Another group crit this week – the difference being it was with a new set of peers and a different tutor. Whilst I fully appreciate and welcome these opportunities, sometimes I am left a little frustrated at the end.
Participation is great! I like the opportunity to articulate my ideas in relation to others and speculate and discuss contemporary art themes in the studio context – it is really good critical practice.
What would be even better if participation happened on a more balanced platform. Whilst I fully appreciate some people find it difficult/are just not in the mood for critical discourse, it would be more helpful and fair if more effort was made in these situations. After all, why sign up to a course in which these activities are part of the course if you do not intend to do them justice?
However, no point in dwelling on what is fair or unfair, what can I take from the little that was touched upon in the portion pertaining to my work? Some of the text I have used in the images isn’t working=already know that, thanks. The one thing of note to be mentioned was about psychogeography (Guy Debord – 1955, Situationist International etc.). It’s curious for the relation to some of the research methods I use in image sourcing. However, the crit seemed to focus far too much on the relationship to the city, which although I agree it is a part of the work, is not it in its entirety.
Perhaps seeming too negative – I will diplomatically say indeed this was perhaps the first time the group had engaged with my work – perhaps that was a stumbling block. Also, I didn’t make a great job of explaining myself at the beginning. The work that was on the wall was shit. Whatever. Sometimes it is just not a good week.
How can I turn it around for next time? Force people into making some sort of informed comment – ask questions of the participants, ask for explanation perhaps. Lead the conversation instead of being lead. Be a bit more bold perhaps. I am ultimately responsible for my own learning and the path that it takes, but it doesn’t half help when others share that responsibility.
