Duchamp's urinal tops art survey

A white gentlemen's urinal has been named the most influential modern
art work of all time.

Marcel Duchamp's Fountain came top of a poll of 500 art experts in the
run-up to this year's Turner Prize which takes place on Monday.

Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) was second, with Andy
Warhol's Marilyn Diptych from 1962 coming third.

Duchamp shocked the art establishment when he took the urinal, signed
it and put it on display in 1917.

"The choice of Duchamp's Fountain as the most influential work of
modern art ahead of works by Picasso and Matisse comes as a bit of a
shock," said art expert Simon Wilson.

Ahead of time

"But it reflects the dynamic nature of art today and the idea that the
creative process that goes into a work of art is the most important
thing - the work itself can be made of anything and can take any
form."

Picasso's Spanish Civil War painting, Guernica, came fourth, while
Matisse's The Red Studio was fifth.

Duchamp has influenced many contemporary artists, including Tracey
Emin - her unmade bed was inspired by the French artist.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4059997.stm

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