A spotlight on the Turner Prize nominees

Turner Prize, for record, was founded by a group known as the ‘Patrons of New Art’. Formed in the year 1982, they were keen to help buy new works of art for the Tate's collection, and also to build interest in contemporary art.


Obviously, the Patrons sought a name associated or identified with great British art tradition. They rightly chose the name of artist JMW Turner (1775–1851) to an extent for his desire to establish similar such prize for young and talented artists from the country. His work was considered controversial and unusual in his own times.


Among the artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize, Karla Black, is known to adopt a highly innovative approach to sculpting. The artist makes substantial pieces created in otherwise temporary spaces as well as materials. On the other hand, Martin Boyce is renowned for his ability to hold the viewer’s attention with his atmospheric sculptural installations that deftly combine references to design history and text. His works are marked by a subtle attention paid to each minute detail.


The third nominated artist Hilary Lloyd combines both moving and still images, sound as well as the three-dimensional forms of AV playback accessories/ equipment. She does so to portray the ubiquitous urban environ. Last but not the least, George Shaw makes paintings, infused with a very deeply personal juxtaposition of sensitive subject matter and material. Contemporary in approach, they intriguingly lie on the edge of tradition.


There were two renowned painters on this year's shortlist. The traditionalists though, should take a pause for a while before sighing with a sense of relief because one of them happens to paint landscapes soaked in the type of enamel paint generally used for the purpose of decorating planes and model trains; the other counts bath bombs, bronzing powder and lipstick among her unusual materials.