I feel a new level of recognition has started in my artistic career – I received some hate mail yesterday.
It came through the post – a page from a catalogue of an exhibition I’m showing in – it really did make me laugh, not only has the perpetrator scrawled all over the images, but gone to the effort to place a sticker over my works so the the word ‘Merde’ can be seen clearly – you couldn’t make it up… ‘and even more shit’ on the video still.
The curators know it’s someone they rejected during the exhibition selection process. Well, I know my work’s not easy, but I’ve taken it as a compliment that they’ve gone to all that effort.
On a more positive note, I’ve had some great feedback on the ‘Book / Art’ show curated by Silvie Turner that finishes today; lots of people have really liked my book and would have bought a copy had it been available to buy. And, tomorrow, the ‘Time Out of Mind’ exhibition starts in Camberwell – the PV is on Friday and I’m looking forward to going.
I also submitted a video for ‘One Minute Vol. 5’ organised by Kerry Baldry. I was selected last year for this touring show and thought they’d be a slim chance two years in a row, but last week heard that she wants to include my work again. The showreel travels to some fantastic venues and festivals all over the world, so I’m keen to see what’s in store this year.
All these good things going on further afield, but I’m also a firm believer in being known where you live, that’s why I think it’s a good idea to show my ‘shit’ in the local event. I received this email from one of the curators about the hate mail:
“we think it is *****.
(she is mad)
keep smiling…”
Again, I laughed, but sadly that may be true – I’m keen to write back to her though to tell her that I, on the other hand, really like her work: quirky, naively-drawn characters inhabiting a make-believe world of glowing flowers and psychedelic colours. Maybe it is good to air your views rather than bottling them up inside – the anonymity of the note suggests she is just a little bitter though.
