel compelled to keep scratching at the surface," it read.

"I use whatever material best addresses the concerns of each project. This has included a diverse range of mediums from film, sculpture, paint and drawing to electronics, programming and CAD."

This Much I'm Worth is constructed from materials with a history in the sex trade and the art world and relies on a coding network that you cannot see, instead being confronted by neon light with all the workings on show: "a bit Heath Robinson", as the artist put it.

"The work sources its value from the internet, assisted by complex data mining algorithms called 'the endorsers'," explained Rachel. "It seeks to question the values we place on objects and people, and who has the right to apportion these values."

Aesthetica Art Prize director Cherie Federico, left, with student prize winner David Hochgatterer and main prize winner Rachel Ara. Picture: Jim Poyner Photography

In this instance, that right was apportioned by an esteemed judging panel from the art, museum, gallery and academic world, and the value placed on the prize was £5,000, courtesy of sponsors Hiscox; a group exhibition hosted by Aesthetica; editorial coverage in the York-based Aesthetica Magazine; publication in the Aesthetica Art Prize Anthology; £250 art supplies vouchers from Winsor & Newton and art books from Prestel.

The announcement of Rachel's award, beating the 3,500 original entrants narrowed to ten finalists, resulted in no discernible spike in the numbers ticking over in the neon glow. Let's see what happens, however, if the "complex algorithms that run every night, calculating its value based on data mining", are fed this new piece of information.

Rachel Ara: "You're not looking at pretty pictures now; you're looking at ideas". Picture: Jim Poyner Photography

Praising the remit of the Aesthetica Art Prize, Rachel said: "This is a competition for contemporary art that understands what that means and they're not frightened of this kind of 21st century work, when it's easier just to hang a painting, so they're being bold.

"You're not looking at pretty pictures now; you're looking at ideas. In my piece, the art is in the programming." The very essence of conceptual art.

Austrian David Hochgatterer, from Linz, won the £1,000 student prize with his audio installation Time To X, which "transforms the fourth dimension, time, into a geometrical expanse".

The Aesthetica Art Prize will run at York St Mary's until May 29, open Wednesdays to Sundays, 12 noon to 4pm; free admission. A series of free lumchtime artist talks is running alongside the exhibition, and the Future Now Symposium at York St John University will be held on May 26 and 27. For more details, visit aestheticamagazine.com

Did you know?

Visitors to the exhibition are invited to vote for their favourite work in the People’s Choice Award and will be entered into a free prize draw to win an Aesthetica Creative Package.