The first exhibition by a student on the University of Lincoln's new MA in Contemporary Curatorial Practice opened earlier this week at the Greestone Gallery within the Lincoln School of Art and Design. Curated by student Ashleigh McDougall, the show reflects on how artists continue to maintain art practices, whilst also keeping other paid jobs to pay the bills.
A series of interviews with the artists form part of the exhibition and give an insight into this often hidden aspect of an artist's life. Only arriving from Canada in the summer, Ashleigh met with a selection of artists based in Lincoln to find out more about Lincoln's art community and formed the genesis for the show based on the conversations she had with them.
"Occupations"
Greestone Gallery, October 16-26, 2012
Curated by Ashleigh McDougall (MA Contemporary Curatorial Practice)
"The image of the 19th Century starving artist is familiar, but this stereotype of hardship for the sake of art must not be considered to have died with that era. Franz Kafka, writing in 1922, explored the concept through the figure of the "hunger artist," who is entirely sustained by the process of his practice. The artist knows that the public does not truly understand or appreciate his efforts to transcend through his art, but does so anyway, being neither raised up, nor let down by their opinions. Kafka draws attention to the ideas of process, work and the influence of the outside world as being highly significant in art making. Rather than considering the works solely as they are, this exhibition seeks to draw attention to the progression of work and the role of non-art occupations in this process.
"Statistically, artists have a greater need to seek income-supporting work outside of their own practice, and have higher rates of unemployment or underemployment than non-artists. For some, financial need and the lack of opportunity dictate that limitations are placed on the time spent in practice".
Some of work included in this exhibition reflects the artist's feeling of frustration as a result of the restraints placed on them, while others are examples of the willingness to accept and incorporate the less-than ideal aspects of life in the artistic process. The artists featured are Nick Simpson, Tom Cretney, Amelia Beavis-Harrison, and the Dug collective of Joana Cifre-Cerda, Kate Buckley and Ross Oliver.
The exhibition continues until 26th October and is open 10-4 each day, apart form weekends.
For more information about this new masters programme, please visit the programmes webpage or contact Programme Leader Andrew Bracey.
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