I've registered to enter The Death Of Man into the Threadneedle Prize today. The prize states:
"Works should be based on observation and experience, not on a conceptual or abstract world. Artists are encouraged to engage, excite and challenge the public on subjects of contemporary and topical significance. Submissions based on the human figure and other major themes are also welcome."
There is so much contradiction and mystery in that paragraph that it itself should be eligible for an art prize. Let's try to work out what they mean.
"Works should be based on observation and experience, not on a conceptual or abstract world."
All visual art is based on observation and experience and is conceptual and is abstracted. I assumed by their statement they were trying to discourage "weird" art by unskilled idiots. This is my overriding impression of the whole paragraph, and as such have deemed my skilled imaginative-realist work applicable, even though my work is certainly conceptual and abstracted.
"Artists are encouraged to engage, excite and challenge the public on subjects of contemporary and topical significance."
As opposed to...? Those artists who try to bore the public with irrelevant subjects will be disappointed at their lack of eligibility to enter. Or in other words; every artist in history would consider themselves applicable based on that sentence. I think they mean "we want something modern and intelligent, NOT "weird" art by unskilled idiots."
"Submissions based on the human figure and other major themes are also welcome."
So the human figure is a major theme, but "minor themes" are fine too!
Most amusing. I look forward to entering this. It means that I have to finish my picture tomorrow because the delivery date is less than two weeks away. No time for many fine glazes then. I'll add a layer to the rose and moon/sky but leave the figure and background as they are.
