Scots artistic duo turn a few heads

There is an unmistakeable air of progression that embodies this year's Turner Prize. The power of the institution which has dominated the British art world for almost three decades shows no sign of waning. But for the first year in its history, the ceremony will take place at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead rather than the usual Tate Britain.

More excitingly, this is the first year that two Scottish artists have been shortlisted for the £25,000 prize: Karla Black and Martin Boyce, who both attended the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), will only be the 11th and 12th Scots to be nominated.

Boyce, however, does not feel a sense of entitlement. "I always figured if it comes your way, it comes," he told The Journal. According to Boyce, his Turner exhibition at the Baltic will consist of "a recent library table work, a concrete panel and some other works", a similar show to his 'A Library of Leaves' in 2010 for which he was first nominated at the Eva Presenhuber gallery in Zurich.

However, due to the fact that Boyce's work often focuses on the context of the space in which he exhibits, some critics have pointed out that his collection may be compromised by the new backdrop of the Baltic Centre.

Boyce, though, is not worried. "I often respond to gallery spaces when I make exhibitions," he said. In fact, he feels that new surroundings contribute to his work: "The sculptures often have a peculiar energy of their own and you can't always predict what will happen when you put them in a room together. This is the exciting part of making exhibitions."

He also credits his upbringing in Glasgow as being central to his choice of materials. "A lot of what feeds into the work are glimpses of city landscapes you see from train and car windows, these mental snapshots of wastegrounds and parks and bits of buildings."

Why then does he believe that Scottish – mainly Glasgow-based – artists have come to the forefront of the art world, particularly in relation to the Turner Prize?

"I think the work of Glasgow-based artists is entirely in keeping with developments in art internationally. This is because we were and are part of an international conversation and community."

One of the judges of the Turner Prize this year is Katrina Brown, Director of The Common Guild art gallery in Glasgow. She believes that it is the increasing depth of the Scottish art world which has brought it to the forefront of public attention in recent years, and that there is "a remarkable diversity across a range of artists at work in Scotland today". 

Brown, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from GSA in June this year, has worked at many influential British art galleries, such as Transmission in Glasgow, Tate Liverpool and Dundee Contemporary Arts centre. A champion of the visual arts, Brown still believes Scottish artists go largely unappreciated and that "there is still a long way to go in the broader cultural context." 

For Boyce, however, the artistic talent that Scotland generates is unmistakeable. He said: "It was always so clear to me that I was surrounded by brilliant people and artists. I never doubted it for a minute and still don't.

"I'm just lucky to be a part of it all."