The Penultimate Day (was yesterday)

Yesterday, on the penultimate day of 2005, OBF (Other Best Friend) and I decided to brave the elements (icy winds, rain that felt like shards of glass hitting your face, etc) and go to the Tate Britain to see the Turner Prize. Both of us were quite disappointed in last year's prize (I really don't care for war in my art) but this year, it was a pretty good show.

My firm favourite was not, however, the winner. Simon Starling's work is a little too process oriented and 'high brow' for me - I appreciate what he is doing, but next to Gillian Carnegie's brilliant paintings, his shed/boat/shed just faded in to nothingness.

Gillian Carnegie's 'Black Square' paintings were especially enthralling. I couldn't help but think that looking in to them was like taking a glimpse back over an especially bad year (not that my 2005 has been especially bad, but I have had bad years before). A mass of subtle layers of thorns, trees, and distant foliage.

Another artist I 'discovered' in 2005 whom I would like to give a special mention to is Hope Atherton. In fact, I first came across her work in 2004, when I read an article about her dark paintings and especially her taxidermy work.

I forgot (in my excitement about Adrien my new boyfriend) to mention her amazing costumes she designed for the White Witch in Narnia - I think she may be one to watch out for in 2006.