Art Rebel Ken Turner: 100 Years of Pushing Boundaries

Ken Turner, a centenarian performance artist, is recognized for a life dedicated to radicalism and experimental art. His career, spanning over 80 years, began with a rejection of traditional art education, including turning down a place at the Slade School of Fine Art. He developed socially conscious public art forms in the 1960s, co-founding Action Space, an art collective that created large inflatable sculptures for public interaction, well before immersive art became mainstream.

Turner's rebellious spirit continued through his artistic endeavors. Last year, he participated in a performance coordinated by Led By Donkeys, driving a 15-tonne tank over a Tesla, a powerful statement against corporate greed and rising fascism. He views performance and painting as interconnected, with his artistic process being a continuous act of creation.

Currently, Turner is preparing for an exhibition of his new paintings at Wharfside Arts Hub in Penzance. His son, filmmaker Huw Wahl, has created a portrait of the artist that is being shown alongside the new work. Turner continues to paint, viewing it as essential to his life and a vital voice he must follow.