Artist David Shrigley has defended his decision to put on show a model of a fully naked man at the Turner Prize Exhibition which opens to the public in Derry today.
David Shrigley and his naked exhibit which local schoolchildren are not being allowed to see.
Tens of thousands are expected to attend the exhibition being held at a former British army barracks in Ebrington in the Waterside.
The exhibition – being held outside England for the first time in its 29 year history – will run until January next. Entry is free. Its highlight will be the announcement on 2 December of the winner of highly prestigious Turner Prize, an event to be screened live on Channel 4.
Shrigley is the favourite with the bookies to clinch the top accolade, which carries a prize of £25,000, from three other nominees – Ghanaian-born Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, who lives and works in London; Laure Prouvost, from France; and Berlin-based Tino Sehgal.
But it is Shrigley’s piece, entitled “Life Model 2012” which is causing all the controversy.
The Glasgow-based artist is best known for his humorous line drawings, but also makes sculptures, photographs, paintings and animated films.
His work, which combines jokes and commentary, can be found on greetings cards, in books and in magazines, as well as in galleries.
But it is his model of a fully naked man – which visitors will be invited to sketch – that has resulted in a number of schools banning their pupils from viewing his exhibit.
Shrigley said he did not know what all the fuss was about and defended putting the model on show.
He said: “I am quite surprised there has been one or two schools that have not allowed their children to come and draw him. It wasn’t a problem when I put it on show in Manchester. Maybe there is pocket of conservatism in this part of the world.”
Established in 1984, the Turner Prize is awarded to a contemporary artist under 50, living, working or born in Britain, who is judged to have put on the best exhibition of the last 12 months.
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