Turner shortlist unveiled

Praying II by German artist Wolfgang Tillsmans

The shortlist for Britain's most controversial art award, the Turner Prize, has been revealed.

The four candidates are Michael Raedecker, Tomoko Takahashi, Wolfgang Tillmans and Glenn Brown - the only British nominee.

The £20,000 award has incited furious debate over the years, not least for its alleged failure to recognise "traditional" artists.

Beam, by London-based Dutch artist Michael Raedecker

Work by the artists will be exhibited at Tate Britain on London's Millbank from 25 October to 14 January. The winner will be announced on 28 November.

Glen Brown, 34, joined Dutch, Japanese and German-born artists in an unprecedented list of overseas nominees who are now all based in London.

Chairman of the Turner Prize jury and director of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, said it was not a question of British artists "not being up to scratch".

Heart and Soul by Glenn Brown was the only British inclusion on the short list

"I think it's a question of recognising that the culture here is much richer than we could define by those who have simply been born in this country," said Sir Nicholas.

Brown was short-listed for his exhibitions which pose questions about authorship and status in art through paintings portraying works from old master pictures to science fiction illustrations.

Michael Raedecker was selected for his individual approach to painting and his unusual use of materials and haunting subject matter.

Line Out by Japanese artist Tomoko Takahashi

Tomoko Takahashi's installations, characterised by tension between chaos and order, won her a place on the shortlist.

Wolfgang Tillmans' work, which engages with contemporary culture, was noted for the way he challenges the boundaries between art and photography and between the genres of portraiture, documentary and still life.

The Turner Prize was established in 1984 by the Patrons of New Art.

Its aim is to promote public discussion of new developments in contemporary British art.

Last year's exhibition attracted more than 140,000 people - the highest figure yet for a Turner Prize display.

Previous winners

1991 Anish Kapoor

1992 Grenville Davey

1993 Rachel Whiteread

1994 Antony Gormley

1995 Damien Hirst

1996 Douglas Gordon

1997 Gillian Wearing

1998 Chris Ofili

1999 Steve McQueen

Last year's award went to 30-year-old film-maker Steve McQueen, whose exhibition included footage of a tape recorder drifting off beneath a balloon and a house collapsing.

He won over provocative front-runner Tracey Emin, whose submission featured an unmade bed with grubby sheets surrounded by condoms, vodka bottles and soiled knickers.

In 1998 Turner Prize winner, Chris Ofili, used elephant dung in his painting.

Damien Hirst won the prize in 1995 for displaying the severed halves of a cow and calf in formaldehyde.