As in previous years, the painting pre-degree show was held
in Edinburgh, allowing my fellow course mates and I to deal with the challenge
of raising enough money and awareness for the show to be as successful as
possible. We each had significant roles throughout the year in attempt for
things to run as smoothly as possible. The curating team of five students went
down to Edinburgh with the work and were responsible for hanging arrangements
and making sure the gallery space was as presentable and professional as
possible.
The opening of the show was held on March 6th, and was a private opening for friends and family of the
artists involved. The atmosphere was fantastic and the turnout of those attending
was much higher than expected. It is safe to say that a well earned gin and
tonic was needed after the build up to my first exhibition, and I was able to
relax and enjoy the ambience. This night, as well as the preparation was a
great insight into displaying our works, and many lessons were learned that
will prove useful in the coming months leading up to degree show in June.
The experience learned that I feel
will be most useful, is one that the curating team passed on to me. The practice
of hanging works proved to be challenging as it was hard to find works that sat
alongside each other that complimented and didn't overshadow each other. In
grounding a basis of work for my degree show, I will spend time viewing my
paintings alongside each other in available spaces around the art school in
order to gain a greater understanding of how different pieces flatter one
another and the spaces they are displayed in.
As a team I feel we worked well and
the outcome was commendable, and I am proud of everyone’s work displayed and
the effort we all contributed to the show and to each other.
