After the successes of the final year show and graduation, it has quickly become time to concentrate on the next projects on the horizon.
After having been short-listed for The Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Prize in January this year, it was now time to take the proposed work to Newcastle and install it in the Gallery North – which is part of Northumbria University, who are running the prize.
A great opportunity to be involved in an exhibition and prize like this, it has already been an experience which has given me a lot of insight and the chance to work with some great people.
The prize fund is very generous and would be a fantastic opportunity to make the most of the next step after graduating. Aside from that it is a great opportunity for my work to be showcased in a new place, in a different context.
I originally had intended and wanted to show two separate pieces for the show. However, it became clear that this wasn’t going to work, as the two pieces needed to be separated – originally they were together in one large scale installation, and I had intended that they would work as stand alone pieces. But, with space limitations and the necessity for the work to be in close proximity, it became clear that this wasn’t gong to work. I did try a variety of different combinations but finally decided to leave one of the pieces out. Although this was initially disappointing, I believe overall the piece will be stronger. I appreciate the complexities of curating a show like this – I imagine had it been just a show to showcase our work as a group of 10 people, it would perhaps be different, but on this instance, it is for a competition that is to be judged – it needs to be fair and equal for all. In the end, I think the piece is strong enough and I am happy with my contribution.
A week after installing, and having looked at the image again, I think although it represents quite well where I am at with my practice at the moment, there is a lot more under the surface. This can be difficult to show in just one piece – or is it?
All this aside, on Thursday we all return to Newcastle for the opening and prize-giving . . .
