Why did I apply for a Re:View Bursary?
The opportunity that a bursary like this gives to move your practice forward has obvious advantages for any artist. But I thought today I’d share what in particular appeals to me and how I think it will benefit my personal practice.
My background education is in psychology (PhD in social psychology) rather than the arts, which has both its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage being I feel I have lacked the environment in which to develop an independent critical and reflective discipline in my practice.
I have been working as a full time artist for the past 4/5 years and I am extremely passionate and hardworking about what I do. I love making art and consider it a privilege. I have got to the point where my work has been shown at some great exhibitions nationally and internationally. However I feel I would benefit enormously from critical input and guidance from a relevant person of experience and insight. The individual who I will be mentored by as a result of this bursary fits this role wonderfully and I am incredibly excited to have her on board.
One of the things this mentoring exercise will force me to do is to discuss my work face to face with an individual. I know this to be one of my greatest weaknesses. I have confidence in my work to speak for itself but when I am asked to speak for it I inevitably come up short. This will be the thing I will be most fearful about in the process but it is something I can only improve upon.
As well as developing greater self critique and being more vocal about my work, I am hopeful that a mentor will bring added direction and confidence to my practice and career development. I believe through critical engagement with my work a mentor will help me understand the elements that are key to develop further and the areas in which my practice should be pushed more.
I think more confidence in the direction of my practice will enable me to be freer in terms of the use of materials and the scale I work on. What I really hope to see as an end product of this process is the creation of much more ambitious and confident works. And that’s something that gets me really excited!
