The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Two artists over 50 make Turner Prize shortlist
ART: Final four announced following rule change which saw age limit scrapped
The shortlist for this year’s Turner Prize includes two artists over the age of 50 for the first time in more than 25 years.
Since 1991, the upper age limit for those eligible to be considered was set at 50 but the rule change was confirmed earlier this year to reflect “the fact that artists can experience a breakthrough in their work at any age”.
British painter Hurvin Anderson is 52, and Lubaina Himid, who was born in Zanzibar, is 62.
They will compete against German artist Andrea Buttner and PalestinianEnglish artist Rosalind Nashashibi, both of whom are in their forties.
Anderson, who was born in Birmingham and lives and works in London, is known for his vibrant still-life and landscape paintings with an overarching theme of community.
His notable shift between abstract and representational focus is one of his defining styles, and he often uses political and social topics for his subject matter as well as drawing on his Caribbean heritage.
Himid celebrates black creativity and the African diaspora with her work, which includes paintings, prints, drawings and installations.
A key figure of the Black Arts Movement, she lives and works in Preston.
For Buttner, who is based in London and Berlin, the limitations of the body are a frequent source of inspiration, and her diverse portfolio includes works of printmaking, sculpture, painting, film and collaborative projects.
Croydon-born, London-based Nashashibi works primarily in film and also paints and creates prints, often fusing the different art forms together, and she drew on domestic life in Gaza and the political background for her piece Electrical Gaza 2015.
The winner – who will receive a £25,000 prize – will be announced at a ceremony aired live on the Turner Prize’s partner the BBC on December 5.