Plan your visit to see Mark Wallinger →

• What is Mark Wallinger known for?+

  Mark Wallinger is known for his incisive examination of British identity and the structures of power. His work often uses recognisable symbols and figures, then recontextualises them to provoke new interpretations.
• What is Mark Wallinger's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to name Mark Wallinger's single "most famous work" with certainty, as fame is subjective and fluctuates. However, a survey of his body of work suggests several pieces that have received significant attention. Wallinger represented Britain in the 2007 Venice Biennale; this exposure brought international recognition. Among his well-known works is "A Real Work of Art" (1994), where he offered shares in his own bloodline as an artwork. "Angel" (1997), a recreation of Antony Gormley's "Angel of the North", also attracted notice. "State Britain" (2007), a recreation of peace campaigner Brian Haw's protest display outside Parliament, won the Turner Prize. This installation involved recreating Haw's display inside Tate Britain, raising questions about freedom of speech and protest. Another prominent work is "Ecce Homo" (1999), a life-sized sculpture of Christ displayed on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. These works have contributed to Wallinger's reputation as a significant contemporary artist.
• What should I know about Mark Wallinger's prints?+

  Mark Wallinger is a British artist working in a variety of media. He was born in Chigwell, Essex, in 1959. He was a Turner Prize winner in 2007 and represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. Wallinger's prints often connect to his larger sculptural and installation projects. For example, his series of unique screenprints, *Oxymoron*, relates to his 2009 Fourth Plinth commission, *The Fourth Plinth*. The sculpture is of a large, distorted, and marbleised race horse. The prints take their imagery directly from the sculpture. Another print series, *Self Portrait as a Worried Man*, also connects to a larger project. In 2017, Wallinger created a life-size sculpture of Sigmund Freud for Freud's former home in London. The lithograph shows Wallinger adopting Freud's pose; it is a humorous, yet thoughtful, exploration of identity. Wallinger's prints often contain layers of meaning. They reward close looking and invite viewers to consider the relationships between the image, the artist, and the wider world. His prints are not always direct representations of his sculptures, but they offer a different perspective on his artistic concerns.
• What style or movement did Mark Wallinger belong to?+

  Mark Wallinger is associated with the Young British Artists (yBa) a loosely defined artistic phenomenon that gained prominence in the 1990s. The YBAs, including artists such as Damien Hirst, reacted against what they saw as an impasse in the art world. They favored a 'return of the real' by reactivating strategies from pop art, minimalism, and conceptualism. Curator Andrew Renton noted that 'a certain kind of irresponsibility' brought these artists together aesthetically. Angela McRobbie observed that this attitude freed artists from being easily classified. The YBAs gained media attention through controversial works and events, such as Rachel Whiteread’s 'House' (1993) and the Royal Academy’s 'Sensation' exhibition in 1997. Their work often incorporated irony and wordplay, and they engaged with popular culture, youth culture, and fashion. While the YBA label is now considered somewhat outdated, it reflects a specific moment in British art history characterised by a post-conceptual approach and a provocative attitude.
• What techniques or materials did Mark Wallinger use?+

  Mark Wallinger works across a range of media. He is known for sculpture, painting, video, installation, and printmaking. Wallinger represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. His presentation included the large sculpture *Ecce Homo* (1999). The piece depicts Christ, in marble, at human scale. It was originally displayed on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. The artist often incorporates religious themes and social commentary in his work. Wallinger's *State Britain* (2007) installation at Tate Britain recreated Brian Haw's Parliament Square peace protest. The piece included banners, photographs, and Haw's personal effects. The artist's *Oxymoron* series (2009) features paintings of horses, a recurring motif in his practice. These works combine traditional oil paint techniques with contemporary subject matter. More recently, Wallinger created *Labyrinth* (2013), a set of 270 enamel plaques for Transport for London. Each unique artwork is installed in a different London Underground station. The designs are based on the maze at Hampton Court Palace.
• What was Mark Wallinger known for?+

  Mark Wallinger is associated with the Young British Artists (YBAs), who came to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s. The YBAs, including Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Tracey Emin, and Chris Ofili, were known for their open-minded approach to art. They often used found objects and materials from popular culture, sometimes in ways intended to shock or challenge viewers. The YBAs gained attention through exhibitions like "Freeze," organised by Hirst in 1988. This show helped launch the careers of many artists associated with the movement. The YBAs' rise coincided with increased media interest in art and a blurring of boundaries between art, fashion, and youth culture in London. Some critics noted a lack of traditional technical skill in the YBAs' work. Despite this, many became commercially successful. The YBAs' irreverence and willingness to challenge conventions contributed to their impact on the art world.
• Where can I see Mark Wallinger's work?+

  Mark Wallinger's artwork can be viewed in several prominent locations. Within the United Kingdom, one can find his pieces at the Tate Modern (Bankside, London, SE1 9TG) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL). Beyond the UK, several international museums also hold Wallinger's work. These include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028), and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404). Other locations are the Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019), the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6), and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220). Before planning a visit to view a specific work, it is advisable to check with the museum directly, as collections and displays can change.
• Where was Mark Wallinger from?+

  Mark Wallinger was born in Chigwell, Essex, in 1959. He studied at the Chelsea School of Art, and then at Goldsmiths College, during the height of the Young British Artists boom. Wallinger is known as a British artist, although his paternal family were originally Protestant Irish. This background appears in his work; for example, the sculpture *Ecce Homo* (1999) was displayed on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, and generated some controversy because of its religious imagery. Wallinger represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. In 2007, he won the Turner Prize for his installation *State Britain*, a recreation of peace campaigner Brian Haw's protest display against the Iraq War. The display was originally located in Parliament Square; Wallinger recreated it inside the Tate Britain gallery. This work directly engaged with contemporary British politics.
• Who did Mark Wallinger influence?+

  It is difficult to identify direct influences of Mark Wallinger on later artists. However, the influence of sculpture on British ceramics can be observed when comparing the work of Edmund de Waal with Donald Judd. De Waal used Judd’s stack works as a model, deploying stacked shelves and horizontal wall-mounted boxes that directly quote some of Judd’s most well-known works. De Waal is at ease directly referencing highly recognisable works from this period, just as he does when paying homage to the abstract painter Agnes Martin with long rows of pots that echo her signature stripes of paint. Across his body of work, de Waal is having a conversation with important works of twentieth-century sculpture, whether that is through form, colour, or the disconnection from both ground and plinth. Contemporary sculpture was engaged in a process of critical reception and amplification or deconstruction and isolation of the legacy of modernism from the United States. This led, ultimately, to a reconfiguration of the substance of sculpture and the relationship of the sculpture to its surroundings, whether that was the viewer or the socio-political context.
• Who influenced Mark Wallinger?+

  Mark Wallinger's work engages with a variety of artistic and intellectual traditions. Conceptual art is a clear influence, particularly the work of artists who use everyday objects and situations to explore deeper meanings. Marcel Duchamp, with his readymades and interest in chance, is an important predecessor. Wallinger shares Duchamp's interest in questioning artistic value and challenging conventional notions of what art can be. Wallinger also draws on the history of British art. His interest in social issues and his use of realism connect him to artists such as William Hogarth. Hogarth's satirical prints, which commented on the social and political issues of his day, provide a historical precedent for Wallinger's own socially engaged art. The artist has also acknowledged the influence of literature and philosophy on his work. His interest in psychoanalysis, for example, informs some of his pieces. Wallinger's diverse range of influences reflects his intellectual curiosity and his desire to create art that is both visually engaging and conceptually stimulating.
• Who was Mark Wallinger?+

  Mark Wallinger is a British artist working in installation, sculpture, video, painting, and performance. He was born in Chigwell, Essex, in 1959. Wallinger studied at Chelsea School of Art, and then at Goldsmiths College, finishing in 1985. Wallinger is known for his socially critical artwork. One famous piece, *A Real Work of Art*, involved renaming a racehorse after himself, and then racing it. He was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1995, and won it in 2007 for his installation *State Britain*. This piece was a recreation of Brian Haw's Parliament Square peace protest against the Iraq War. Wallinger represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. In 2018, his work *The World Turned Upside Down* was installed outside the London School of Economics. This is a globe sculpture that presents the southern hemisphere at the top. Another well-known public work is *Labyrinth* (2013), a set of 270 enamel plaques installed in every London Underground station to mark 150 years of the Tube.
• Why are Mark Wallinger's works important today?+

  Mark Wallinger came to prominence as part of the Young British Artists generation. He is known for his conceptual pieces, often engaging with themes of class, society, and religion. His art frequently invites viewers to question established norms and power structures. One of Wallinger's well-known works is "A Real Work of Art" (1994). He purchased a racehorse and renamed it with this ironic title, exploring the commodification of art and the art world's mechanisms. Another significant piece is "State Britain" (2007), a recreation of Brian Haw's Parliament Square peace protest inside Tate Britain. This installation directly confronted issues of free speech and government policy. "Ecce Homo" (1999) was the first work to occupy the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square; this life-sized sculpture of Christ challenged conventional heroic statuary. Wallinger represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001. He won the Turner Prize in 2007. His continued exploration of social and political issues ensures his relevance in contemporary discussions.