World's best art piece? A urinal
LONDON, England -- It may seem like toilet humor, but a porcelain urinal -- signed by an artist almost 90 years ago -- has been voted the most influential work of modern art.
"Fountain" -- an ordinary white porcelain urinal, slightly titled and bearing the autograph of French surrealist Marcel Duchamp -- beat out works by such icons as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol in a survey of 500 leaders of the art world.
Duchamp's piece, which shocked critics when it was unveiled in 1917, was selected ahead of Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" and "Guernica" -- chosen second and fourth, respectively -- as the most influential work of art.
Warhol's screen prints of Marilyn Monroe came third in the poll, with Henri Matisse's "The Red Studio" placing fifth.
The survey was conducted by Gordon's Gin, which sponsors the Turner Prize, Britain's leading art award.
"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," art expert Simon Wilson told the UK's Press Association.
"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."
Duchamp pioneered the use of everyday objects as art. His ideas shocked the art establishment but sparked a revolution that has influenced many contemporary artists.
Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin -- both recipients of the Turner Prize -- have similarly shocked and challenged the art world with their recent works using ordinary objects.
The winner of this year's Turner Prize will be announced Tuesday.
Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
