Learnt something new today. Not only do you need to be under 50 to be considered for the Turner Prize but that the judging is done on the exhibitions of the artists work over the previous year.
It has been running since 1984. This year, for the first time, it was held away from the Tate in London, at the Baltic in Gateshead. It has been such a success and boosted visitors to the area that they are going to hold it away from London every other year - starting in Derry in 2013.
Previous winners that I am aware of are Tracey Emmin 99 (who actually was only ever nominated and never won). Damien Hurst in 1995 and nominated in 92. Wolfgang Tillmans in 2000 - the only photographer to win. Grayson Perry in 2003 one of my favourite artists and I will be seeing his latest exhibition the 'tomb of the unknown craftsman' at the British Museum on 21st December and use my Art Pass. Anish Kapoor in 91 whose work I enjoy seeing and have seen two of his exhibitions over the last year.
This years' winner - Martin Boyce is 42 and from Glasgow. Some say he was the safe choice because they were nervous about being away from London.
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| A younger Martin Boyce |
He is good and his work is very nice. He is experimenting with his work - just like everyone else does - but it's not obscure, it's not cutting edge. It is art as we know it rather than a new development in contemporary art, which surely has to be the point of the Turner prize.
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| My favourite piece was the 'Air Vent' Image courtesy of Guardian.co.uk from Channel 4 recording |
Do you have to suffer for your art or can anyone do it? If you haven't suffered has it been worth it? After all when Picasso's work started to get noticed critics were heard to say: "Why a child of 6 could do that".
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| www.squidoo.com |
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| www.fineartcompany.co.uk |
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| www.redyellowbluemakeyou.blogspot.com |
Footnote:
The Turner Prize celebrates new developments in contemporary art and awards a prize each year (except 1990 when the sponsor went bankrupt). The prize is currently in excess of £40,000.
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