Days like these: Tate triennial of contemporary British Art 2003

The second Tate triennial of contemporary British art opens this month (26 February-26 May). Unlike the first version in 2000, there will be no theme this year. Instead, as the title suggests, “Days like these” will be a broad survey of new or recent works by British artists. Twenty-three artists have been chosen by external curator Jonathan Watkins, director of the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, and internal curator Judith Nesbitt, head of exhibitions and displays at Tate Britain. Their selection covers all generations and styles, from relative unknowns, such as video artists Relph & Payne and Mike Marshall, to big hitters such as Rachel Whiteread, who will present two new casts of reversed spaces (below, “Untitled (Rooms)”, 2001). There will be work by the painter Peter Doig, sculptor Richard Deacon, and pieces by octogenarian Richard Hamilton. Judith Nesbitt told The Art Newspaper that the selection was a personal one which does not attempt to make generalisations about contemporary British art. Like the Tate’s Turner Prize, one of the show’s main aims is to expand the audience for contemporary art. Entry is free.