The price of Rejection
So a few months back I as usual paid my fee and submitted a drawing to the Jerwood Drawing Prize, my husband took one look at my drawing and said “nah, it’s a drawing and it’s really good, it doesn’t stand a chance” he suggested I make a print from the scratched up piece of perspex that has been screwed to the bottom of our back door, it protects the wood from the claws of our two dogs who scratch when they want to come in from the garden. Hmm, probably would have stood more of a chance.
Ok the Jerwood likes to push the boundaries… so what was displayed when I visited the exhibition a couple of years back. Well there were one or two drawings which were technically brilliant/innovative, a great many abstract images, and very large semi abstracts, a couple of films which had been produced by women who showed evidence of midlife neuroses, and a couple of very badly executed drawings which defied any explanation for being included. One piece that sticks in my mind was a small coffee table with a mug ring stain on it, my husband (who is also an artist) was most indignant at this inclusion. In what way can this be claimed as a drawing? Well, drawing records an instant in time, it is the memory of something that no longer exists, so in that instance perhaps the ring stain could be related to the theory of drawing if not the practise, I still think it’s stretching it somewhat, as I consider that moment of existence to be more psychological than something so mundanely physical.
The exhibition though does show up how art has a tendency to fall into two categories, there are the drawings on the wall that you could sell, this is the world I exist in, I have to, I have bills to pay and do not have the luxury of a wealthy husband or benefactor; then there are the mug stain artists who produce work that wants to be considered cerebral but is unlikely to sell (unless you are an Emin or a Hirst) I have plenty of items of furniture around the house identical to that coffee table, why on earth would I want to add to the junk in my house.
Oh well, I will probably try again next year, and experience the joy of having to pay for rejection! I hope I can claim it on my tax return.