Jerwood Drawing Prize Review
On the recent student visit to the Jerwood Drawing Prize one of the questions that kept coming up was ‘is that really a drawing?’ What’s really interesting is that some of the works evade categorisation and, by doing so, help to explain the form a bit. Several works in this year’s exhibition might be considered paintings, two (including the second prize winner) are videos and a few show how sewing or thread can be used as a drawing medium. Although it’s perfectly possible to decide that a work like, for example student winner Lois Langmead’s ‘Pelvis’ might be a piece of textile art, why not a drawing too?
Seeing all these different approaches in one places makes an impact. Some of the work is speculative or expressive, some very detached and methodical. The most moving piece might be the book by Lee John Phillips who has undertaken to draw everything in his late Grandfather’s shed. As an act of mourning or memorialisation it is calm and intense, not grief-stricken or upsetting. It’s a close examination of something personal and engaging. A line drawing of one nail might not be that interesting, but a page full of nails (all slightly different) is something else. According to the catalogue he has drawn 4000 items and he has another 76000 to go.
As I always do, I recommended that everyone look at the work in a positive light. Thinking ‘why is this worth my attention?’ or ‘what’s good about this?’ is always better than thinking ‘I’m not going to understand this?’ or ‘why has this been chosen?’ Doing this opens up the possibility to rethink our own work. Will Rob now document his wire sculptures by pressing them between two sheets of wet watercolour paper? Will Sharon make a collection of books with repeating subject matter?
The group on the trip was made up of students from Foundation Drawing, Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Graphic Design, and one from the Fine Art MA and, as ever, much of the benefit of the visit was that it allowed students to share their experience of studying with the OCA. People swapped email addresses and renewed friendships as well as looking at the work or asking me about the experience of entering which – hopefully – made the process seem less distant (all the winners, including me, are students of one form or another).
We did talk for a while about the modest drawing that won the overall prize: From Andrew’s Flat, Singapore by Thomas Harrison. I like it more and more and I think I’ve worked out why. It’s an inquisitive work that doesn’t simply display Harrison’s ability or represent its subject. It’s a meditation on a view, realised in pencil. Looking closely at it you can see how he has used the act of drawing to work out what he’s looking at. Harrison’s drawing holds an important lesson for students as he’s used the process of drawing to more rigorously look at a view. Drawing isn’t the same as looking, in the same way that translating a text (or even copying one out) isn’t the same as reading. The drawing is the evidence of an observation; his thinking is made visible.
We ended the afternoon talking about how this exhibition encourages everyone to think about ways to push against normal ideas of drawing by giving permission for experimentation. The idea of drawing as meditation, mourning, enquiry, play, residue, process, is an important one to take on board. It isn’t just about showing how ‘well’ you can do it.
5 thoughts on “Jerwood Drawing Prize Review”
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It was such a treat to be able to attend this study visit. I can’t recommend going to them enough. It’s not just the art you get to see, it’s often the insightful comments passed on by the usually very knowledgable tutors, or indeed the chance to discuss what you are viewing with your peers – all of it offers you the opportunity to grow, to see things differently, to open up doors in your perception. It keeps us moving, gets us out of our comfort zone and helps us to evolve when we get out there and start to experience art. I came away from this study visit incredibly inspired – particularly by Bryan’s comments. It was the word ‘process’, to draw as an exploration of something, to use drawing as an extension of thinking and being which has taken my ideas in a completely different direction. I left the visit feeling really motivated, inspired and excited. What a great way to spend a few hours!
Thanks for this Angela. It was lovely to meet you all and to talk about how the show might affect your practice.
Even if I were not in the show. I recommend anyone studying any of the OCA drawing courses to try and get a long to see the show. There’s a wide variety of media, techniques, approaches on display and while no-one is claiming that it represents a comprehensive survey of drawing in the UK in 2015, it does offer a lot of variety.
It’s on at the Jerwood Space until October 25th, and then it goes to the following venues (sadly none of which are in the north of England, Scotland, or Ireland):
21st Nov – 31st Jan: Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum (The Wilson) (cheltenhammuseum.org.uk)
11th Feb – 9th April: Sidney Cooper Gallery, Canterbury
(canterbury.ac.uk/Sidney-Cooper)
23rd April – 25th June: Falmouth Art Gallery
(falmouthartgallery.com)
This is the second visit I have made to the Jerwod prize since starting OCA, the first time alone. The benefit from sharing the experience with fellow students and with a knowlegeable tutor such as Bryan cannot be rated highly enough. Bryan contributed many helpful comments and suggestions both about viewing drawing and approaching ones own project. I liked the suggestion of posing the question ‘what makes this exhibit a drawing?’ The range of subjects, materials and techniques utilised in the 60 shortlisted drawings could only extend ones conception of what drawing can be. I can really recommend the value of participating in study visits. Thank you Bryan for an excellent one!
I really enjoyed the Study Visit and I left with renewed insight into what can be a drawing and how I can incorporate this into my own work. Bryan provided insightful and knowledgable comments about the drawings and why they were selected. He also got us to think about the process of drawing itself – how you make the finished work, the experimentation and forming, reforming with the materials is as important as the final piece. It was also great to meet other students and exchange ideas & thoughts on drawing and the whole visit helped me to feel part of a student community.
I like what you say about using the process of drawing to look. The finished drawing is, indeed, a record of looking and feeling and interpreting.It’s not just a depiction.