Jesse Darling, a British artist living and working in Germany, has won the prestigious Turner Prize for 2023 with his installation which is apparently a critique of Britain.

The judges described the work as 'delirious art' and they said that it was bold and engaging and it was:

Invoking societal breakdown, his presentation unsettles perceived notions of labour, class, Britishness and power,

Well, either I'm just not seeing it or the judges were delirious at the time.

I've read what Darling says he's trying to communicate with the piece (which I understand) and I've read the interpretations from several of the art critics who have commented on the work, but it still doesn't stir me - at least not in any artistic appreciative way. 

The Turner Prize, named after the artist J.M.W. Turner was setup by the Patrons of New Art and first awarded in 1984. It's given to a British artist and its judged by an independent panel of judges every year. Joseph Mallord William Turner was regarded as being innovative and controversial in his day and he had wanted to establish a prize for young artists himself, so I can understand why the Patrons of New Art chose the name for their prize.

But Turner was a painter and even in his most abstract and impressionistic period, the common man could still appreciate his work, interpret by himself what the painting was about and could judge, for himself, whether he liked it or not.

For these modern installations, you need a 'translator' to tell you what the thing is about and the translators (art critics) get the artist's monologue on the piece so that they have some insight to what is going on; otherwise they'd all have different stories. So you get the narrative second or third-hand to guide you as to the artistic intent of the work you see before you - or, if you're like me, you'll think you've just walked into a building site!

I've gone round a few 'modern' art galleries and I'm never surprised at how empty of visitors they are (compared to other galleries). They leave me like this penguin here in Antarctica - cold.

(This is me in the Tate Modern) ->

Rename the Turner Prize

I think if Turner saw any of the prize-winning work attributed to his name, he'd be spinning in his grave. Turner bequeathed many of his paintings and works of art to the British nation, on the condition that they be kept and shown together. This has been ignored and many of his works have been scattered and lent abroad.

I'm totally on board with the Tate's desire to recognise and promote British art, even if it is contemporary, but they're doing a dis-service to Turner, again. So I think it's time a new Turner Prize was given to art, primarily paintings and of the genre which would celebrate Turner's legacy. The Tate can rename their prize to something which connects more to the contemporary art which they appreciate - and here are some suggestions to get them started:

• Fecked if I know Prize
• WTF! Prize
• Brrr! It's cold in here Prize

But seriously, can anyone say they really appreciate contemporary modern art, whether its Jesse Darling's installation, a painting of a single-colour square or the banana stuck to the wall with gaffer tape? Or is it all just the Emperor's new clothes?