Press release: 20 February 2008

On the last Thursday of every month Tate Liverpool opens late for special events, music, food, drink and of course the best modern and contemporary art. This month’s Late at Tate, Thursday 28 February (18.00 – 21.00), kick starts our Late at Tate nights for 2008 and invites visitors to reflect on the darker side of Niki de Saint Phalle’s work, currently the subject of a major Tate Liverpool exhibition. Visitors to Late at Tate can experience the Mercy organisation, who will stage one-off live events responding to the theme of creative destruction in the work of Niki de Saint Phalle and watch Niki de Saint Phalle’s film Camelia e le Dragon (1975).

To start the evening artist Dorothy Cross will give an illustrated talk about her work. Her iconic sculpture Virgin Shroud (1993) features in the current display of work from the Tate Collection, DLA Piper Series: The Twentieth Century - How it looked & how it felt. Dorothy Cross works in a range of media from sculpture using found objects, to video, photography and large scale public art pieces. In this talk, Cross discusses her career to date including Ghost Ship, regarded as one of the most successful pieces of public art in recent years and shown at the first Liverpool Biennial in 1999. This artist talk takes place in from 18.00 – 19.30 and tickets cost £7, £5.50 (concessions), £4 (members). To book please contact Tate Liverpool on 0151 702 7400.

Known for their destructive edge – Liverpool artist’s collective Mercy stage one off live events and screenings that respond to the theme of Creative Destruction in the work of Niki de Saint Phalle. Events include Carl Rohumma's Destruction Loopshow and Guitar and Pyro Audio Visual Performance and a live computer poetry performance on the limits of writing entitled It Looks Like You’re Writing A Letter by artist Ross Sutherland. Binary Jam DJs, Wave Machines, Kaya and Mercy Poets will also be displaying their destructive musical qualities.

This month’s Late at Tate also marks the announcement of the winner of the Alternative Turner Prize by Young Tate. The competition for 13-25 year olds saw young people from across the UK create their own artworks inspired by the Turner Prize 2007. There will be an opportunity to see the work of the four finalists displayed at Tate Liverpool and at 19.45 a panel of judges will announce the winner and present certificates to the shortlisted nominees.

18.00 – 19.30: Artist Talk: Dorothy Cross (Auditorium)

18.00 – 21.00: Mercy live events and screenings (All spaces)

19.30 – 21.00: Camelia e le Dragon film screening (Auditorium)

19.45 – 20.15: Announcement of Alternative Turner Prize (Foyer)

For images or interviews please contact the Tate Liverpool Press Office:

Stacey Arnold call: 0151 702 7444 e-mail: stacey.arnold@tate.org.uk

Late at Tate is a series of monthly late-night openings taking place on the last Thursday of every month from 18.00 - 21.00. Visitors have the opportunity to drop-in after 18.00 and enjoy a series of one-off events themed around the artworks on display, see all the Tate Liverpool exhibitions, and enjoy a different kind of Tate experience. On Late at Tate nights, Tate Café will be open until 22.00 (last orders 21.30) and serving a special dinner menu - providing the perfect opportunity to refuel before or after enjoying an evening of art and culture. A bar in the foyer will provide refreshments for those enjoying the events. Entry to Tate Liverpool on Late at Tate nights will be free, although special exhibition entry, food and drink and selected events may incur a charge. In May a special birthday Late at Tate takes place on Saturday 3 May.