youngblood

The Young Blood Salon was like deja vu...like being transported in a time machine back to the Elam open days, with everything being so familiar yet slightly askew...

Example:

Clara Chon's erratic installation of her work in the City Art Room space as opposed to the use of the Elam Studios/next to the 'reading room'.

Which leads me to the problem of how one installs the exhibition of the finalists, so that it is not just a 'showing' of work (this artist does this, this artist does that etc.) but actually starts to engage in the space? There didn't really seem to be much consideration towards this...

With 23 finalists last year, I can't even begin to imagine what the installation of that Salon would have been like...Laxmi, who attended last years opening, told me it was extremely crowded (with both people and art) so I applaud the choice (conscious or due to lack of talent?) of cutting down on finalists. But this still didn't solve the problem of how to show one's work without compromising the work itself (which is what I felt happened with some aspects of this show, namely Clara's and Caryline Boreham's photographs).

Twas a pretty well rounded group of finalists I must say. Congratulations on those chosen. And the excellent award including a trip to Berlin!! What a fantastic opportunity, esp with the $5000 on top. Ooooo such restraint the winner must exercise as to not spend all won moolah on 5000 buckaroos worth of german beer. Sehr Gut!

But where were the AUT-ers this year? There were plenty last year (as there were finalists). Who entered? Who got rejected? And most of all, who the heck WON??? We do not know as we couldn't stay upstairs in the stuffy gallery much longer without rendering us sardines-in-can-sitting-out-in-sun and City Art Rooms refuse to update their website... Such pressing questions! It is my duty as blogger to find out the answers! I must know! Would you be so kind as to help me out?

And also, to be fair, perhaps the point of this exhibition, is simply not to be presnting an 'exciting' show of sorts, but rather simply, to be presenting finalists for an award. I guess like the Walters and the Wallace. Award shows are what they are.

But why can we not have an award show that also fulfills the need for artwork to sit interestingly in a space? Peter Robinson's ACK was rather successful in doing so with the Walters...hmm such things to consider...

Someone gimme an over-the-moon-excited awards show!! Or is that an oxymoron?

- Agnes

p.s. Bets were placed at 6.30pm as to who the winner was. My bet was Clara or Trenton Garratt...

Did I win??

EDIT: Just received news from City Art Rooms that Trenton Garratt took the prize! Well done brotha.