Performance artist, excremental illustrator among front-runners for British art’s Turner Prize

LONDON – A nudist performance artist and an excremental illustrator are among contenders for British art’s influential and contentious Turner Prize.

Finalists include Spartacus Chetwynd, who lives in a London nudist colony and uses friends and family in carnival-style performances that have been inspired by everything from Michael Jackson’s music to “Star Wars” character Jabba The Hutt.

The other nominees include film and video artists Luke Fowler and Elizabeth Price. The bookies’ favourite is Paul Noble, who produces drawings of a dystopian imaginary city populated by human excrement.

The 25,000-pound ($40,000) prize, awarded annually to a British artist under 50, often sparks lively debate about the value of modern art. Past winners include transvestite potter Grayson Perry and shark pickler Damien Hirst.

The winner will be announced later Monday.

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Online:

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/