Art attack

Over the past few years, the Beck's Futures prize has been steadily vanishing up its own posterior. From here, it's hard to imagine quite how the annual award for bright new contemporary artists ever acquired its buzzy reputation, though location and money have surely helped (the cash purse totals a very grown-up £65,000).

This year's exhibition feels less frenetic, if only because the shortlist has been pared down to just half-a-dozen hopefuls, and amid the usual cacophony of installation, performance and video, you'll even find some painting.

In the downstairs gallery is Donald Urquhart's environment, in which words and busy, Beardsley-esque drawings ironically nod to mortality and the passing of time. Urquhart has also created a perfume, aimed at vintage homosexuals. Elsewhere, Luke Fowler's videos probe psychoanalytic experiments, dwelling especially on the work of R.D. Laing, and Daria Martin's pretty, colourful film sets card tricks to a pop soundtrack.

Lali Chetwynd promises a performance, but visitors will likely find her cardboard stage empty, and have to make do with her props and a sparse group of spooky, nocturnal paintings. Ryan Gander's lecture texts take in everything from Night Of The Living Dead to Charles and Ray Eames, but Christina Mackie's baffling installation won't hold your attention long enough to figure it all out.

The winner will be announced on Tue 26 Apr.

ICA Gallery, The Mall, SW1 (020-7930 3647) Ends Sun 15 May