The dramatic relationship the Isle of Man enjoys with the land and sea has provided inspiration for many of the Manx artists over the years.

The Sayle Gallery is hosting a new exhibition, featuring a Turner Prize winning artist, which aims to explore the relationship further.

’Turning Point’ will feature work from Mark Wallinger, alongside other internationally-respected artists. This will be the first time the winner of the Turner Prize will be exhibited in the Isle of Man. Wallinger won the 2007 prize for his body of work based on the anti-war campaigner Brian Haws.

The exhibition will also feature work by Kevin Atherton, who is originally from the Isle of Man but now lives and works in the UK, Keith McIntyre, the head of art at the University of Northumbria, Susan Collins, Professor of art at the Slade School of Fine Art, London and artist Shona Illingworth.

The exhibition will examine the subject of what it means to live on an island, and will examine issues of home, rites of passage, isolation, aspiration and mental and physical boundaries through paintings and video installations.

It will also explore the different relationships with the sea, coastline and island culture.

There is also to be a panel discussion featuring the five artists, which will debate all the issues pertinent to the exhibition.

Curator Helen Fox believes that this major exhibition, featuring such an internationally-recognised figure such as Wallinger will signal a turning point for the gallery as it looks to move into new directions and journeys.

’We were delighted to be able to have Mark’s artwork included in the next exhibition at the gallery,’ said Helen. ’I wanted to get a "superstar" headline act for the show because it helps attract people into the exhibition. It has been a goal of mine for a while now to have a Turner prize-winning artist display at the Sayle, the prize has always been controversial and gets people talking about why we make work.

’I wanted this exhibition to raise the profile of contemporary art in the island. I think that it is always good to have a different perspective on your surroundings and how you view and interpret the environments around you.

’By bringing across leading artists, the gallery can further encourage people to visit exhibitions and feel refreshed by what they see, also inspiring artists and the youth of the island to develop their work and challenge the audiences preconceptions of what art is.’

A private viewing took place on Friday, and the exhibition opened to the public on Saturday.