Turner Prize 2008 – But is it Art?
Famous for featuring quirky and at times bizarre works of art, this year’s shortlist continues to challenge popular conceptions of what is and isn’t art. Representative pieces by each of the four artists will be on show at Tate Britain in London until the 18 January 2009.
Mark Lecky came to the judge’s attention with his solo exhibition, Industrial Light & Magic, featuring film, performance, sculpture and Felix the Cat! Bangladeshi born, Runa Islam specialises in film and video installations and has been nominated for her Centre of Gravity exhibition held in Oslo. Goshka Macuga also follows the current trend for installations but uses the work of other artists to create new perspectives. This year’s most controversial nominee must be Cathy Wilkes whose figurative sculpture focuses on mannequins.
Previous artists to be nominated for a Turner Prize include Damien Hirst for his pickled cows, Gary Grayson’s classic pots decorated in dark and often disturbing urban scenes and Tracy Emin whose reproduction of her bed continues to cause huge controversy.
Set up in 1984, the Turner Prize was conceived as a vehicle to focus on contemporary works of art by young artists. Over the years the nominations have been controversial, challenging and sometimes shocking but the one thing they all have in common is that they make you think.
Tate Britain is dedicated to British art with works dating back centuries, enabling visitors to get a real feel for how the national art scene has developed through the ages, all of which provide the perfect foil for the Turner Prize 2008 nominations. So why not join the debate, see what all the fuss is about and make your own decision on what is and isn’t art. Click here to find hotels in the vicinity of Tate Britain, London.
