听播客学英语 199 Tomma 获得特纳奖

 　　Every year, a prize is awarded to an artist who is British born or who works in Britain. It is called the Turner prize. It is named after the famous British artist J M W Turner. In previous years, some of the art and artists which have won the Turner prize have been very controversial. In 1995, for example, the artist Damien Hirst won with a tank containing the preserved body of a sheep.

　　This year the Turner prize has been won by Tomma Abts. Tomma was born in Germany, but she has lived in London for the last 12 years. She paints all her paintings on canvases¹ which measure exactly 48cm by 38 cm. She gives her paintings simple one-word names, which she selects from a dictionary of German regional first names. They are abstract paintings – that is, they are not paintings of objects in the real world, but come entirely² from her imagination. They are shapes and patterns. The colours that she uses are subtle³ and interesting. Most art critics agree that her work is very good, and are pleased that she has won the Turner prize. Here are some of the words that one art expert has used to describe her paintings:

　　quiet

　　obsessive⁴

　　mesmerising

　　quite unlike anyone else’s

　　But not everyone is pleased. There is a group of artists called the “Stuckists” who believe that the Turner prize, and the artists who win the prize, represent everything that is wrong with modern art. Yesterday they stood outside the Tate Gallery in London, waving placards and chanting slogans, while the awards ceremony took place inside. The leader of the Stuckists told the newspapers that Tomma Abts’ paintings were “silly little meaningless diagrams that make 1950’s wallpaper look profound”. Good for him. It is important that art should be controversial and that people should have strong feelings about it, either for or against. But he is wrong. I think Tomma Abts’ paintings are wonderful. I would love to have one to hang on the 1950’s wallpaper in my sitting room, but unfortunately I cannot afford it.

　　Tomma Abts’ painting Veeke from greengrassi gallery London

1 canvases   

n.帆布( canvas的名词复数 )；油画（布）

参考例句：

• a sale of the artist's early canvases 那位画家早期油画的拍卖
• I should look deep into the canvases of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Rembrandt. 我要仔细端详拉斐尔、达芬奇、提香和瑞姆布兰特的油画。 来自辞典例句

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 subtle   

adj.难于觉察或描述的，精巧的

参考例句：

• Her whole attitude had undergone a subtle change.她的整个态度发生了微妙的变化。
• There's a subtle hint of garlic in the sauce.调味汁里稍微有一点蒜味。

4 obsessive   

adj. 着迷的, 强迫性的, 分神的

参考例句：

• Some people are obsessive about cleanliness.有些人有洁癖。
• He's becoming more and more obsessive about punctuality.他对守时要求越来越过分了。