Turner Prize 2018 at Tate Britain Critiqued for Prioritizing Political Agendas Over Artistic Merit
The Turner Prize exhibition of 2018 at Tate Britain ran from September 26 to January 6, showcasing four artists shortlisted for their engagement with social and political themes. Charlotte Prodger received the award for her video essay Bridgit (2016), which delves into queer identity. Luke Willis Thompson exhibited film portraits, such as Autoportrait (2017) featuring Diamond Reynolds and Cemetery of Uniforms and Liveries (2016), which portrays victims of state violence. Forensic Architecture presented The Long Duration of a Split Second (2018), a digital representation of a violent eviction. Naeem Mohaiemen's Two Meetings and a Funeral (2017) is a video essay focused on the Non-Aligned Movement. Critics contend that prioritizing political themes may detract from artistic merit, prompting discussions on art's function in social activism versus aesthetic value.
Key facts
- Charlotte Prodger won the 2018 Turner Prize for her video essay Bridgit (2016)
- The exhibition ran at Tate Britain in London from September 26, 2018 to January 6, 2019
- Luke Willis Thompson's films address police violence and racial politics through portraits of Diamond Reynolds, Brandon Groce, and Graeme Burke
- Forensic Architecture presented The Long Duration of a Split Second (2018) about a Bedouin settlement eviction
- Naeem Mohaiemen showed Two Meetings and a Funeral (2017) about the Non-Aligned Movement
- The prize eliminated its age limit in 2017 and emphasized ethnic diversity
- Critics argue the focus on political issues overlooks artistic quality and formal innovation
- The selection reflects a broader shift toward art that intervenes in social and cultural debates
Entities
Artists
- Charlotte Prodger
- Luke Willis Thompson
- Naeem Mohaiemen
- Lubaina Himid
- Hurvin Anderson
- Donald Rodney
- Diamond Reynolds
- Brandon Groce
- Graeme Burke
- Cherry Groce
- Joy Gardner
Institutions
- Tate Britain
- Turner Prize
- Forensic Architecture
- BLK Art Group
- ArtReview
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
- Minnesota
- United States
- Brixton
- Jamaica
- Middle East
- Global South