There are many reasons to love the Turner Prize (just as many some find to despise it). One can’t deny it does its job when it comes to sparking conversation in and around the art world. Its annual exhibition opens at Tate Britain tomorrow and this year’s nominees are Duncan Campbell, Ciara Phillips, James Richards and Tris Vonna-Michell. We were there today and can tell you…this year be prepared to watch a lot of film!

There are many reasons to love the Turner Prize (just as many some find to despise it). One can’t deny it does its job when it comes to sparking conversation in and around the art world. Its annual exhibition opens at Tate Britain tomorrow and this year’s nominees are Duncan Campbell, Ciara Phillips, James Richards and Tris Vonna-Michell. We were there today and can tell you…this year be prepared to watch a lot of film!

In the 30th edition of the Turner Prize exhibition there is no trace of paintings or sculptures. The four nominated artists have presented photography, craft and design works, and more than ever, film works. In fact, the only nominee who has not presented a film piece is Ciara Phillips. Her installation Things Shared 2014 forms a striking contrast with the rest of the dark artist spaces, with her widely lit installation filled with colourful handmade prints.

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In Ciara Phillips’ artist space, handmade prints cover the gallery walls from floor to ceiling

The Turner Prize was created to promote discussion and is widely recognised as one of the most important and prestigious prizes for the visual arts in Europe and beyond. The actual prize money is £40,000 with £25,000 going to the winner and £5,000 each for the other shortlisted artists. Past winners include a diverse range of artists, from the multifaceted Damien Hirst to the abstract painter Howard Hodgkin, sound installation artist Susan Philipsz or Steve McQueen, the video artist and Oscar winner for 12 Years a Slave. Last year’s winner was Laure Prouvost for her magical, intelligent film installation Wantee (2013)

Here is an overview of this year’s nominees and their work:

Duncan Campbell – His main piece is his film It for Others 2013 which focuses on African art and the colonialism led by western museums, and is based on the 1953 film essay by Chris Marker and Alan Resnais. Other footage to back up his ideology includes the world known photographies of Official IRA volunteer Joseph McCann. An interesting piece that stirs up our sound beliefs and questions the means through which history is presented. 

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Footage from It for Others 2013 film, by Duncan Campbell

Ciara Phillips – She has been nominated for her solo exhibition at The Showroom, London. A giant 3D ‘OK’ is mixed with colourful handmade prints pasted on the gallery walls from the floor to the ceiling. This is her line of work: screenprints, textiles, photographs and wall paintings for site-specific installations. She is inspired by Corita Kent (1918-1986), an artist, educator and activist known for reinterpreting advertisings and imagery of 1960s consumer culture. The title of the installation is Things Shared 2014, pointing towards Phillips’s long-standing interest in collaboration and her process driven approach.

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Things Shared 2014, installation by Ciara Phillips

James Richards – His main piece is Rosebud 2013, a film where censored photographs from pictures found in a Tokyo library are intertwined with passages of a more tender nature. Richards also shows The Screens 2013, where images from a theatrical make-up manual are projected unto the wall, and Untitled Merchandise (Lovers and Dealers) 2007. This last installation is made up of large souvenir blankets which were ordinarily used to depict members of the US military and now feature lovers and art dealers who were close to artist Keith Haring.

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Untitled Merchandise (Lovers and Dealers), by James Richards

Tris Vonna-Michell – His work comes from his solo exhibition Postscript II (Berlin) at Jan Mot, Brussels. It features a piece based on a story about his mother’s childhood in post-war Germany and also shows his first film installation, Finding Chopin: Dans l’Essex 2014 which revolves around French sound poet Henri Chopin (1922 – 2008), a reappearing figure in Vonna-Michell’s work.

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Backlit photographs (Finding Chopin: Dans l’Essex) by Tris Vonna-Michell

 

The Turner Prize is at Tate Britain, London SW1, until 4 January. The winner, who will receive £25,000, will be announced on Channel 4 by British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor on 1 December.