Turner arts prize goes political

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - The Turner arts prize, won in the past by a pickled sheep and a madonna made of elephant dung, went political in 2007 with shortlisted artists turning to everything from mass murder to peace protests for inspiration.

"We live in political times," said Miranda Sawyer, a judge for one of art world's most controversial awards which regularly evokes howls of protest from critics who accuse the Turner of sensationalising and dumbing down modern art.

In 1995 BritArt "Bad Boy" Damien Hirst won with a pickled sheep and three years later Chris Ofili won with a Virgin Mary figure made of elephant dung.

But this year's quartet of shortlisted artists for the prize struck a more sombre tone.

Bookmakers promptly installed Mark Wallinger as 11-10 favourite to scoop the prize.

Wallinger, who was also nominated for the Turner in 1995, is best known for "State of Britain", his meticulous reconstruction of the peace camp set up outside parliament by campaigner Brian Haw in protest over the Iraq war.

"It's more a political punt for Turner gamblers this year. Mark is the headline-maker so consequently we have made him favourite," said Rupert Adams, spokesman for bookmaker William Hill.

Next in the betting at 3-1 came Nathan Coley and Mike Nelson with Zarina Bhimji outsider of the party at 5-1 for the prize, presented for the first time at The Tate Liverpool museum in northern England.