69-year-old cyclist wins the Turnip Prize in Somerset
Ali Can claims the quirky award for his entry 'Bitter & Twisted'
A 69-year-old retired cycle cross specialist from Wedmore, Somerset, has been awarded the Turnip Prize 2025 after his entry was recognized for embodying the irreverent spirit of the competition.
Ali Can's creation, titled ‘Bitter & Twisted,’ featured a can of Bitter twisted and presented as modern art.
The announcement took place at a ceremony held at The New Inn in Wedmore, in front of a lively audience of art enthusiasts.
Mr. Can was handed the award, which consists of a turnip mounted on a six-inch nail alongside a blue plaque for his house.
The Turnip Prize, known for celebrating minimal artistic effort, attracted 69 entries this year. Organiser Trevor Prideaux said, “I am delighted with the lack of effort taken to create this work.”
Reflecting on his entry, Ali Can said, “Whilst on a bike ride I was contemplating on what to enter and remembering I was robbed in the 2022 Turnip Prize final by some geezer from London.
"I’m a little ‘bitter n twisted’ that the 2022 blue plaque left the village, so that’s the reason behind my entry.
"Having to drink the contents of my ‘Art’ was also a deciding factor to enter!” He added, “It’s a great honour to receive the fantastic prize and I look forward to been pedalled around all of the media studios to air my story.”
Trevor Prideaux praised the event, describing Ali Can’s winning entry as a fitting representation of the competition’s ethos, saying, “Clearly, Ali Can has what it takes to be recognised in modern art circles and will be remembered in art history for no time at all!”
The Turnip Prize celebrates humorous and intentionally low-effort contributions to the art world and has been running for 27 years.
For more information on this year’s entries, images of the event, and updates, you can visit the Facebook group titled ‘The Turnip Prize.’