The first ever presentation outside of England of the Turner Prize – the UK’s most prestigious art prize has been unveiled in Derry~Londonderry, the first UK City of Culture, in partnership with Tate.
The exhibition is staged at Ebrington, in a newly converted building on the site of a former military barracks, and runs from 23 October 2013 – 5 January 2014. The winner of Turner Prize 2013 will be announced at an awards ceremony at Ebrington on Monday 2 December 2013 and will be broadcast live to the public on Channel 4. The exhibition features work by the four nominated artists (in alphabetical order):
Laure Prouvost: Nominated for her new work Wantee 2013, commissioned with Grizedale Arts for inclusion in the exhibition Schwitters in Britain at Tate Britain and for her two-part installation for the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, resulting from a residency in Italy and presented in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery. Her unique approach to filmmaking, often situated within atmospheric installations, employs strong story telling, quick cuts, montage and deliberate misuse of language to create surprising and unpredictable work. In Derry~Londonderry she shows two video installations, Wantee and Grandma’s Dream, both from 2013.
Tino Sehgal: Nominated for his pioneering projects This variation 2012 at documenta (XIII) and These associations 2012 at Tate Modern. Both structured and improvised, Sehgal’s intimate works consist purely of live encounters between people and demonstrate a keen sensitivity to their institutional context. Through participatory means, they test the limits of artistic material and audience perception in a new and significant way. In Derry~Londonderry, Sehgal shows a version of This is exchange, originally created in 2003.
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David Shrigley: Nominated for his solo exhibition at Hayward Gallery David Shrigley: Brain Activity, which offered a comprehensive overview and new perspectives on his work. Including not only his well-loved drawings but also photography, sculpture and film, the exhibition revealed his black humour, macabre intelligence and infinite jest. For Derry~Londonderry, Shrigley shows Life Model from 2012.
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Nominated for her exhibition Extracts and Verses at Chisenhale Gallery, Yiadom-Boakye’s intriguing paintings appear traditional but are in fact much more innovative. Her portraits of imaginary people use invented pre-histories and raise pertinent questions about how we read pictures in general. In Derry~Londonderry, Yiadom-Boakye shows six paintings dating from 2010 to 2013, including two new works on display for the first time, Appreciation of the Inches 2013 and The Like Above all Lovers 2013.
The design for the gallery space where Turner Prize 2013 is presented was implemented by CPD in close consultation with Ilex Urban Regeneration Company, John McAslan and Partners, in an advisory role, and Ostick and Williams as the design and build architects. The gallery in the former dormitory buildings of the disused Ebrington Barracks overlooks the Peace Bridge that links the city across the River Foyle. The development includes four gallery spaces of approximately 100 square metres each, an area used for screening films about the artists, and a café on the first floor with views over the River Foyle. Following its initial use to host Turner Prize 2013, the space will be the focus of a new creative hub for Derry~Londonderry, supporting the development of creative industries in the city.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Culture Company 2013, organisers of Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, said: ‘We are proud to be presenting the Turner Prize as one of the highlights of our programme, reflecting the powerful cultural relationships that have been built around this vital year. 2013 will be the first time that the Turner Prize has been located outside of England. The shortlist of artists is wonderful, and with the exhibition’s exceptional location, a former military barracks now transformed into a world-class exhibition and concert space, the stage is set for the unique experience of Turner Prize 2013. Our thanks go to all the artists and to Tate for making this possible. We look forward to welcoming everyone to come and enjoy the exhibition in the splendid setting of Ebrington, confirming our reputation as a place where creativity flourishes.’
Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain, said: ‘We are delighted to be staging Turner Prize 2013 at Derry~Londonderry. This year’s shortlist for the Prize showcases artists whose work spans live encounters, film, sculpture, drawing and painting. Visitors to the exhibition at Ebrington will gain a good sense of the diversity of British art. The Prize provides a vital part of Tate’s aim to encourage a wider understanding and enjoyment of visual art.’
The members of the Turner Prize 2013 jury are: Annie Fletcher, Curator of Exhibitions, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven Susanne Gaensheimer, Director, MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt/Main Declan Long, writer and lecturer at National College of Art and Design, Dublin Ralph Rugoff, Director of Hayward Gallery, London The jury is chaired by Penelope Curtis, Director, Tate Britain.