Gavin Turk Enlists Help Of UK Inmates For New Work

Usually Gavin Turk inserts himself into his work, combining iconography with his own likeness, but for his latest series, the Young British Artist has taken a step back. Turk asked prisoners across the UK if they would contribute their needlework to his latest project and many agreed.

Turk sent kits to Fine Cell Work, a rehabilitation program that allows prisoners to learn needlework and since then, 35 inmates have worked on creating the colored stitching for Turk's new show, "Gavin & Turk" at Ben Brown Fine Arts. Inspired by Italian conceptual artist and Arte Povera member Alighiero Boetti, who has a retrospective at the Tate Modern later this month, Turk began challenging the notion of authorship with his new project.

Day & Night, Embroidery on cotton, 2012, 13.5 x 13.5 x 2.3 cms, Courtesy of Gavin Turk / Live Stock Market / Ben Brown Fine Arts

"I'm trying to question our contemporary values about authenticity," Turk said to The Independent. "Everything is now seemingly so mediated -- it's as if art is already a deja vu."

View a slideshow of the work below and let us know what you think in the comments section:

"Gavin & Turk" runs from February 10th - April 20th, 2012 at Ben Brown Fine Arts.

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Comments

[nikleatram]

12:27 AM on 02/07/2012

Beautiful, interesting art work; I wish I could view it in person!