Biography of Tacita Dean
One of the most acclaimed artists of her generation, Turner Prize nominee, Tacita Dean, is known for her remarkable films, drawings, and photographs. Dean's poetic meditations on the passing of time or on the quality of certain light often feature contemplative cityscapes and dialogs with writers. They can also capture poignant moments like the setting of the sun or just the movement of the sea. Editing to the narrative of time, Dean frequently employs long takes and static camera shots, focusing on recording mood and atmosphere in her cinematic work.
A great defender of 16mm film, Tacita Dean continually highlights the specificity of this medium, stating that "Digital is so known, and film is all about the unknown". She frequently relies on chance in her films, allowing mistakes such as overexposure or the bleaching of the frame to add texture. This artisanal approach to image-making, a kind of return to the material quality of film, emphasizes the importance of preserving this type of cinema—so interconnected to the notions of light and time, alchemy, and magic in the digital age.
Born in Canterbury, UK, in 1965, Tacita Dean studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. She is the winner of numerous prizes including the Hugo Boss Prize at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and the Kurt Schwitters Prize. Dean also participated in two Venice Biennales (in 2003 and 2005) and in documenta 13 in 2012. Her compelling cinematic and photographic work has been shown at such renowned institutions as the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, the New Museum, New York, and Tate Modern, London. The artist lives and works in Berlin.
