In the company of artists
Artists Lene Makwana (left) and David Wroth (middle) with principal artist Sherylle Dovaston (right) at the opening of Line of Sight, July 2023.
When you’re an artist driving the steam train of your own career, it can seem counter-intuitive to invite collaboration with other artists. After all, I want to sell my own artwork, right? Yes, that’s true. But I don’t want (and nor would it be possible for) my art to exist in a void.
Art is multiplicity and diversity, immense and chaotic, perplexing and often uncertain. I want to be part of that! A vibrant and successful art scene is good for all artists. When people support the arts by attending a performance, buying an artwork, visiting a gallery, or even engaging with arts social media, they are tilling and enriching the soil of the art ecosystem. Everything grows in a well-tended garden.
What I love most about working alongside other artists is the opportunity it gives me to embrace other viewpoints, consider new techniques, and understand a wider range of themes and concepts. At times, this has sparked intriguing new ideas and inspirations, and influenced my own practice – for the better!
By inviting other artists to exhibit with us, we’re also expanding our network and building local relationships. Who knows what doors may open by connecting with new contacts? The colleague of a fellow artist who comes to an opening might be a potential buyer for my own work, or a brand-new corporate client. And those bigger networks mean a better bang for your promotional buck. Another win!
I’m a little bit selfish too. While I’m happy to share my own knowledge, its also pretty terrific when I learn from other artists. It’s not always art-based, but sometimes learning a fantastic labelling shortcut or a social media hack shaves an hour of my prep work. Fantastic, I’ll take that!
Sharing goes beyond knowledge too. Exhibiting with a fellow artist brings a sense of sharing the burden, working on a project towards a common goal feels like you’re in it with someone who understands where you’re heading and what you’re dealing with. That lessens the generalised isolation artists can feel in a solo practice. Big tick.
So yes, I’m all for working with others in the art-sandpit. Not only do artists benefit, but the end result is also a richer cultural experience for audiences.