EXIT Dunedin is a collection of written reviews of every final year student from the Department of Fine Art at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand. This project was carried out by an invited team of individuals in response to the end of year degree show in Dunedin between 16th and 18th November 2006. These writers derive from various backgrounds within the local art community, independent from the Artschool. To read these reviews please view http://buro.net.nz/exitdunedin where they are available to be downloaded and printed. This blog has been designed to allow open dialogue and discussion to continue and develop beyond the completion of the initial review process. Please feel free to make a comment responding to this project and any issues surrounding it.
3 comments:
I think this is an invaluable project for the School of Art in Dunedin, and a useful exercise for all of the reviewed artists, despite the lack of continuity between the writers.
I would like to comment though that the School of art does expose its students to some of the "harsh realities of an artistic practice" through exhibition practice and public review, well before this stage in their education.
This is also supported by the community in Dunedin at large, and the enthusiastic arts community in its centre. This project extends this type of professional practice already being addressed.
I would love to see this project continue in future years, and believe it will gain momentum as it does so.
the drear weight of theory hangs heavily over attempts at articulation and expression. timidity and cliche abound.
a pity these students are not allowed to be themselves and are coerced (through fear of failure)into toeing the politically tired lines of thought espoused by equally tired lecturers - but then that is the nature of all dusty academies.
EXIT Dunedin intended to provide an example of a potential way of making a long-term contribution to the development of artistic communities within the city of Dunedin and beyond. Whilst it is recognised that artistic communities are not fuelled solely by artists, it is important that the artists involved are active, critical and confident so that they can draw in others and put their abilities to work in the wider environment. Therefore, it is considered vital that the art school plays its part in a critical culture, and its student's are equipped to be critical, receive criticism and to understand the power of thinking critically. EXIT Dunedin, therefore, will hopefully act as a tool to improve the development of a critical environment.
The review process was conducted by an invited gathering of individuals from the city's artistic communities with no direct link to the art school itself. These people were asked to write rapid reviews of about 100 words in order to give informed, albeit brief, feedback for the graduating artists about their work. It was initially intended that each artist would receive 2 reviews for comparison purposes though unfortunately due to certain circumstances this was not possible. However, it was hoped that these fast-fire judgments would show unadorned and conflicting personal opinion, that did not necessarily have to be fully objective. So whilst reflecting the vulnerability of the reviewed, it was also accepted that the project may possibly expose the reviewers. Either in relation to the judgments of the writing from others within the surrounding communities or as they agonised with their conscience when dealing criticism to young artists.
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