Keith Tyson was announced winner of the 2002 Turner Prize on Sunday evening, receiving the prestigious 20 000 pound award from Daniel Libeskind live on Channel 4.

In 2001, Tyson presented an installation inspired by Rodin’s Thinker at the Venice Biennale directed by Harald Szeeman whilst previously his work had been shown at the South London Gallery and the Kunsthalle in Zurich. All interventions appreciated by the Turner Prize jury (lead by Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate), which placed him amongst the four finalists this year (alongside Fiona Banner, Liam Gillick and Catherine Yaas).

The official motivation behind the choice of Tyson was in “the strong visual energy of his work, using a wide range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture and installation”. The jury “admired the way in which his work embraces the poetic, logic, humour and the fantastic, making connections between these elements”.

The award is given to British artists (who work in the UK or who were born there and work abroad) who are under fifty and have shown their work during the twelve month period before the annual launch.

https://www.tate.org.uk
https://www.channel4.com