In any case four Threadneedle articles in one week would have been a bit much! So here is a visual summary of the exhibition with my remarks on what I noticed. The exhibition comprises 63 paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. They can be seen by you online on the website. People to the exhibition have until 5pm on Tuesday 7 October to vote because of their favorite piece to win the £10,000 prize.
The consensus was that the judges wanted to give a lot more emphasis on the figure. I certainly found this very obvious in this content of the works chosen for the exhibition. There’s a very strong focus on the figure, although not every work carries a figure. The works chosen demonstrated the variety that is present in figurative art – with some straying pretty far into the conceptual.
Interestingly, which means that when selectors are trying to achieve diversity that only the very best of paintings of a certain type will be chosen. This tends to have an effect on those who paint in an extremely realistic way. However the diversity of selected works is not just about the style of the artwork, it is also about the diversity in the materials and media used and, importantly, the way they are used. This piece is quite made of color.
There is no support other than the stretcher. Through the use of unconventional stretchers and overlooked but recognizable items within his work, James is trying to challenge the conception of what a painting is and encompass the world beyond the gallery into his practice. Middle: Untitled by Tom Jean Webb (£4,000) – this is a sketching on sewn cotton fabric. He another work in the show as well. Right: Two works by Alastair Gordon. Work in materials and fabric seem to become more and more popular. If I’m honest, some of the work looks better as a digital print and in the catalog than they actually when seen up close.
For example, I’m persuaded the selectors must have thought that the two paintings on the right above were a trompe l’oeil, and that the hardwood support was coated – but unfortunately it’s not. Plus even the tape is tape not paint. By way of contrast, some works are more impressive up close than as a digital print.
This can be an amazing work in rock was spectacular. I confess I touched the seat to check it really was marble! Not all the works are framed. An extremely strong, shortlisted contender for the Threadneedle Award is hung on bulldog screws and videos in the wall structure. One wonders if the reluctance to frame is in fact associated with the cost of framing and the expense of a courier for a large frame.
Another way to check out it is whether it’s OK to hang oil paintings on the box canvas with out a frame why is it not OK to hold a drawing without a frame. Plus some drawings without a frame have significantly more impact! The opposable big feet in orange velour was also very troubling! In general, this year’s exhibition has less sculpture than I’m used to seeing – although one was shortlisted for the major prize.
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Many of the works were also very big. Actually I’d say works on the whole were mainly big or small with not just a lot in the center. Oct The exhibition continues until 11th. It’s open every trip to the Mall Galleries from 10am to 5pm and admission is free.
The Winner of the £10,000 Visitors’ Choice Award will be announced at 7pm, Wednesday 8th October at an Evening Viewing (6-8pm) of The Threadneedle Prize: Figurative Art Today and The Curated Space by Sacha Craddock. Admission Free and there are a Pop-up Bar. The Threadneedle Prize 2014 – what’s changed and how to enter Overview of the changes in the 2014 Threadneedle Prize and the decision for Entries. Threadneedle Prize 2013 Exhibition at the Mall Galleries. List of selected artists for the Threaneedle Prize Exhibition 2012 – plus links with their websites.
The winners of both The Threadneedle Prize (£30,000) and Visitors’ Choice Prize (£10,000) will be announced at a special Awards Dinner on Wednesday 10 October 2012 – to which I’m invited. Review of the Threadneedle Prize for Painting and Sculpture 2012 Exhibition at the Mall Galleries. Note: The Threadneedle Prize was founded in 2008 and gets the continuing support of Threadneedle Investments, a leading international investment manager, demonstrating their long-term commitment to supporting the creative arts. Through the Threadneedle Foundation, the ongoing company is committed to investing in the city, building partnerships that create positive social impact across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on education and art.