From: John Moseley
Category: Exhibitions
Date: 23 December 2004
I’ve seen the Turner Prize show now and slightly revised my opinion of Jeremy Deller. Memory Bucket is a documentary devoid of artistic merit (I know I know – whatever that is) and less interesting than documentaries made by professionals for TV. His Spanish parade documented on video by children is mawkish and didactic. The little plaques commemorating dead people Deller thinks we should care about are irritatingly sanctimonious. This is art by someone who doesn’t really like art. My previous slight impression of a sort of Victorian moralism in him is now markedly increased. It’s as if he’s constantly saying that art is of no value of itself – it should communicate improving VALUES. This is a simplistic and philistine position and I feel patronised by it since I already have values. I’d feel more improved by a good haircut. Except for Kutlug Attaman's, the other Turner Prize exhibits were terrible too.
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