Richard Wright’s untitled wall painting, via Times UK
Now on view at Tate Britain is an exhibition of the four artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize, Britain’s most prestigious – and most controversial – art prize. Featuring Enrico David, Roger Hiorns, Lucy Skaer, and Richard Wright, the exhibition showcases both works for which the artists were nominated as well as new works. The winner of the prize will be announced on December 7, 2009, via a live televised broadcast. Though the Turner Prize has been awarded to well-regarded artists including Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, and Wolfgang Tillmans, it has been the source of controversy for its attentions to unconventional YBAs like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. This year’s nominees, however, have been noted for their lack of shock tactics. Gone are Emin’s dirty sheets and used condoms, replaced by Wright’s delicate wall drawing and Skaer’s archaeological assemblages.
Lucy Skaer’s ‘Black Alphabet’ via Tate
more images, news and relevant links after the jump…
Detail of Enrico David’s ‘Absuction Cardigan’ via Times UK
David was nominated for his solo exhibition, ‘How Do You Love Dzzzzt By Mammy?’ at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, and ‘Bulbous Marauder’ at the Seattle Art Museum. The former installation is reprised in the Turner show, along with another installation, ‘Absuction’.
Cardigan, comprised of eggmen sculptures and found-image collages.
Roger Hiorns via Times UK
Hiorns was nominated for ‘Seizure,’ an installation, commissioned by Artangel, that transformed a derelict London flat through the use of copper sulphate, covering the surfaces in dazzling blue crystal formations. The works in this exhibition also use chemical processes, the largest of which is a swirling pile of ash created from an atomized jet engine.
Lucy Skaer’s ‘Thames and Hudson’ via BBC
Skaer’s installation, ‘Thames and Hudson,’ makes references to artistic reproduction and globalization. Her sculpture ‘Black Alphabet’ recreates Constantin Brancusi’s iconic work, ‘Bird in Space,’ twenty-six times in coal dust and resin. Another piece, ‘Leviathan Edge,’ incorporates the skull of a sperm whale, partially obscured from view.
Richard Wright’s untitled wall painting above Lucy Skaer’s ‘Black Alphabet,’ via Times UK
Wright’s installation is made up of only two wall drawings. One is a large, rather Baroque drawing done in gold leaf, while the other is a small red drawing above the doorway leading out of the gallery. Wright’s work is essentially ephemeral and site-specific, often responding to architectural nooks and crannies.
Enrico David’s ‘How Do You Love Dzzzzt By Mammy?’ via Times UK
Most bets place Hiorns in the lead for the spectacular success of ‘Seizure’: the exhibition’s duration was extended due to overwhelming public response. Wright, who at 49, is just below the Turner’s cutoff point of the age of 50, is considered a close second. The winner of the £25,000 prize will be announced December 7, 2009. The exhibition runs October 6, 2009 through January 3, 2010.
Lucy Skaer’s ‘Leviathan Edge’ via ArtReview
Roger Hiorns’s ‘Seizure’ via Tate
Lucy Skaer’s ‘The Seige’ via Tate
Roger Hiorns’s ‘Untitled’ via BBC
Turner Prize 2009 [Tate]
The Turner Prize, now taking bets [ArtReview]
Turner Prize: thought provoking, not shocking [Times UK]
Art uncovered: Tate unveils Turner Prize contenders [Financial Times]
The Turner prize trinity [Guardian]
Turner Prize 2009: Pile of dust, naked buttocks and a whale skull among works up for top British art award [Mirror]
Turner Prize, Tate Britain, London [Financial Times]
Richard Wright late addition to Turner Prize proves too diverting [Guardian]
A first taste of Turner Prize art [BBC]
Turner Prize Startles — It’s Almost Boring: Martin Gayford [Bloomberg]
Cow brains and a whale skull: Turner prize cooks up an unholy stew [Guardian]
Stuckists Protest the Turner Prize [Artinfo]
Tom Lubbock: This year’s Turner Prize foursome share common ground [Independent]
The Turner prize reveals art critics at their best [Guardian]
