AN alternative way of displaying and selling work has been created by a Glasgow-based artist – and she hopes others can use it to recover from the pandemic.
Even with galleries opening again, funding for the creation and display of new work is scarce and many artists hit hard by the lockdowns are finding it tough to make a living.
However, Nicola Atkinson has shown it is possible to find alternatives to traditional galleries by using people’s homes to hang and sell her work.
One of her aims in creating art is to connect people and communities and, having almost completed a set of 54 paintings during the first lockdown, she realised she could still do this by asking people to pick one and display it in their homes.
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The response was enthusiastic and the paintings ended up on display all over the world in places as far apart as Bogota and Benbecula. Homes that were already being used for work as well as living were now transformed as places for the sale of works of art.
“The idea was that ordinary members of the public could become exhibitors and pick and curate their own paintings, put them anywhere in their house, and either buy them, return them or sell them and get 50% of the amount,” says Atkinson.
“It was born out of people being restricted to their homes, looking at their screens and not able to go to exhibitions. I felt this project was optimistic and would let people feel they were doing something lovely as well as connect with other people.
VISIT NICOLA ATKINSON'S WEBSITE HERE
“It was a way of encouraging people to have art in their houses and put it on social media so that others could see it. It enabled a kind of new opening, a new economic venture.”
Once people had picked their paintings, Atkinson wrapped them in tissue and sent them out.
“It was an amazing, magical time,” she said. “People wanted to be a part of it and when they got their boxes they had the ritual of opening and carefully choosing where they would display them.”
Some were hand delivered by Harrison Reid, a photographer friend, who also took pictures of recipients on their doorsteps holding the box with the painting in it.
These photographs are now included in a book called Portable Retrospective which Atkinson’s Beautiful Materials Studio has published, partly as a guide for others. It gives an interesting insight into how the paintings – which were all sold – look in a domestic setting.
“The book gives the sense of community the project created during that time,” she explains. “It also demonstrates a new economic model of an alternative way of exhibiting work, and people engaging with work by having pieces of art in their houses.
VISIT NICOLA ATKINSON'S WEBSITE HERE
“I think it’s an empowering tool for artists to think about different ways of exhibiting. It’s possible to have successful alternatives.”
Atkinson added: “Art is not extra, it’s something that’s very important and can stir up economic regeneration. Artists are powerful creatures – we can make things happen and make things better.”
Gerard Cantor, a Los Angeles producer who took part in the project, said it made so much sense that it was a wonder it had not been attempted before.
“In a sense, Nicola was able to exhibit her artwork in a gallery that had thousands of attendees around the world,” he says. “While exhibiting Nicola’s artwork was fun, the best part is that her artwork still hangs in our home.”
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Arts manager and producer Kevin Harrison from Port of Menteith said Nicola’s initiative was “extraordinary”.
“With an industry in crisis, new ideas and models of working evolved and Nicola rose to the opportunity to think differently about artists and audiences,” he says.
“She took to the challenge by melding the physical gallery, digital and social media and questioning our relationship with art as consumer, viewer and buyer.
“It was a pleasure to be part of this ingenious and joyous project which has curated curious connections and a shared experience that will live on in 54 homes forever.”
You can see more from Nicola Atkinson on her website, beautifulmaterials.co
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