ORGAN THING: Is Gavin Turk taking the piss?  Gavin Turk – Piscio d’Artista, “Let’s produce, can, sell and ship a new body of work—from the artist’s own body” so reads the headline on his Kickstarter, hey, we’re just giving you the signposts, the link, and it is all about the value, the originality, “be part of making art history” says Gavin, what more do we needs to say? (Loooks like he;s almost made his £20,000 already? What price art?

 In a playful homage to Piero Manzoni, who 60 years ago created one of the most radical and challenging modern artworks, Merda d’Artista. Manzoni put his own sh*t into tins and sold it for its equivalent weight in gold. Gavin Turk’s latest project is a response to this, CANning his own urine and selling it for its weight in sliver. 

Gavin has been collecting his urine for over two years and now it’s time to CAN and collect. Sealed in a bespoke aluminium CAN, specially screen printed with the text translations in 31 different languages, finished and hand signed with a foil seal. A limited edition body of work from the Artist’s own body.

Why is this important? 

This project engages with the often-fraught commentary of ascribing value to a work of art. In his seminal piece in 1961, Manzoni priced Merda d’Artista at its equivalent value in the weight of gold (though it is now valued at 250 times its original price.).

Piscio d’Artista will attempt to carry through this legacy and price his piss at the equivalent value in the weight of silver.

By supporting Piscio d’Artista, you’re making art history come to life. This monumental project is a unique opportunity to make a splash and play an active role in the creation of this conceptual artwork. 

About the artist

Gavin Turk (b 1967) is a British born, international artist. He has pioneered many forms of contemporary British sculpture, including the painted bronze, the waxwork, the recycled art-historical icon and the use of waste in art. Turk’s Oeuvre deals with conversations of authorship and identity. Concerned with the ‘myth’ of the artist and the authenticity of a work.

Prestel published a monograph on Gavin Turk in 2013, showcasing more than two decades of his work and in 2014 Trolley Books published ‘This Is Not A Book About Gavin Turk’ which playfully explores themes associated with the artist’s work via thirty notable contributors.

Gavin Turk has been commissioned to create several large public sculptures including: Nail, a 12-meter eponymous sculpture at One New Change, next to St Paul’s cathedral, London, England. Axis Mundi (2017), an oversized painted bronze sculpture of a plug located in Paddington Basin, London. As well as L’Âge d’Or (2019), a large bronze open door permanently sited outside the Museum of Migration in Rotterdam.