Artists from India, Lithuania, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK are on the shortlist for Artes Mundi, the UK's biggest contemporary art prize.

The full shortlist of seven artists is:

• Miriam Bäckström (Sweden)


• Tania Bruguera (Cuba)


• Phil Collins (England)


• Sheela Gowda (India)


• Teresa Margolles (Mexico)


• Darius Mikšys (Lithuania)


• Apolonija Šušteršič (Slovenia)

Some of the artists look at specific cultural or historical contexts while others engage with broader themes of human experience. The range of nationalities, themes and artistic media demonstrates the scope of the Artes Mundi Prize, which will be underlined in a major exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists at Wales’s new National Museum of Art from 6 October 2012.

From the flamboyant to the intimate, action and performance are the common threads that link the artists shortlisted for this year’s £40,000 Artes Mundi Prize. The seven artists use a wide range of materials, actions, and strategies to engage with social issues and comment on society.

Artes Mundi is an internationally focused arts organisation that identifies, recognises and supports contemporary visual artists who engage with social reality and lived experience.

Image: Sheela Gowda (courtesy: Mohile Parikh Centre)