I remember a few years ago (2001? 2002?) I was given an invitation to the press opening of the Turner Prize at Tate Britain. It was one weekday morning. I was free, so I went. There were about thirty or so journalists milling around where the artists’ works were exhibited. I remember it was the year the artist who did different coloured lights coming on and off won. None of the journalists were particularly bothered about looking at the work. Then, after about half an hour, the PRs came in and took everyone round the work, telling us what the intentions of the artists were and what was so interesting about the pieces. The journalists all took notes or recorded it on their dictaphones. Nobody looked at the art. We all took in what the PRs told us and produced it for the next day’s papers.

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