1988
Winner:
Tony Cragg
Unpublished Shortlist:
Jury:
- Richard Cork, critic and art historian
- Carmen Gimenez, Director of the National Exhibitions Centre, Ministry of Culture, Madrid
- Henry Meyric-Hughes, Fine Arts Department, The British Council
- Jill Ritblat, representative of the Patrons of New Art
- Nicholas Serota, Director elect, Tate Gallery
Turner Prize is given a makeover
The appointment of a new Tate Director, Nicholas Serota, led to many changes such as the introduction of an annual rehang of the Collection and giving priority to modern and contemporary art. During this period the future of the Prize was uncertain. It was modified to be an artist-only prize without a published shortlist and a solo exhibition was awarded to the winner, Tony Cragg. This made it a less media-friendly event, which reduced its public appeal. Meanwhile, in a Docklands warehouse, the exhibition Freeze quietly launched the careers of a group of artists who would become celebrated as the Young British Artists (YBAs) in the 1990s.
Tony Cragg’s solo exhibition held at the Tate Gallery following his 1988 Turner Prize success © Tate Photography
The 1988 Turner Prize invitation 
The 1988 Turner Prize dinner menu Quotes
'It was felt that the publication of a shortlist, including both well-known names and ‘un-knowns’ led to confusion about the scope of the prize, as well as making it difficult for the jury to award the prize to a younger artist without appearing to ‘snub’ a major figure like Bacon/Freud/Auerbach.’
– Nicholas Serota on the change in nominations, October 1988
‘There is a widespread feeling, which I tend to share, that the shortlist sets very disparate artists up in competition with each other, with rather invidious results.’
– Richard Cork, jury member in a letter to the Director of the Tate Gallery, February 1988
‘To create greater dramatic impact for the moment when the 1988 winner was finally announced, no shortlist of contenders or token representation of artefacts was on offer … For my part, I suggest that those who cannot bear the suspense of being shortlisted should take up some less robust profession.'
– Giles Auty, The Spectator, December 1988
Other News
- Benazir Bhutto elected president of Pakistan and becomes first woman to lead a Muslim country
- End of eight-year Iran-Iraq war
- Pan Am flight 103 is blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland
- Illegal raves spring up across the UK
- Tony Cragg represents Britain at the Venice Biennale
- Freeze exhibition curated by Damien Hirst
- Opening of Tate Liverpool
- Aperto 88, Venice Biennale shows young artists under forty
