Turner Prize contenders on show

Spartacus Chetwynd, who is shortlisted for the 2012 Turner prize, at Tate Britain in London. Credit: PA

The UK's most publicised art award exhibition, the Turner Prize, has opened at Tate Britain.

It will include performances by a bearded female artist who lives and works in South London and changed her name to Spartacus.

The works of Spartacus Chetwynd, 38, are featured in this year's exhibition by the four artists who have been shortlisted for the controversial art prize.

Watch an interview with Spartacus Chetwynd and footage of some of her work below:

Spartacus, the mother to a three-month-old boy, has choreographed two live performances, one of them featuring herself.

In one, members of the audience are invited to lie down prostrate before an "oracle" puppet who whispers predictions such as "you face a loveless future", "beware of Dave", "you will lose your mobile phone next week" and "84% of people have more sense than you".

Chetwynd, who changed her name from Lali in tribute to the Roman gladiator on her 33rd birthday, takes part in another performance, the Biblical story in which the crowd, when offered a choice of whether to have Jesus or Barabbas released from custody, was persuaded to save the common criminal.

Chetwynd, whose work addresses ideas of democracy, was wearing a beard to the preview of the exhibition. She was nominated for her solo exhibition at Sadie Coles HQ, London.

She said of the "oracle" performance:

Northumberland-born Paul Noble, 48, has displayed his drawings of a fictional city Nobson Newton. He was nominated for his solo exhibition at Gagosian Gallery, London.

Watch an interview with Paul Noble and footage of some of his work below:

Glaswegian Luke Fowler, 34, is another shortlisted artist. He shows a film about Scottish psychiatrist RD Laing. He was nominated for his solo exhibition at Inverleith House, Edinburgh.

A member of the public looks at photos by Luke Fowler, who is shortlisted for the 2012 Turner prize, at Tate Britain in London. Credit: PA

Watch an interview with Luke Fowler and footage of some of his work below:

Londoner Elizabeth Price, 45, also shortlisted, is a former member of 1980s pop band Talulah Gosh, whose film The Woolworths Choir Of 1979 features the blaze that took place in the Manchester store. She has been nominated for her solo exhibition at BALTIC, Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead.

Watch an interview with Elizabeth Price and footage of some of her work below:

The Turner Prize, which goes to an artist under 50, born, living or working in Britain for an outstanding recent exhibition of their work, will be awarded at Tate Britain on December 3.

The show runs until January 6.

A member of the public watches a video installation entitled 'The Woolworths Choir of 1979 2012' by Elizabeth Price. Credit: PA