Crystal cave-creating artist makes Turner Prize short list

Three artists based in painting and drawing, as well as an installation artist who notably turned a derelict London flat into a fantastical crystal-encrusted cave, are this year's finalists for the U.K.'s prestigious Turner Prize.

Organizers unveiled this year's four finalists for the controversial, 25,000 prize (about $45,000 Cdn) in London on Tuesday. Established in 1984 and named after landscape artist JMW Turner, the annual prize honours a British contemporary artist under the age of 50.

The shortlisted artists will "remind people why British art is so exciting," said art critic Jonathan Jones, a member of the judging panel. "It shows there is a great deal of talent in contemporary art."

The finalists are:

• Sculptor Roger Hiorns, 34, best known for his 2008 art installation Seizure, for which he pumped copper sulfate solution into an abandoned apartment, allowing glittering blue crystals to form over every single surface.
• Multimedia artist Lucy Skaer, 34, who works in drawing, sculpture and film, often incorporating photojournalist reportage.
• Italian-born, London-based Enrico David, 43, who creates drawings, paintings, collages and sculptures that often borrow from traditional craft techniques (such as sewing) and design styles, including surrealism.
• Richard Wright, 49, whose massive, precise, rhythmic and geometric wall paintings are often inspired by architecture.

The Tate Britain will open an exhibition featuring work by the four finalists on Oct. 7. This year's winner will be announced Dec. 7.

The award is notorious for its controversial selection of nominees and winners, which has included Damien Hirst's formaldehyde-suspended animals, Chris Ofili's elephant dung-enhanced paintings, Tracey Emin's infamous unmade bed and sexually explicit sculptures by the Chapman Brothers.

"Whatever people might say about the short list, it does provide a huge draw to the public," said Stephen Deuchar, director of London's Tate Britain gallery.

"It is the one time of year when people feel empowered to talk about contemporary art."