Jeremy Deller Profile
Britain, creating artwork that maintained the
contradictory nature of Deller’s career. It was
during his time at Courtauld that some of the
events that were happening beyond the Institute’s
walls in both politics and society began to
influence his art.
“T_he journey of an artist is
never a straightforward
one and this was never
truer of Turner Prize
Winner, Jeremy Deller.”
One such event became the inspiration for one of
Deller’s best-known works, the Battle of
Orgreave. His 2001 piece of documentary work, a
reconstruction of a key battle between miners and
police in the 1984 miners strike, became one of
his most recognisable pieces. T_he investigation
into a key moment in recent history stirred up forms of culture on the fringes of the mainstream creatives to launch their careers, with high-calibre
memories for those caught up in the industrial or reveals hidden histories. contracts and expert advisors on-hand through-
dispute and served to bolster Deller’s reputation Each of his works empathises with the working out the difficult early stages. Past winners have
as a pioneering artist. class, using explorations of everything from folk gone on to showcase their works at galleries in
While his career blossomed, Deller took the music to popular culture to maintain an under- London, while winners of other categories within
artistic medium he works in to the next level. the Best of Manchester Awards have also gone on
Again, taking the conventions and turning them
on their head, Deller’s next major piece became
“Deller’s work is rich and
to shine.
Deller’s co-judge, Wayne Hemmingway says,
his Turner Prize-winning work, firmly placing
him in the higher echelons within the world of
filled with contradictions.
“T_he good thing about awards is that they force
you to articulate what you stand for,” he contin-
art, regardless of the critics’ dismissals.
He explores art beyond the
ues, “T_hey push you to be better and show you
Not necessarily his most famous artwork, that you can get to the top.”
Memory Bucket, created in 2003, was a thought
boundaries”
One such award winner can appreciate the
provoking film using documentary techniques. In importance of winning to achieve an outstanding
keeping with his earlier work, Deller took a standing of the issues and struggles that the reputation. Deller will be watching the competi-
politically charged moment in history and working class face. By using moments from tors with a wealth of experience of challenging
explored it in detail. Under scrutiny this time was history, he channels meanings that may have been preconceptions behind him. Deller’s work is so
the state of Texas, taking two highly emotive missed the first time around, lending a new take complex, something that most of our society can
locations: the site of the Branch Davidian siege in on events that occurred decades ago. relate to on some level. Deller challenges the
Waco and President Bush’s home town of Craw- Next month, Deller will form one sixth of the concept of art.
ford. Archive news footage is collaged with panel of judges at this year’s T_he Best of
interviews, juxtaposing official reports with Manchester Awards at Urbis, celebrating innova-
personal narratives and creating a striking balance tion in art, music and fashion in the Greater
Entries for T_he Best of Manchester
between the reality of the siege and the history Manchester region.
Awards closes at midnight on May1
behind a powerful man. T_he annual awards provide an opportunity for
2009. Entry is online at
Deller’s work is rich and filled with contradic- residents and employees within Greater
www.urbis.org.uk/thebestofmanchest
W
tions. He explores art beyond the boundaries, Manchester who are working in art, music or
er. T_he shortlist will be announced on
or
taking what is considered normal in the art world fashion to enter their work ready to be judged by
ds:
and recreating images from history that create a leading panel, including Deller. He will be
June 15 and the winners announced
L
aur
uncomfortable tensions and raise questions about joined by a leading panel of experts in the indus-
live at an awards ceremony at Urbis
a S
human morality. try, including Wayne Hemingway, Miranda
on July 23. T_he Best of Manchester
ef
Acting as curator, producer or director of a broad Sawyer and Observer Music Monthly journalist,
exhibition runs at Urbis from 24 July
to range of projects, including orchestrated events, Luke Bainbridge.
– 20 September 2009.
n
films and publications, Deller draws attention to T_he awards offer an opportunity for the winning
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