Thursday, December 08, 2005

More on the Turner Prize

From DQ reader Dave Tyrrell, about the Turner Prize (recently won by the brilliant Shedboatshed project):
As one of your British readers, I can tell you that the Turner Prize is often awarded to a complete buffoon who makes absolute rubbish.

One year it was won by some woman who made a plaster cast of the inside of a house which was later demolished (she also collected a prize from ‘art-noise-terror’ band The KLF for the ‘worst piece of art’ of the year, coincidentally another £25k).

In 1998 it was won by artist Chris Ofili, who makes art incorporating elephant dung. One of his pictures is in the Boardroom of the College where I work, apparently he studied there – I doubt it was anything to do with fine art.

Anyway, here’s a link to the list of the last 20 years worth of winners.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/gallery/0,8542,1062817,00.html

On the subject of The KLF, their last act of art-terrorism was the production of a film called ‘Watch the KLF burn a million quid’ – where they proceeded to do exactly that. To this date, no one can confirm whether they were ever able to get the cash back…


My favorite among the past winners: "Martin Creed, Work No. 277, The Lights Going On...And Off, 2000."

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