Entry for the Turner Prize 2007

Love it or hate it, the Turner Prize is a great coup for Liverpool. Vicky Anderson takes a look at the finalists at the Tate

THE work of the four artists shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize goes on exhibition to the public in Liverpool today.

Hosted by the Tate, which has taken the often controversial art prize outside of London for the first time in its 23-year history, judges now have until a televised ceremony on December 3 to decide the winner.

This year photography, film and architectural sculptures are the mediums of choice from finalists Zarina Bhimji , Nathan Coley, Mike Nelson and Mark Wallinger.

The artists arrived in Liverpool last night for a private viewing of the new exhibition, which spans the fourth floor of Tate Liverpool, after the world’s media attended an advance preview earlier in the day. “Without a doubt, this is the most important prize for contemporary art in the world and it is fantastic it is happening in Liverpool,” said Christoph Grunenberg, director of Tate Liverpool and chairman of the Turner Prize jury this year.

“It’s not even 2008 yet, so I’m really pleased that we are having this run-up to the Capital of Culture with the complete rehanging of the collection and today’s launch of the Turner Prize.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and it is great to have the honour to be chair of the jury.

“I do think there are a lot of powerful works, and I want as many people as possible to come and see them.”

Seemingly at home on the shortlist was Nathan Coley’s impressive There Will Be No Miracles Here, three lines of large, illuminated text mounted on scaffolding.

Coley’s art is said to explore “the ways in which systems of social and political value can be inferred through the built environment”.

But the evocative nature of the artist’s largest piece was undermined by what some said was the “ridiculousness” of his smallest: Threshold, which consisted of two wooden planks, described by the artist as sculptures, blocking the entrance and exit of his exhibition, forcing visitors to step over them.

Gallery staff now have the extra responsibility of pointing out the barriers to everyone who walks past and ask visitors to mind the step.

More subdued and thought- provoking was the work of Zarina Bhimji, the Ugandan-born photographer and filmmaker.

Made following her recent travels and research in India, Zanzibar and East Africa, her work conveys qualities of universal human emotion and existence – despite her subject matter being empty rooms, leaving the viewer to ponder what may have happened in the space before the photographs were taken.

Mark Wallinger’s humorous Sleeper, a 154-minute film of the artist wandering around the National Gallery in Berlin dressed as a bear, already appeared to be an early favourite among the critics last night, particularly those who had travelled from Europe.

But some were left asking if exhibiting just one piece of work, which was not made specially for the Turner Prize, was indicative of some disinterest on the artist’s part. Wallinger, known for his work protesting against the Iraq war, is the only artist on the shortlist who has been nominated before.

Finally, Mike Nelson’s installation included the latest in a theme that he has returned to throughout his career. Amnesiac Shrine is a labyrinthine, disorientating chamber of rooms, one comprising four large floor-to-ceiling cubes, each featuring a single peephole. Inside the hole, viewers can see a mirrored space resembling an infinite cityscape.

Mr Grunenberg added: “I think the four shortlisted artists are a very diverse group, but I think they all share a kind of similar approach, or concerns, about those big themes such as political systems, thoughts and beliefs, while at the same time being quite different.

“The winner is never a given – there is always a lot of discussion. The shortlist is always the outcome of what’s happened over the past year and what the jury thinks is the most important statement. They are all very strong artists.

“On December 3, the jury will announce the winner live on Channel 4 News. Obviously, we hope over the next three months people really do come to Liverpool, look at the work, and really think about it, really go for it.

“In some ways, that makes it – the prize was originally meant to stimulate debate about the visual arts.

“The idea of the Turner Prize is not to court controversy, just occasionally some works have in particular generated a lot of debate.”

The judging panel, who now have just over six weeks to decide the winner, is made up of writer and critic Michael Bracewell, Fiona Bradwell, director of the Fruitmarket Gallery, Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, and writer and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer.

The Turner Prize is given to a British-based artist aged under 50 “for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work”.

Last year, it was won by painter Tomma Abts, who received her £25,000 prize money from Yoko Ono.

vickyanderson