Turner prize 2009: the shortlisted artists go on show

Enrico David often produces surrealistic, deadpan installations. This one, Absuction Cardigan, offers papier-mache sculptures on rocking-chair legs Photograph: Toby Melville/REUTERS

… and even a painting paying tribute to that over-familiar British sight, the builder's bum Photograph: Katie Collins/PA

Roger Hiorns's Seizure – a south London bedsit filled with constellations of copper sulphate crystals – was one of last year's surprise art hits. Hiorns has produced a similarly intriguing work for the 2009 Turner: a smear of atomised metal produced by melting down a jet engine and collecting the dust-like particles Photograph: Tony Kyriacou / Rex Features/Tony Kyriacou / Rex Features

Hiorns has also included three wall sculptures made up of preserved bovine brain matter, plastic and steel Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A viewer inspects Hiorns's work Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A member of Tate staff walks in front of Richard Wright's as yet untitled work. Wright is known for his large-scale wall painting Photograph: ANDY RAIN/EPA

Lucy Skaer's installation Black Alphabet (2008), a series of 26 sculptures made from coal dust Photograph: ANDY RAIN/EPA

Skaer's section of the show also includes the skull of a sperm whale, enclosed by the artist in a kind of box into which visitors will be able to peer … Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

… from a variety of angles Photograph: Tony Kyriacou / Rex Features/Tony Kyriacou / Rex Features

Another of Skaer's installations. The Turner prize exhibition is open from tomorrow until 3 January 2010 Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images