Well That's a Turner-up for the Books

Sound artist Susan Philipsz has won this year's Turner Prize - the first time a sound installation has won the award for modern art.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8659706.stm

Apparently this sound installation consists of playing recordings of Ms Philipsz singing 'Lowlands Away' (a folk song) under bridges and on the sound system at railway stations as Ms P explores the relationship of sound to architectural spaces.

A little more explanation of her work:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8659706.stm

Forty four seconds of a strangely echoey and mildly tuneless version of Lowlands Away as played under a bridge in Glasgow. Yeah, right!

OK, so what I want to know is what the difference is between a sound installation and... um... background musak? Call me insensitive (and you can if you like) but I Just Don't Get It.

Of course all music is art, but surely this is a piss-take. Next thing you know they'll be giving prizes for art to someone's skanky unmade bed. Really, Turner Committee, you don't have to go to these lengths to be noticed.

Perhaps the next BBC Folk Award should be given to someone who paints a traditional sea shanty.

Note to Turner Committee. Psst! Oy! For twenty five grand I can get you a posse of good folk musicians who will stand unter any bridge you like and sing Lowlands Away. Perhaps it would be a help if I added a Z to the end of my name.

Well That's a Turner-up for the Books

Sound artist Susan Philipsz has won this year's Turner Prize - the first time a sound installation has won the award for modern art.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8659706.stm

Apparently this sound installation consists of playing recordings of Ms Philipsz singing 'Lowlands Away' (a folk song) under bridges and on the sound system at railway stations as Ms P explores the relationship of sound to architectural spaces.

A little more explanation of her work:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8659706.stm

Forty four seconds of a strangely echoey and mildly tuneless version of Lowlands Away as played under a bridge in Glasgow. Yeah, right!

OK, so what I want to know is what the difference is between a sound installation and... um... background musak? Call me insensitive (and you can if you like) but I Just Don't Get It.

Of course all music is art, but surely this is a piss-take. Next thing you know they'll be giving prizes for art to someone's skanky unmade bed. Really, Turner Committee, you don't have to go to these lengths to be noticed.

Perhaps the next BBC Folk Award should be given to someone who paints a traditional sea shanty.

Note to Turner Committee. Psst! Oy! For twenty five grand I can get you a posse of good folk musicians who will stand unter any bridge you like and sing Lowlands Away. Perhaps it would be a help if I added a Z to the end of my name.