THE Turner Prize-winning Scottish artist Douglas Gordon has finally collected France’s highest cultural honour almost five years after he was actually awarded it.
Gordon has become only the second Scot after Sir Sean Connery to become a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters). He received the medal in his current home city of Berlin this week, having originally been told he would be a recipient in 2012.
According to the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea where he exhibits, the Order “was established in 1957 to recognize eminent artists and writers, as well as people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world”.
The statement added: “Gordon joins a small list of contemporary artists who hold this title: Nan Goldin, Anish Kapoor, William Kentridge and Richard Serra.”
Gordon, 50, was born in Glasgow and attended Glasgow School of Art and Slade School of Art in London. He became renowned for his ingenious use of video, with 24 Hour Psycho one of his most famous works – it slows down Alfred Hitchcock’s original Psycho film to last 24 hours.
Gordon has won numerous awards and was the first artist working with video to win the Turner prize in 1996.
His latest accolade puts him in exalted company: apart from Connery, other Commandeurs include Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood, Bono, Ringo Starr and the late David Bowie.
Gordon told the Artsy website that he has had a lifelong love affair with France: “As a kid, I grew up fascinated with the idea of France.”
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