Busy January with dissertation to hand in, interim assessment, arrival of Japanese student and exhibition at University of Salford in Manchester a few days ago.
Being shortlisted for the Birth Rites Collection Bi-annual competition was a real joy and the cause for many sleepless nights. The prize was a month residency in Switzerland this Summer, but unfortunately I wasn’t the lucky artist to win this. However I met a lot of female artists working in the same subjects like I and it was good to exchange contact details. You never know…
We were 15 artists selected from around 65 applicants. I submitted three drawings and one fabric sculpture as an installation exploring the psychological and physiological impact of childbirth in women. The Birth Rites Collection is a collection of contemporary art solely exploring childbirth on women.
It was a real sense of achievement to see my work display in the exhibition, specially these works, which at the time of making them I felt that the matter was undermined. I think motherhood still not seen as a valid subject matter in contemporary art and this collection acts as a way of bringing the subject to more people out there.
The collector has shown interest in my work and would like to keep my work for the collection. I’ve never been in a similar situation and feels like a good oportunity to get my work out there but not sure under what terms. Should I sale it? Should I make prints of my drawings and keep the originals? How much is my work worth? Should I make a book that compiles some of my drawings? I wish we had more seminars at uni dealing with the more comercial side of selling art as this would be (hopefully!) a big part of our practice too. If anyone has any ideas that might help me to decide I will be very grateful!
