The Turner Prize is the UK’s most prestigious art award. Previous winners include Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen and Grayson Perry, with the award often given to the country’s most controversial and boundary-pushing artists. But we’re not here to talk about that, we want to talk about the Turnip Prize.
What is the Turnip Prize?
It was originally conceived by regulars of The George Hotel in Wedmore, Somerset, after seeing Tracey Emin’s infamous My Bed. But what started as a joke in 1999, has now been satirising the Turner Prize by rewarding deliberately bad modern art for 25 years. It is awarded to the person who has ‘created something that they perceive to be crap art using the least amount of effort possible‘.
Now currently held at The New Inn in Wedmore, organised by Trevor Prideaux each year, the Turnip Prize is always held in the first week of December. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the prize, with the award ceremony to be held on Tuesday, December 5 at 6.30pm. This year it received 193 entries, so many that they “have ordered a second skip!”
The four finalists have already been chosen. These are: A Eye by G.P.T. Chat Esq (an artificial eye ball); Coronation Chicken by ChicKing the Third of Somerset (a KFC carton with a crown on top); Inflation by Ike Price (an inflated balloon and pump); and Party Gate by Mr Keep Calm (A gate with a party hat on the top). The winner of this spoof prize will receive a turnip nailed to a block of wood.
The first winner of the Turnip Prize in 1999 was David Stone with Alfred The Grate, which was two burned rolls on a fire grate. Last year’s winner was Lie Instate with Cue Jumpers, consisting of a pool cue with two small jumpers attached. Whoever wins this year is in crap company that’s for sure! To learn more about the Turnip Prize head here.