Tate Britain has unveiled its highly anticipated Turner Prize shortlist for the year 2023. The four artists who have been nominated are Jesse Darling, Ghislaine Leung, Rory Pilgrim and Barbara Walker. Their work will be exhibited at Towner Eastbourne, East Sussex, from September 28, 2023 to April 14, 2024 as part of the gallery's centenary anniversary, and the winner of the prize will be announced on December 5, 2023.
Here is what you need to know about them:
Jesse Darling
Nominated for his solo exhibitions No Medals, No Ribbons at Modern Art Oxford and Enclosures at Camden Art Centre, Jesse Darling's sculptures and installations delve into the vulnerability of the human body and the complexities of power structures.
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Ghislaine Leung
Nominated for her solo exhibition Fountains at Simian, Copenhagen, Leung employs 'scores' - sets of instructions - to test the boundaries of the gallery space, incorporating elements such as baby monitors, child safety gates, inflatable structures, toys, and water fountains to question ideas of time, leisure and labour.
Rory Pilgrim
Rory Pilgrim's work, commissioned for RAFTS at Serpentine and Barking Town Hall, takes the form of an immersive experience. Collaborating with local communities in Barking and Dagenham, Pilgrim interweaves stories, poems, music, and film to reflect on the struggles and changes experienced during the pandemic.
Barbara Walker
Nominated for her presentation Burden of Proof at Sharjah Biennial 15, Barbara Walker's practice explores issues of racial identity, exclusion, and power dynamics. In her work, Walker overlays figurative portraits with facsimiles of documentation required by those affected by the Windrush scandal.
The Turner Prize
Established in 1984 and named after the renowned painter JMW Turner, the Turner Prize is a historic award that celebrates the contributions to art made by contemporary British artists. The Prize aims to spark public debate and shed light on new developments in contemporary art, rewarding those who push the boundaries of artistic expression. Previous winners have included modern masters such as Gilbert and George, Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Grayson Perry and Lubaina Himid, who have all gone on to achieve international acclaim.
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Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain and Chair of the Turner Prize jury, commented in a press release: "It’s a privilege to be able to announce this fantastic shortlist and I congratulate all four of the artists nominated. The Turner Prize always offers the public a snapshot of British artistic talent today. These artists each explore the contrasts and contradictions of life, combining conceptual and political concerns with warmth, playfulness, sincerity and tenderness, and often celebrating individual identity and community strength. With such rich work to draw on, we can all look forward to an outstanding exhibition at Towner Eastbourne this autumn."
