Anish Kapoor says he will use the $1 million he has received for winning the prestigious Genesis Prize to highlight the plight of refugees.

The world famous artist, who was born in Mumbai to an Iraqi-Jewish mother and Indian father, was named the 2017 Genesis Prize Laureate on Sunday.

Established in 2012, the annual award, which has been dubbed the "Jewish Nobel", honours individuals who have attained excellence and international renown in their chosen fields, and who inspire others through their engagement and dedication to the Jewish community or the state of Israel. 

 Previous laureates include Michael Bloomberg, Michael Douglas and Itzhak Perlman. It has become a tradition for the winners to direct the prize money to meaningful causes they feel passionate about. During the last three years, almost $10m has been given to support philanthropic initiatives.

Mr Kapoor will use his award to help alleviate the refugee crisis and try to expand the Jewish community’s engagement in a global effort to support refugees.

One of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation, Mr Kapoor’s work includes Turning the World Upside Down at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Cloud Gate in Chicago’s Millennium Park and the Orbit  at the Olympic Park in London.

He also created the Holocaust Memorial for the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London and the 70 candles for Holocaust Memorial Day in Britain in 2015, commemorating 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

In a statement, Mr Kapoor said he had to “speak out against indifference for the suffering of others”, and added: “Jewish identity and history have witnessed recurring conditions of indifference, persecution and Holocaust. Repeatedly, we have had to repossess ourselves and reidentify our communities.

“As inheritors and carriers of Jewish values it is unseemly, therefore, for us to ignore the plight of people who are persecuted, who have lost everything and had to flee as refugees in mortal danger.”

He added: “I am an artist, not a politician, and I feel I must speak out against indifference for the suffering of others. There are over 60 million refugees in the world today – whatever the geography of displacement, the refugee crisis is right here on our doorstep.”

Beyond his contributions to the arts, Mr Kapoor – who previously lived in Israel – has a long history of social activism and a commitment to social justice. Recently he visited Syrian refugees in the Za-atari refugee camp, as part of Unicef’s art therapy programme, which is intended to help children who have witnessed atrocities to express themselves through art.

Stan Polovets, chairman and co-founder of the Genesis Prize Foundation, said: “In an age frequently characterised by cynicism and indifference, Anish continually advocates for the world’s disadvantaged – challenging all of us to do more to help wherever and whenever we can. Anish’s commitment to alleviate the plight of Syrian refugees will resonate with the Jewish community, especially young Jews, everywhere.”

Natan Sharansky, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency and head of the Genesis Prize selection committee, said: “Anish Kapoor has campaigned against indifference his whole life. His message is clear, powerful, and inspiring.

“I am confident that Anish will use the Genesis Prize to build on the good work already being done by Jews in this area, and his voice and energy will help to focus more people on the need to alleviate the suffering of refugees.”