2010 Challenge

This Monday saw the completion of the January challenge. In essence the challenge was to invite certain people to my studio and talk about what it is that I do. These guests were then rated.

I created a guest list based on the categories that were stated in the challenge and then set the list back to the challenger to score, the results were:

18 points out of 576
3.125% successful.
1.125/36

Guests in attendance:
Steven Ingman
Next door neighbours x2
James E Smith
The Lady Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Jeanine Packer

To some of my guests amazement the event actually went well. I used the presentation as a tongue in cheek commentary about the ridiculousness of the situation, ie: inviting celebrities to my studio, which is now located in my house. The presentation its self was informative, but the character of myself that I portrayed and the cheap OTT additions to the event made it some what more ambiguous.

I have now solidified how I am reacting to the February challenge of not thinking about art for a whole year. I am making some 2D work and a video, inspired as I previously mentioned by, The Game. Im using the website for The Game as a starting point.

I have been questioning wether people will find my responses to these challenges disappointing. The fact that I am now creating art from them, perhaps not in a way they would like to see. I find this interesting, particularly when I think that a lot of the challenges seem personal to the individual, and some what challenging to them and not necessarily to me.

I have less than 24 hours to choose a March challenge! Im currently wavering between bus stops and apologies, once again I think an external mind may help in the decision making process.

After a lot of indecisive moments and questioning wether the impossible was challenging I finally settled on the February Challenge:

I challenge you not to think about art for a whole year.

Challenged by Paul Matosic

I questioned this challenge, it was obviously impossible, once you know not to think about some thing, you begin to do just that. I questioned wether this was in fact challenging because it was impossible, or wether it was incredibly challenging because of its impossibility. The decisions came when one of my friends suggested that the impossible is challenging if it is feasible that it could happen, and was less so if it was certain it could not. By the law of psychology it is possible.

As I mentioned before I am going to make a work in response to this, referencing the mind game ‘the game’, at this moment in time I think the wok will be photographic, which is a whole new medium for me. As I have already failed the challenge, it is important to make a piece of work from the situation and not to conclude the challenge empty handed, with out effort.

I have also finally pinned down James my incredibly busy photographer, to assist on the January Challenge. It will happen by invitation only. The event will be an OTT commentary on its own existence, pushing and questioning the scenario I have been challenge to create. Red carpet, Lambrini, false eye lashes. Sven isn’t coming, probably because Notts County FC have just gone bust and everyone’s left!