So, as soon as I got into work today, I'm informed that we're going to start a competition called 'The Turder Prize' or something along these lines. When I look docile and ask "eh?" the boss fills me in on this whole (real life) Turner Prize thing that happens once a year (un-cultured? Moi?).
Apparently (No...these are total facts because I googled them) The Turner Prize started in 1984 and is named after an artist called J.M.W. Turner (would love to know what all his other names are) who was all for giving young artists a chance, and was a pretty controversial character in his era. The Tate Gallery in London run the competition and basically, they shortlist four Artists each year by checking out the work they've displayed over the previous year. So, I don't think you can just send in some snapshots of the giant clay ant you've built in your garage.
The main focus of the competition is on contemporary visual art - So we're talking things like...a piece of chewing gum stuck to the pavement, a broken table or a pot of toenails, that kinda thing. Each year there's a big debate on questions such as 'What is art?' and usually there's a public outcry that some geezer claiming to be an 'artist' can win £25,000 for seemingly doing sod all.
Now, at first I wasn't taken with the whole 'concept art' vibe, (probably because I hadn't given it much thought until about 5 hours ago) but the more I've seen (in my google quest) of the winners work over the years, the more I like it. I must admit, at first glance, Simon Starlings 'Shedboatshed' (there is just a shed in a room) left me frowning at my screen for ten minutes trying to work out what the point was. There didn't seem to be one. But...ahhhaha...!
Actually, what this fella had done, was dismantle a shed, turn it into a boat (loaded with the remains of the shed), rowed it down the River Rhine to a museum in Basel and then built it back into a shed! How cool is that? Like having a backpack but in natural form. It seems that his point is about going back to a time where there was less pressure and before capitalism and all that palaver.
Still, there are other more questionable entries, such as:
Damien Hirsts 'Mother and Child Divided': Which is a real (but dead) Mother cow and Baby cow, cut in half and placed in glass cases which enable you to walk through the middle of them and see their insides.
Tracy Emins 'My Bed': A messy bed and floor with stuff flung all over it.
Martin Creed 'Lights Going On And Off': Erm, just a room, with some lights going on. And then some lights going off. And then lights going on...
I'd love to start working out what they mean but I've rambled on enough for now and I'm sure I had a point to make? Ah yeah. So, I'm not sure what the rules are going to be for The Turder Prize but I'm sure I'll get the rundown soon and actually, I'm gonna enter it myself! Got loads of ideas! (hope employees are allowed!). Also, with it being a competition, there will surely have to be an actual prize involved so keep your eyes peeled for more news people.
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