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Turner Prize History

IntroductionHistory of the PrizeArtists 1984 - 2005People's Poll
The CriticsCartoonsFAQsIssuesQuizRecent Years

1997

'Women on top: the all-woman shortlist for the Turner Prize is about talent rather than gender.'

Waldemar Januszczak Sunday Times 22 June 1997

All-woman shortlist for 1997 prize Dan Glaister Guardian 18 June 1997
May the best woman win Adrian Searle Guardian 29 October 1997
Row as Turner Prize launched Guardian 29 October 1997
Debate: Critic David Lee v artist Tracey Emin Guardian 29 November 1997
Video artist wins for second year running Dan Glaister Guardian 3 December 1997
Nicholas Serota on 1997 winner Gillian Wearing Guardian 3 December 1997
Tracey Emin's early bid for the 1998 prize Guardian 4 December 1997
Tracey Emin disrupts awards dinner Clare Longrigg Guardian 4 December 1997

1998

'What would Turner have had to say about the Turner Prize? . He would have undoubtedly appreciated the new ways of looking at things that the late 20th century has granted artists.'

Anthony Bailey Independent 25 October 1998

'Yet again the Turner shortlist spurns painting in favour of conceptualism.'

William Packer Financial Times 10 November 1998

'Whether or not the Turner Prize manages to carry out its ostensible task of rewarding the best and most innovative young British artists, it consistently succeeds in entertaining its audience.'

Philip Hensher Mail on Sunday 15 November 1998

Low controversy quotient at 1998 shortlist Dan Glaister Guardian 2 July 1998
Adrian Searle agrees with 1998 shortlist Guardian 2 July 1998
Turner Prize goes to Ofili Dan Glaister Guardian 2 December 1998
Profile of Chris Ofili Dan Glaister Guardian 2 December 1998
Ofili's Turner Prize is a small victory for all black people
Raekha Prasad Guardian 5 December 1998

1999

'Some see it as art. Others as simply a bit of a mess. Yesterday Tracey Emin's unmade bed at the Tate Gallery in London was bounced on, fought over and even tidied up.'

Lucie Morris Daily Mail 25 October 1999

'This may no longer be Britain's most valuable prize, but it is a publicity goldmine. This is more precious than any lump sum to an artist; it is the foundation on which future careers are built.'

The Times 20 October 1999

'The stupidest thing that gets said about her [Emin] (by lots of sensible ordinary people) is that a bed isn't art . can't be because "It's just an ordinary bed and I've got one like that". Oh it would have been art if it was a painting or if she'd carved it in marble. You known, shown some skill. Well it is art - it is one of her chosen ways of conveying a life. And it is an effective one. Emin can paint but it is not what she chooses to do now. She is an artist to her fingertips.'

David Robson Express 2 December 1999

Camera artists dominate shortlist Fiachra Gibbons Guardian 4 June 1999
Pass Notes - Tracey Emin Guardian 4 June 1999

2000

'Your chance to open up the Turner Prize: The public is being invited to submit nominations for this year's Turner Prize but will the organisers take any notice?'

Brian Sewell Evening Standard 11 May 2001

2000's shortlist is lamentably un-sensationalist Jonathan Jones Guardian 14 June 2000
Britart is out of the picture Fiachra Gibbons Guardian 15 June 2000
Wolfgang Tillmans' win is neither particularly surprising nor controversial
Adrian Searle Guardian 29 November 2000

German-born Tillmans wins - and riles the Stuckists
Maev Kennedy Guardian 29 November 2000

2001

'Take a bare white room with a light switching on and off and what have you got? A Turner Prize winner.'

Tom Parry Mirror 10 December 2001

Serious shortlist, but the prize is a joke Guardian 30 May 2001
Conceptual art dominates little-known Turner nominees
Maev Kennedy and Imogen Tilden Guardian 30 May 2001

Bookies see film-maker as surprise favourite Maev Kennedy Guardian 31 May 2001
Adrian Searle bumps into too many old friends at this year's Turner Prize
Guardian
7 November 2001

Judges switched on as Turner Prize goes to the Creed of nothingness
Fiachra Gibbons Guardian 10 December 2001

Creed's lights... : A work that did not need to be made
Adrian Searle Guardian 10 December 2001

Adrian Searle on Martin Creed and artistic jokes Guardian 11 December 2001