Awakened to a clear, crisp day in the DC area. All of us are making lists about what to take (or not) and what the weather will be. I suspect that many black pants will be in our suitcases.
I have been reading the 12 million dollar shark about the art industry, branding, and money. Quite an eye opener. I am not sure if today there is a group of young British artists, many of whom are featured in this book. It is Damien Hirst's shark that is the subject of the title. I recall seeing the Turner prize for a number of years. I could never quite understand why the winners were selected. The Turner prize, first given in 1984 and shown at the Tate Britain is for an under age 50 British visual artist. It seems as though it has always been surrounded with controversy. In 2002 the culture minister described the work as conceptual bullshit. Another group protesting against the lack of figurative paintings. Hirst described it as a media circus designed to raise money for the Tate.
Here are some winners whose names I recognize. In 1984 Malcolm Morley won 10,000 pounds. In looking at the winners and nominees I notice that many of the nominees who lost won in subsequent years. Anish Kapoor won in 1991--his sculpture is prominently featured at Millenium Park in Chicago. Rachel Whiteread won in1993 for her sculpture. (There is a large one at the East Wing.) 1995 brought Damien Hirst. Tracy Emin's bed did not win in 1999, but created a controversy. I am unfamiliar with some of the more recent winners.
We begin our look at art at the Tate Britain.
I was in London in 1999 and 2000. And I was actually in the Tate, just outside the gallery in which Tracy Emin's bed was exhibited when some artists jumped on the bed, the whole museum was closed down, had to go back the day after. Thing is, the whole of London was talking about it, not just the art milieu, the taxi drivers, the shop assistants, ordinary people in the street... What's so wonderful about the Turner prize, is that all the other art museums in London put out fantastic exhibitions to compete with the Turner Prize short list exhibit. Wish I was there.
ReplyDeleteI think I was also in London then since I recall seeing the bed. I remember seeing lots of Turner awards that were way out there. Anyway, we hope to get to the Tate shortly.
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