Turner Prize streaker explains his art

The streaker who enlivened the Turner Prize presentation at Gateshead has been talking about his own contribution to the world of art. The chunky gentleman in a pink tutu was recognised by many as Mark Roberts, who is either an 'artiste' or a serial streaker, depending on whether you go for his description or most other people's. He managed to get on stage at the Baltic as live TV followed the preliminary remarks of the photographer Mario Testino who was about to announce the name of the winner, Scottish installation artist Martin Boyce . Roberts, who is a 46, a grandfather and from Liverpool, displayed the slogan 'Study This' written on his tummies, but was escorted away before he could complete his complete artwork. He says: This is somewhat of a pinnacle for me. But I am absolutely gutted that I did not fully achieve my objective. My intention was to get up on the stage and do a mini ballerina dance. I have done every sport going and travelled all over the world, but the more I read up about the Turner Prize before coming here the more I realised how perfect this was for me. Even when I was being dragged away from the podium, Mario Testino said 'art is everywhere'. Roberts has carried out 505 streaks by his own reckoning, since his debut 19 years ago at a rugby match in Hong Kong tickled the crowd, which gave him a buzz. He has since appeared unexpectedly at the World Cup, the Uefa Cup final, the winter Olympics (brrrr), Miss World and even Crufts dog show in Birmingham. He continues: The Turner Prize is about controversy, contemporary art, pushing yourself in an artistic sense, and that's what I do every time I perform. I am an artiste. What I do is part street art, performance art and contemporary art. The place was full of art critics so I wore a ballerina's tutu. Ballerinas are full of poise and grace but I am a fat middle-aged man and I am the polar opposite. Hence why I had 'Study This' painted on my front – let them work it out. Roberts has been questioned by police about causing 'alarm, fear or distress'. Although it was difficult to discern any of these things at the Baltic, where Turner Prize visitor numbers have topped 100,000 and broken previous records, he is expected to have to add to the £10,000-plus he has paid previously in fines. He says: Alarm, fear and distress just don't match with what I do. The only reason I do this is to make people laugh and smile, a hundred per cent. You can see his (very) brief moment of fame here in this clip from YouTube, as well as hearing audience cries of what sounds worrying like joy.