One of selectors wins £5,000 ING Discerning Eye Prize!
There's no faster way to undermine an art competition than to "not play by the rules".
(Regular readers will remember some examples "calling out" I've done on this matter in the past)
There's one absolutely universal rule about integrity that applies to ANY competition.
The rule essentially is that NOBODY can enter and/or win a prize IF they are:
There again I thought it very odd that there's been no marketing for the exhibition online on Facebook. (While the packed PV got OTT coverage on Instagram by those attending - although I should point out that the bulk of those there are the artists and their partners)
Just as I thought it extremely odd that the exhibition at the Mall Galleries were exceptionally quiet today with hardly any visitors the whole time I was there - and I gather it's been like this since the Private View.
So what exactly is going on with the ING Discerning Eye?
Who is advising them on reputational matters and marketing? They're not doing a very good job!
THIS POST is about the prizes.
I'll be writing about the exhibition(s) later in the week - in which I'll also raise a few other matters relating to what's gone wrong this year...
Bridget McCrum wins £5,000 Purchase Prize
Nothing wrong with that. Bridget McCrum is an excellent and well-regarded sculptor. The sort people commission all the time.
However she is also ONE OF THE SIX SELECTORS for this art competition / exhibition!
Did a spelling mistake (see the spelling of the name in the prize listing) mean a major mistake was made in selection? However the name is spelt correctly in the catalogue so clearly 'somebody' knew this was one of the selectors.
If you want an artwork from a well-known artist what's to stop you from commissioning her direct?
Rather than
Such a decision means this award "looks" exactly like the sort of "mutual back-scratching" that art competitions like this are so very often accused of.
I would suggest that if the sponsors want to do the decent thing and NOT bring their art competition into disrepute, that they go back and choose another artwork. Preferably by an artist who is still making their way and very definitely NOT by a well-established and reputable artist who has been asked to curate as one of two Artist Curators - as a member of the team of the six curators of this exhibition.
Otherwise I predict a big drop in entries next year.
I do want to make it clear that
But SOMEBODY is responsible for this outcome! I'd love to know who....
BELOW are images of the rest of the prizewinning works. The award cards are all the same size so you can tell something of the dimensions of each small work by their size relative to the card.
(Regular readers will remember some examples "calling out" I've done on this matter in the past)
There's one absolutely universal rule about integrity that applies to ANY competition.
The rule essentially is that NOBODY can enter and/or win a prize IF they are:
- involved with the competition in any way,
- and/or employed by any of the relevant companies associated with the competition
- and/or are family members of somebody who is.
The ING Discerning Eye Exhibition is selected each year by 2 Collectors, 2 Critics and 2 Artists. Discerning Eye Art OppsWhich is why I was totally flabbergasted to find out today that one of the SELECTORS of the 2018 ING Discerning Eye Prize Exhibition has won the TOP prize of £5,000!
How did that happen?
- What does this absolutely gigantic faux pas in terms of "things that shouldn't happen in an art competition" do to the credibility of this prize in the future?
- Why are artist selectors being invited to exhibit work in the exhibition? (This exhibition is about their curation NOT THEIR ARTWORK!)
- Why is the work of artist selectors even being considered for a prize?
- Did it not occur to people, that relevant people (eg those submitting entries) might think this was a bad idea?
- Why did the sponsors think nobody would notice?
- Why did people supporting the running of this art competition not suggest that maybe this was a mistake?
- If it was the right thing to do why is there no announcement or press release?
There again I thought it very odd that there's been no marketing for the exhibition online on Facebook. (While the packed PV got OTT coverage on Instagram by those attending - although I should point out that the bulk of those there are the artists and their partners)
Just as I thought it extremely odd that the exhibition at the Mall Galleries were exceptionally quiet today with hardly any visitors the whole time I was there - and I gather it's been like this since the Private View.
 |
| View of exhibition curated by Frances Hedges containing the top prizewinner (REPLACES the earlier view posted which I saw yesterday) |
Who is advising them on reputational matters and marketing? They're not doing a very good job!
THIS POST is about the prizes.
I'll be writing about the exhibition(s) later in the week - in which I'll also raise a few other matters relating to what's gone wrong this year...
Bridget McCrum wins £5,000 Purchase Prize
- despite being a selector for the competition...
 |
ING Purchase Prize - £5,000 “Zenobia - Homage To Palmyra” by Bridget McCrumb (sic) Bronze | 13x12x7 ins £7,000 |
However she is also ONE OF THE SIX SELECTORS for this art competition / exhibition!
Did a spelling mistake (see the spelling of the name in the prize listing) mean a major mistake was made in selection? However the name is spelt correctly in the catalogue so clearly 'somebody' knew this was one of the selectors.
If you want an artwork from a well-known artist what's to stop you from commissioning her direct?
Rather than
- asking her to curate a mini exhibition of work selected for an art competition
- then giving her a £5,000 prize for an artwork which is part of the mini exhibition of another curator.
Such a decision means this award "looks" exactly like the sort of "mutual back-scratching" that art competitions like this are so very often accused of.
I would suggest that if the sponsors want to do the decent thing and NOT bring their art competition into disrepute, that they go back and choose another artwork. Preferably by an artist who is still making their way and very definitely NOT by a well-established and reputable artist who has been asked to curate as one of two Artist Curators - as a member of the team of the six curators of this exhibition.
Otherwise I predict a big drop in entries next year.
I do want to make it clear that
- I do NOT think Bridget McCrum herself is in anyway culpable of any of this nonsense which has resulted in her being awarded a prize. I suspect she's probably very embarrassed by what has happened.
- This art competition and exhibition is NOT run by the Mall Galleries. The galleries merely provide the space which is rented by Parker Harris who organise the event on behalf of the Discerning Eye Organisation who are responsible for the conduct of the art competition and exhibition. The event is sponsored by ING Bank.
But SOMEBODY is responsible for this outcome! I'd love to know who....
BELOW are images of the rest of the prizewinning works. The award cards are all the same size so you can tell something of the dimensions of each small work by their size relative to the card.
To enter work you must be currently resident in the UK, your work must be for sale, and it must be a maximum of twenty inches (50 centimentres) in any dimension. Artists can submit up to six works which can be two or three dimensional using any media. ING Discerning Eye website
