Five leading contemporary artists will give talks at Tate this autumn. Two of the Turner Prize 2003 nominees, Jake Chapman and Grayson Perry, will talk at Tate Britain. Olafur Eliasson, who is undertaking the current commission in The Unilever Series, will talk at Tate Modern, as will Thomas Hirschhorn and Carsten Höller, two of the artists included in Tate Modern’s contemporary group show Common Wealth.
All talks commence at 18.30 and are priced at £7 (£4 concessions). Secure bookings can be made by visiting www.tate.org.uk/tickets or calling 020 7887 8888.
Grayson Perry and Oliver James Talk Sex and Ceramics
12 November, Tate Britain
One of the artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize, Grayson Perry has generated much public debate. His work explores various media to test the boundaries of fine art practice, and his subject matter grapples with cultural stereotypes. Grayson Perry joins the noted psychologist and Observer columnist Oliver James to discuss families, creativity, autobiography and the complex nature of the self.
Thomas Hirschhorn
13 November, Tate Modern
Swiss-born artist Thomas Hirschhorn works in Paris. He creates makeshift environments using everyday materials such as plastic sheeting, cardboard, aluminium, and torn magazine pages, which reflect upon current social issues. He is one of the artists featured in the group exhibition Common Wealth at Tate Modern. Recent installations of his work include World Airport 1999 at the Venice Biennale in 1999 and Bataille Monument 2002 at last year’s Documenta 11.
Olafur Eliasson
18 November, Tate Modern
The Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson is undertaking the fourth in The Unilever Series of commissions for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern. His work considers the boundaries of human perception and the relationship between nature, architecture and technology and he has become known for his installations and sculptures featuring natural materials such as light, steam, water, fire, wind and ice. Olafur Eliasson will be in conversation with Tate Modern Curator Dominic Willsdon.
Jake Chapman and Matthew Collings
26 November, Tate Britain
Jake and Dinos Chapman have been shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize. Jake joins writer and broadcaster Matthew Collings for a conversation about the brothers’ current, past and future work. The Chapmans’ striking sculptural installations and graphic works investigate society’s taboos with humour and provocation, appropriating imagery from diverse sources.
Carsten Höller
4 December, Tate Modern
Carsten Höller (born 1961 Brussels) lives in Stockholm. His works create communal experiments in which the visitor determines the rules. Höller is one of the artists included in the group exhibition Common Wealth at Tate Modern. Solo exhibitions of his work have recently featured at both the Fondazione Prada, Milan in 2000 and the ICA, Boston 2003.