Post by FKoE on Sept 16, 2004 1:14:16 GMT -5
An image of footballer Wayne Rooney has been shortlisted for an art award known as the "Turner Prize of the North".
Artist Alan Dunn's billboard-sized piece shows the striker running and shouting towards another, smaller image in a corner of Rooney standing still.
The artwork is one of seven to be shortlisted for the £10,000 Comme Ca Art Prize to be presented in Liverpool.
Dunn created the piece in January, before the England player's transfer from Everton to Manchester United.
Dunn said: "Rooney seems to have two sides to his personality and he displays them both very openly.
'Dark and light'
"In the larger image, you can see his aggression and in the smaller one he seems much calmer.
"I have been making art about football for 15 years and I like the characters that show dark and light."
Dunn's piece is titled "Folk who drive their cars at high speed through our city centres, folk who say they can't read when they can, folk who spout racist @&*! in taxis".
Those phrases also appear on the piece along with other text about social irritants. Dunn added: "The phrases are things that annoy me. They are a grumpy old man sort of thing."
Northern exposure
He will find out if he has won on 25 November. Last year, the inaugural prize was won by Liverpool-based artist Paul Rooney.
His video installation, inspired by "ordinary" jobs, was titled Flat 23: "Living Room, Main Bedroom and Second Bedroom".
Set up by Manchester's Comme Ca Gallery, the prize is aimed at promoting art in the north of England, and is open to all UK artists as long as they have exhibited in the north in the past three years.
Comme Ca Art Director Claire Turner said: "The prize has been so well received by the art community and galleries.
"It has certainly helped those working and exhibiting in the north to enjoy a wider profile."
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3659524.stm